Former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood made country-music history April 5, 2009, during the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards when she became only the seventh female ever to win the academy's Entertainer of the Year.

A native of Oklahoma, Underwood was the lone female in the running for the ACM's top prize, competing against category nominees Kenny Chesney, who won last year's Entertainer prize, as well as hot-ticket Brad Paisley, recent first-time Grammy winner George Strait and New Zealand-born Keith Urban.

Underwood, however, managed to walk away with the honor, thanks to fans who voted online to choose the category's winner. Prior to Underwood, the women of country who earned the coveted trophy include Loretta Lynn (1975), Dolly Parton (1977), Barbara Mandrell (1980), Reba McEntire (1994), Shania Twain (1999) and Dixie Chicks (2000).