Newcomer, Carrie Underwood is Winner of best new artist and best female country vocal performance .
Two topics were inevitable for Carrie Underwood, named the year’s best new artist. First, of course, was whether her success, both commercially and at the Grammy Awards, put a lie to the notion that being an “American Idol” winner could hurt more than help in some ways. She answered nicely, as if it were a new question for her.
“Obviously, in my case, that hasn’t been true,” she said of “Idol” backlash. “I think tonight kind of proved that ‘American Idol’ can transcend the talent-show stereotype it has. It’s just great talent on the show that couldn’t get discovered doing what they were doing. It certainly worked for me.”
