Head of the class: Carrie Underwood leads 2009 campaign honoring teachers

July 6, 11:19 PMCountry Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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With a mother, Carole Underwood, who taught for 25 years
and two sisters (Stephanie Shelton and Shanna Means)
who currently teach, country's Carrie Underwood knows
who the real American Idols are. (Photo courtesy of
Teachers Count!)

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Platinum-selling country artist Carrie Underwood will be the first to confirm that, like the "Behind Every Famous Person Is A Fabulous Teacher" campaign asserts, teachers count.

That said, Underwood has signed on as the 2009 poster gal, if you will, for the award-winning campaign, which pairs well-known individuals, such as former first lady Laura Bush, actress  America Ferrera, Emmy winner Jeremy Piven, celebrity TV-shot Al Roker and others, with their favorite teachers.

The pro-educators campaign is supported by Time Inc., which has donated millions of dollars worth of free ad space throughout the Time Inc. family of magazines, and Jones New York In The Classroom, which underwrites the production costs of the ads.

Currently the reigning Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year, Underwood is the inaugural country artist to participate in the "celebrities and their teachers" marketing-meets-public service endeavor. However, she's an on-target choice as a celebrity endorsee for educators.

The 26-year-old, Grammy Award-winning songstress was reared in a family that values education. Her mom, Carole Underwood, taught for 25 years and her sisters, Stephanie Shelton and Shanna Means, teach today.

“Teaching was something that ran in my family," says the Oklahoma native, who was salutatorian of her Checotah High School graduating class. "I have always admired my mother and sisters for making a difference in the lives of so many.”

Underwood attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism. She was, in fact, still enrolled in college classes when she decided to audition for American Idol, which she went on to win in May 2005 during the show's fourth season.

Nonetheless, per Underwood, it's teachers--not singers--who are the real America idols, she's remarked.