Carnival Ride

{{About|the album by Carrie Underwood|the structures used in amusement parks and carnivals|Amusement ride}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Carnival Ride | type = studio | artist = Carrie Underwood | cover = Carnival Ride - Album.PNG | border = yes | alt = The cover features Carrie Underwood wearing a green top and blue jeans, surrounded by yellow curtains. The artist's name is written in orange cursive lettering and the album title is below it in black lettering. | released = {{Start date|2007|10|23}} | recorded = 2006–07 | studio = Starstruck Studios, Nashville, Tennessee | genre = Country | length = 50:07 | label = * Arista Nashville * 19 | producer = Mark Bright | prev_title = Some Hearts | prev_year = 2005 | next_title = Play On | next_year = 2009 | misc = {{Singles | type = studio | single1 = So Small | single1date = August 28, 2007 | single2 = All-American Girl | single2date = December 18, 2007 | single3 = Last Name | single3date = April 8, 2008 | single4 = Just a Dream | single4date = July 21, 2008 | single5 = I Told You So | single5date = February 2, 2009 }} }}

'''''Carnival Ride''''' is the second studio album by American singer Carrie Underwood. It was released in October 23, 2007, by Arista Nashville. On this album, Underwood was more involved in the songwriting process; she set up a writers' retreat at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium to collaborate with Music Row tunesmiths such as Hillary Lindsey, Craig Wiseman, Rivers Rutherford, and Gordie Sampson.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.aol.ca/article/carrie-underwood/137/ |title=Country star Underwood enjoys fast-moving 'Ride' |publisher=AOL Music Canada |access-date=September 8, 2007 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109082451/http://music.aol.ca/article/carrie-underwood/137/}}</ref>

''Carnival Ride'' debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling over 527,000 copies and achieving one of the biggest ever first-week sales by a female artist. It was the singer's first album to debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 and second to debut atop the Top Country Albums chart. The album was certified quadruple platinum, it has sold 3.4 million copies in the United States, and four million copies worldwide.

Five singles were released from the album — "So Small", "All-American Girl", "Last Name", "Just a Dream", and "I Told You So". The first four singles reached number one on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart, thus making Underwood the first solo female artist to pull four number ones from one album since Shania Twain did so with her album ''The Woman in Me'' in 1995–1996. All singles were Top 30 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, with "I Told You So" climbing to number nine and both "So Small" and "Last Name" reaching the Top 20.

The album and its songs were largely praised by music critics. Underwood won two Grammy Awards - one for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Last Name", at the 2009 Grammy Awards, and one for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "I Told You So", at the 2010 Grammy Awards. ''Carnival Ride'' was nominated for Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards and won the American Music Award for Favorite Country Album, in 2008.

==Background== Underwood explained the meaning behind the album's title and theme, saying:

{{cquote|''You step onto this ride called life, and it's a crazy thing you don't know anything about, but you get on it anyway. You do what you can to lean different directions to try and get it to go where you want it to go, but you can't stop it – it just keeps moving. That's why Carnival Ride works as my album title, because it describes the wonderful craziness that I've been through over the past couple years''.<ref name="arista"/>}}

Two of this album's tracks have been previously recorded by other artists. "Flat on the Floor" was previously cut by singer Katrina Elam on her unreleased 2007 album ''Turn Me Up'', and was a number 52 hit on the country charts for her that year. "I Told You So" is a cover of a song previously cut by Randy Travis on his 1988 number one album ''Always & Forever''. Travis' version of the song was a Number One hit on the country charts that year. Underwood and Travis released "I Told You So" as a duet single on iTunes, and they also performed it on the results show of the eighth season of ''American Idol'' during the Grand Ole Opry week. The duet later went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. About the track, "I Know You Won't", Underwood said, "You get different feelings from different songs, and that one always just felt soft and vulnerable. It's a song about being disappointed. And, yeah, it's not so vibrato-heavy – but I guess it's good that I can do something that sounds different, maybe something surprising."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rutland |first=Josh |date=December 27, 2020 |title=Country Throwback: Carrie Underwood Performs 'I Know You Won't' at 2009 People's Choice Awards |url=https://outsider.com/news/country-music/country-throwback-carrie-underwood-performs-i-know-you-wont-at-2009-peoples-choice-awards/ |access-date=December 28, 2020 |website=Outsider |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128092109/https://outsider.com/news/country-music/country-throwback-carrie-underwood-performs-i-know-you-wont-at-2009-peoples-choice-awards/ |archive-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref> She described the recording process of the album, saying "We'll go in with everything in a key that I think is fine, and then he'll [Mark Bright] want to raise it a half-step, whole-step, step and a half, whatever. 'So Small' and 'All-American Girl' are surprisingly difficult to sing. 'All-American Girl' doesn't ever come down, really."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nash |first=Alanna |title=A ''Carnival Ride'' for Underwood |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-23-et-underwood23-story.html |date=October 23, 2007 |access-date=2021-10-30 |magazine=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> She also admitted to having more creative control for this album, saying, "I was in the studio whether we were recording or not. If Mark [Bright] was doing something I'd come by and listen to the background vocals that were being put down, and if I found something I didn't like maybe I'd tell the background vocalists that I think it would sound better if we did it like this", she says. "Mark was super open because it's my voice and my album, and in the end I'm the one who should be most pleased with it."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Underwood Anxiously Awaits ''Carnival Ride'' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/underwood-anxiously-awaits-carnival-ride/ |date=October 22, 2007 |access-date=2021-10-31 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Marketing and promotion== Underwood promoted the record through both a joint tour with Keith Urban, Love, Pain, and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour.<ref name="Tour" /> It ran from January to April 2008, while simultaneously embarking on her first solo headliner, the Carnival Ride Tour, which ran from February to December 2008.<ref name="Tour">{{cite magazine |title=Carrie Underwood announces new tour; Josh Turner opens |url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=1268 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |magazine=Country Standard Time |publisher=Jeffrey B. Remz |oclc=190760123}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Carrie Underwood extends the ride |url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=1569 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |magazine=Country Standard Time |publisher=Jeffrey B. Remz |oclc=190760123}}</ref> She debuted several of her singles at the Academy of Country Music Awards<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Stephen L. Betts |title=Flashback: See Carie Underwood's Emotional ACM Awards Debut |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/flashback-see-carrie-underwoods-emotional-acm-awards-debut-42955/ |url-access=subscription |date=April 1, 2016 |access-date=September 25, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> and appeared on several shows to promote her album, including ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', ''The Late Show with David Letterman'', ''Live With Regis and Kelly'', ''The Early Show'', and ''Good Morning America''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood's ''Carnival Ride'' Soars With Record Breaking #1 Album Debut! |url=https://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/carrie-underwoods-carnival-ride-soars-with-record-breaking-1-album-debut-2/ |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=September 23, 2025 |website=Carrie Underwood}}</ref>

A limited edition CD/DVD release was made available only at Target stores. The DVD includes four live acoustic performances, as well as a four-part interview.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood - ''Carnival Ride'' - CD/DVD [Target Exclusive], OOP Edition, Rare |url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/133006783385 |access-date=September 24, 2025 |publisher=eBay}}</ref> Following this, a Platinum MusicPass edition was released on January 15, 2008.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gallo |first=Phil |title=Sony launches Platinum MusicPass |url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/markets-festivals/sony-launches-platinum-musicpass-1117978552/ |date=January 7, 2008 |access-date=September 24, 2025 |magazine=Variety}}</ref> This release included a previously unreleased track, "Sometimes You Leave", and two music videos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spinelli |first=Laura |title=Hidden Gem: Carrie Underwood's "Sometimes You Leave" |url=http://theshotgunseat.com/hidden-gem-carrie-underwoods-sometimes-you-leave/ |date=December 13, 2014 |access-date=2021-04-17 |website=The Shotgun Seat |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020517/http://theshotgunseat.com/hidden-gem-carrie-underwoods-sometimes-you-leave/ |archive-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref> On October 21, 2008, a 2-disc set was released at Walmart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood - ''Carnival Ride'' |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6245339-Carrie-Underwood-Carnival-Ride |date=October 21, 2008 |access-date=September 24, 2025 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref> The second CD contains five Christmas tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood - ''Carnival Ride'' (2 CD's,Christmas edition) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Carnival-Ride-2-CDs-Christmas/dp/B001JQHJZI |access-date=September 25, 2025 |publisher=Amazon}}</ref> One of the tracks, "Do You Hear What I Hear", was previously released on the 2007 album ''Hear Something Country Christmas''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Hear Something Country Christmas'' - Album by Various Artists |url=https://music.apple.com/kr/album/hear-something-country-christmas/267255940 |date=October 2, 2007 |access-date=September 25, 2025 |publisher=Apple Music}}</ref>

==Singles== "So Small" served as the lead single for the album.<ref name="Slant" /> It was released in mid-August 2007, two months before the album's official release and debuted on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs at number 20, making it the highest chart debut by a solo country female artist in 43 years of Nielsen BDS history.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chart-beat-wednesday-carrie-underwood-kings-of-leon-miley-cyrus/ |title=Chart Beat Wednesday: Carrie Underwood, Kinfs of Leon, Miley Cyrus |magazine=Billboard |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref> It eventually held the number one spot for 3 consecutive weeks. It also became her fifth top 20 hit when it peaked at number 17 on ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carrie-underwood/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref> "So Small" has become a cross-over hit, selling over 1,088,000 downloads.<ref name="Billboard Album sales"/> The second single, "All-American Girl", was released around December 2007. It also became a success by hitting number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs where it stayed there for 2 weeks and on the Canadian Country Charts where it stayed there for 5 weeks. It also managed to be a top 30 single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it peaked at number 27, making it her sixth top 30. As of 2015, "All-American Girl" sold 1,800,000 copies in the United States. The song was certified 2× platinum.

The third single, "Last Name", became Underwood's fastest single to hit number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs after only 13 weeks of its official release around April 2008. It stayed there for one week. It is also Underwood's sixth top 20 hit, reaching number 19 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song also won Underwood her third consecutive win for Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance category. As of November 2015, the song has sold 1,300,000 copies.<ref name="Billboard Album sales"/> The fourth single, "Just a Dream", reached Number One on the country charts for the chart week of November 8, 2008 and stayed there for 2 weeks, thus making Underwood the first solo female artist to pull four number one's from one album since Shania Twain did it with ''The Woman in Me''.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043627/chart-beat-carrie-underwood-labelle-acdc |title=Chart Beat: Carrie Underwood, Labelle, AC/DC |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> It became her seventh number one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and eighth number one country single overall. It also managed to reach number 29 on ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming her 10th top 30 there. The song also gave Underwood her fourth consecutive nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The song was certified platinum on the week ending on September 4, 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74409/week-ending-sept-4-2011-songs-adeles-back-on-top/;_ylt=AoOpN2hjatOk89Ve8BeDyvoPwiUv |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720120359/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74409/week-ending-sept-4-2011-songs-adeles-back-on-top/;_ylt=AoOpN2hjatOk89Ve8BeDyvoPwiUv |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Week Ending Sept. 4, 2011. Songs: Adele's Back On Top - Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo Music |date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=September 23, 2011 }}</ref> giving Underwood her seventh platinum hit. As of November 2015, it sold 1,280,000 copies.

The fifth single, "I Told You So" was officially released on February 2, 2009. It became Underwood's fourth top 10 all-genre hit, peaking at number nine on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. On the week of April 10, it climbed to the top of the Canadian Country Charts and stayed there for one week. The song peaked at number two on the Hot Country Songs chart, making it only her second country single to not reach number one on that chart after "Don't Forget to Remember Me" which also peaked at number two. Underwood rerecorded the song with original artist Randy Travis, and the song won her and Travis the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. As of January 2013, the song has been certified platinum. It has sold 1,089,000 copies as of November 2015.<ref name="Billboard Album sales"/>

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 72/100<ref name="Critic Reviews for Carnival Ride"/> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Thomas |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1211376|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Carnival Ride'' - Carrie Underwood {{!}} Album |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Boston Herald'' | rev2Score = B<ref name="Boston Herald">{{Cite web |author=Christopher John Treacy |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/reviews/view.bg?articleid=1039576 |title=Boston Herald review |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=October 22, 2007 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522020028/http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/reviews/view.bg?articleid=1039576 |archive-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Cincinnati Post'' | rev3Score = B+<ref name="CincyPost Bird">{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Bird |title=Mayer slings his guitar on 'Continuum' tour |newspaper=The Cincinnati Post |date=June 21, 2007 |page=T3 |access-date=June 25, 2007 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CNPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=119EF9E7D9DF5250&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420 }}</ref> | rev4 = Digital Spy | rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/a107449/carrie-underwood-some-hearts-carnival-ride/ |title=Carrie Underwood: ''Some Hearts'' / ''Carnival Ride'' |publisher=Digital Spy |first=Nick |last=Levine |date=July 5, 2008 |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev5Score = B+<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/10/26/carnival-ride/ |title=''Carnival Ride'' |first=Leah |last=Greenblatt |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 26, 2007 |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Newsday'' | rev6Score = B<ref>{{cite web |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-etdrops5427553oct23,0,3773646.column |title=Review: Carrie Underwood's ''Carnival Ride'' |date=October 23, 2007 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209110450/http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-etdrops5427553oct23,0,3773646.column |archive-date=December 9, 2007 }}</ref> | rev7 = ''PopMatters'' | rev7Score = {{Rating|7|10}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Timmermann |first=Josh |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/carrie-underwood-carnival-ride/ |title=Carrie Underwood: ''Carnival Ride'' |website=PopMatters |access-date=September 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111100941/https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/carrie-underwood-carnival-ride/ |archive-date=January 11, 2011}}</ref> | rev8 = Robert Christgau | rev8Score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=carrie+underwood |title=Robert Christgau: CG: carrie underwood |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="sheffield" /> | rev10 = ''Slant Magazine'' | rev10Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Slant">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/carrie-underwood-carnival-ride/ |title=Review: Carrie Underwood, ''Carnival Ride'' |first=Jonathan |last=Keefe |date=October 21, 2007 |magazine=Slant Magazine |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> }}

''Carnival Ride'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics. On the music review aggregator Metacritic, it has received an average score of 72 out of 100 based on ten reviews indicating generally favorable reviews.<ref name="Critic Reviews for Carnival Ride">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/carnival-ride/carrie-underwood/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for ''Carnival Ride'' |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=November 18, 2012}}</ref>

The first official review of the album from AllMusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, on par with what they gave her debut. The site classified the album as "completely contemporary country", and said "the remarkable thing about ''Carnival Ride'' is that it's stronger song for song than ''Some Hearts''." They also praised the album for having "the appearance of a genuine heart, something that no other big country-pop album has had since the glory days of ''Come On Over''."<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''USA Today'' also praised the album for its versatility saying "The songs call for vulnerability ("You Won't Find This"), urgency ("Flat on the Floor"), sympathy ("Crazy Dreams", her co-written salute to "the hairbrush singers and dashboard drummers" from whose ranks she sprang), humor ("The More Boys I Meet", the tag line of which goes "The more I love my dog") and extreme role-playing ('Last Name's saga of a bar pickup that turns into an impulsive Vegas marriage). She delivers on all counts."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2007/10/this-weeks-re-3.html#more |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024213118/http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2007/10/this-weeks-re-3.html |archive-date=October 24, 2007 |title=USA Today (''Carnival Ride'') |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=October 24, 2007}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' praised Underwood's country stylings, writing, "''Carnival Ride'' is more country and therefore more confident. She goes for the girl-next-door cred long since given up by Faith Hill in uptempo gems like 'The More Boys I Meet' ('The more I love my dog')."<ref name="sheffield">{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |date=2007-11-15 |title=''Carnival Ride'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/carnival-ride-187363/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-04-17 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> The ''Boston Herald'' gave the album a B, and claimed, "Underwood manages enough spunk to occasionally avoid the cookie-cutter, especially with the curious beat-box-meets-banjo arrangement of "Get Out of This Town" and "Just a Dream", a bona fide [tearjerker] about a young war widow."<ref name="Boston Herald"/> ''Slant Magazine'' gave a negative review, criticizing both the songwriting and Underwood's interpretation, writing, "Like Dion and McBride, Underwood has a rabid fanbase of people who sit in slack-jawed awe of her steely technical precision. ''Carnival Ride'' simply doesn't offer anything for the unconverted in terms of Underwood's growth either as a vocalist or as an artist."<ref name="Slant" />

===Accolades=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ ''Carnival Ride'' accolades ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col"| {{Ref.}} |- ! scope="row"| American Music Awards of 2008 | Favorite Country Album | {{won}} | align="center" | <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2008-american-music-awards-winners-article-1.338264 |title=2008 American Music Awards Winners |newspaper=New York Daily News |agency=Associated Press |date=November 24, 2008 |access-date=November 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520210257/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2008-american-music-awards-winners-article-1.338264 |archive-date=2013-05-20}}</ref> |}

==Commercial performance== ''Carnival Ride'' became Underwood's first number-one album on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 527,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |first=Katie |last=Hasty |title=Underwood Leads Three Country Debuts Onto Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047534/underwood-leads-three-country-debuts-onto-chart |magazine=Billboard |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=October 31, 2007}}</ref> It achieved one of the biggest ever first-week sales by a female artist at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/carrie-underwood-new-carnival-ride-album-debuts-at-no-1-6018.php |title=Carrie Underwood's new ''Carnival Ride'' album debuts at No. 1 |publisher=Reality TV World |access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> The album also debuted at number 1 on the Top Digital Albums,<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Glenn |last=Peoples |title=Nielsen Narm Reports Shows Digitl Gains, Physical Shortfalls |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/nielsen-narm-report-shows-digital-gains-physical-shortfalls-1269523/ |magazine=Billboard |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> Top Country Albums,<ref name="BillboardCountry" /> and Top Canadian Albums charts.<ref name="cancharts" /> The album has sold 3,400,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="Billboard Album sales">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ask-billboard-chart-beats-piano-man-returns/ |title=Ask ''Billboard'': Chart Beat's 'Piano Man' Returns! |magazine=Billboard |date=October 11, 2015 |last=Trust |first=Gary |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> In October 2016, the album was certified 4× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of four million units.<ref name="RIAA album"/> It appeared on the ''Billboard'' Year-End Charts for 2009 at number 74.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/how-american-idol-albums-ranked-in-2009-year-end-sales/1?csp=obnetwork |newspaper=USA Today |title=How ''American Idol'' albums ranked in 2009 year-end sales |date=January 11, 2010 |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Carnival Ride'' track listing

| title1 = Flat on the Floor | writer1 = {{hlist|Ashley Monroe|Brett James}} | length1 = 3:18 | title2 = All-American Girl | writer2 = {{hlist|Carrie Underwood|Ashley Gorley|Kelley Lovelace}} | length2 = 3:32 | title3 = So Small | writer3 = {{hlist|Underwood|Luke Laird|Hillary Lindsey}} | length3 = 3:47 | title4 = Just a Dream | writer4 = {{hlist|H. Lindsey|Gordie Sampson|Steve McEwan}} | length4 = 4:44 | title5 = Get Out of This Town | writer5 = {{hlist|H. Lindsey|Sampson|McEwan}} | length5 = 3:01 | title6 = Crazy Dreams | writer6 = {{hlist|Underwood|Barry Dean|Troy Verges}} | length6 = 3:36 | title7 = I Know You Won't | writer7 = {{hlist|Wendell Mobley|Neil Thrasher|McEwan}} | length7 = 4:19 | title8 = Last Name | writer8 = {{hlist|Underwood|Laird|H. Lindsey}} | length8 = 4:02 | title9 = You Won't Find This | writer9 = {{hlist|Cathy Dennis|Tom Shapiro}} | length9 = 3:19 | title10 = I Told You So | writer10 = Randy Travis | length10 = 4:17 | title11 = The More Boys I Meet | writer11 = {{hlist|Scott Kennedy|McEwan}} | length11 = 3:33 | title12 = Twisted | writer12 = {{hlist|James|Laird|H. Lindsey}} | length12 = 3:56 | title13 = Wheel of the World | writer13 = {{hlist|H. Lindsey|Aimee Mayo|Chris Lindsey}} | length13 = 4:42 | total_length = 50:07 }}

{{Track listing | headline = MusicPass Bonus Tracks | total_length = | title14 = Sometimes You Leave | writer14 = {{hlist|Chris Tompkins|Kara DioGuardi|Shridhar Solanki}} | length14 = 4:16 | title15 = So Small | writer15 = | length15 = 3:44 | note15 = video only | title16 = Before He Cheats | writer16 = | length16 = 3:19 | note16 = video only }}

{{Track listing | headline = Target Special Edition Bonus DVD | total_length = | title1 = So Small | note1 = Live Performance | length1 = 3:55 | title2 = Interview Part I | length2 = 3:28 | title3 = Get Out of This Town | note3 = Live Performance | length3 = 3:15 | title4 = Interview Part II | length4 = 7:09 | title5 = Just a Dream | note5 = Live Performance | length5 = 4:43 | title6 = Interview Part III | length6 = 4:00 | title7 = The More Boys I Meet | note7 = Live Performance | length7 = 3:30 | title8 = Interview Part IV | length8 = 0:55 }}

{{Track listing | headline = Wal-Mart Holiday Edition Bonus Disc | total_length = | title1 = Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | writer1 = Charles Wesley | length1 = 3:40 | title2 = The First Noel | writer2 = Traditional | length2 = 4:28 | title3 = What Child is This? | writer3 = William Chatterton Dix | length3 = 3:25 | title4 = Do You Hear What I Hear | writer4 = Gloria Shayne Baker, Noël Regney | length4 = 4:11 | title5 = O Holy Night | writer5 = Adolphe Adam | length5 = 3:58 }}

==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

'''Musicians''' * Carrie Underwood – lead vocals, backing vocals * Charles Judge – Hammond organ, synthesizer, strings, programming, lap steel guitar, drum loops * Jimmy Nichols – piano, synthesizer * Tom Bukovac – electric guitar * Gordie Sampson – acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano * Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar, banjo * Aubrey Haynie – mandolin, fiddle * Jonathan Yudkin – mandolin, fiddle, cello (4), viola (4), violin (4), arco bass (4), string arrangements and composer (4) * Paul Franklin – dobro, steel guitar * Mike Johnson – steel guitar * Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar * Matt Chamberlain – drums * Chris McHugh – drums * Eric Darken – percussion * Chris McDonald – string arrangements and composer (7, 13) * Carl Gorodetzky – string contractor (7, 13) * Lisa Cochran – backing vocals * Wes Hightower – backing vocals * Hillary Lindsey – backing vocals {{col-2}}

'''The Nashville String Machine''' (tracks 7 & 13): * Cello – John Catchings, Anthony LaMarchina, Keith Nicholas, Carole Rabonowitz, Sari Reist and June Tanner * Double bass – Jack Jezzro and Craig Nelson * Viola – Monisa Angell, Bruce Christensen, Chris Farrell, Jim Grosjean, Gary Van Osdale and Kris Wilkinson * Violin – David Angell, Carrie Bailey, Denise Baker, Zeneba Bowers, Beverly Drukker, Conni Ellisor, Carl Gorodetzky, Gerald Greer, Erin Hall, Cate Myer, Pamela Sixfin, Betty Small, Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead and Karen Winkelmann

'''Production''' * Mark Bright – producer * Renée Bell – A&R * Derek Bason – recording engineer, mixing * Chris Ashburn – assistant recording, mix assistant * Nathan Dickinson – assistant recording, mix assistant, digital editing * Aaron Kasdorf – additional recording, assistant recording * Todd Tidwell – additional recording, assistant recording * J.R. Rodriguez – additional recording, digital editing * Hank Williams – mastering at Master Mix (Nashville, Tennessee) * Kirsten Wines – production assistant * Mike "Frog" Griffith – production coordination * Judy Forde Blair – creative director, liner notes * S. Wade Hunt – art direction * Astrid Herbold May – design * Andrew Eccles – photography * Mellissa Schleicher – make-up, hair stylist * Trish Townsend – stylist * Ann Edelblute – management * Simon Fuller – management {{col-end}}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ ''Carnival Ride'' weekly chart performance ! scope="col"| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |- ! scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="aus2">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/TL3nyIA |title=Carrie Underwood ARIA chart history (albums) 2006-2020, received from ARIA in May 2024 |publisher=ARIA |via=Imgur. com|access-date=July 5, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | 105 |- ! scope="row"| Australian Country Albums (ARIA)<ref name="acharts">{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/performer/carrie_underwood|title=Carrie Underwood — Music Charts|publisher=acharts.us|access-date=February 7, 2008}}</ref> | 9 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref name="cancharts">{{cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/U/Underwood_Carrie/2007/10/31/4620185-ca.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818181243/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/U/Underwood_Carrie/2007/10/31/4620185-ca.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |title=Carrie Underwood rides to No. 1 |last=Williams |first=John |publisher=Canoe.ca |access-date=February 9, 2008}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref name="cancharts"/> | 1 |- {{Album chart|UKCountry|2|artist=Carrie Underwood|date=January 27, 2008|rowheader=true|access-date=September 23, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=September 23, 2025}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=September 23, 2025|refname="BillboardCountry"}} |}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ ''Carnival Ride'' year-end chart performance ! scope="col"| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Top ''Billboard'' 200 Albums – Year-End 2007 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 56 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-country-albums |title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2007 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 9 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2008) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Top ''Billboard'' 200 Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 9 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-country-albums |title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 3 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 60 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-country-albums |title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> | 12 |} {{col-2}}

===Decade-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ ''Carnival Ride'' decade-end chart performance ! scope="col"| Chart (2000–09) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref name="decade">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/2009/billboard-200-albums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103111645/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/2009/billboard-200-albums |archive-date=January 3, 2011 |title=''Billboard'' Charts – Decade-End Albums – ''Billboard'' 200 |magazine=Billboard |year=2009 |access-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|132 |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of singles from ''Carnival Ride'', with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| RIAA certifications |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"| US Country<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carrie-underwood/chart-history/csi/ |title=Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> ! width="45"| US<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carrie-underwood/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> ! width="45"| CAN<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carrie-underwood/chart-history/csi/ |title=Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canadian Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"|2007 | align=left| "So Small" | 1 | 17 | 14 | Platinum<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Carrie%20Underwood&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50 |title=RIAA — Carrie Underwood singles |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=July 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225031458/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |archive-date=February 25, 2013 }}</ref> |- | align="left"| "All-American Girl" | 1 | 27 | 45 | 2× Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"|2008 | align=left| "Last Name" | 1 | 19 | 34 | Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/> |- | align="left"| "Just a Dream"{{Efn|"Just a Dream" charted under unsolicited airplay on the Pop 100 for one week in 2007 where it peaked at number 96.}} | 1 | 29 | 50 | 2× Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/> |- ! scope="row"| 2009 | align="left"| "I Told You So" | 2 | 9 | 18 | Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/> |} {{col-end}}

===Notes=== {{Notelist}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=''Carnival Ride'' certifications}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Carrie Underwood|title=Carnival Ride|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|access-date=September 23, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Carrie Underwood|title=Carnival Ride|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2007|refname="RIAA album"|salesamount=4,000,000{{sup|{{double dagger}}}} / 3,400,000 |salesref=<ref name="Billboard Album sales"/>|access-date=September 23, 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Release history== {| class="wikitable" |+ ''Carnival Ride'' release history ! Region ! Date ! {{Ref.}} |- | United States | rowspan="8"| {{start date|2007|10|23}} | align="center"| <ref name="arista">{{cite press release | url=http://aristanashville.com/pressreleases/details.cfm?artistid=1000011&pressid=1000307 |title=Carrie Underwood Invites Fans Along for a ''Carnival Ride'' |publisher=Arista Nashville |date=August 29, 2007 |access-date=August 30, 2007 | archive-date=June 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617072739/http://aristanashville.com/pressreleases/details.cfm?artistid=1000011&pressid=1000307}}</ref><ref name="msnbc01">{{cite news |title=Carrie Underwood plans fall CD release |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/carrie-underwood-plans-fall-cd-release-wbna19811621 |publisher=Today.com |date=July 17, 2007 |access-date=August 6, 2007}}</ref> |- | Canada | |- | Denmark | |- | Ireland | |- | Japan | |- | Mexico | |- | Philippines | |- | South Korea | |- | Hong Kong | {{start date|2007|10|29}} | |- | Australia | rowspan="2"| {{start date|2007|11|3}} | |- | New Zealand | |- | South Africa | rowspan="2"| {{start date|2007|11|5}} | |- | Sweden | |- | Germany | {{start date|2007|11|9}} | |- | Austria | {{start date|2007|11|23}} | |- | Switzerland | {{start date|2007|11|30}} | |- | Thailand | {{start date|2008|1|28}} | |- | United Kingdom | {{start date|2008|7|7}} | |- | Brazil | {{start date|2008|7|13}} | |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}} Category:2007 albums Category:Carrie Underwood albums Category:Arista Records albums Category:Albums produced by Mark Bright (record producer) Category:19 Recordings albums Category:Arista Nashville albums

Carnival Ride

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