“The Champion,” a Global Sensation, Hits No. 1 in 10 countries including the U.S.
Multi-platinum superstar Carrie Underwood’s music video for her hit event anthem “The Champion”which features Ludacris premiered on NBC’s Today Show this morning before launching globally across digital platforms. The poignant and powerful montage video, directed by Jimmy Lynch, features a behind-the-scenes look at Underwood and Ludacris recording the song as well as historic moments and footage highlighting professional athletes and everyday champions. Fans have already started joining in by sharing their own champion-inspired photos and videos across social media using #TheChampion. The song was written by Underwood, Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Christopher Bridges PKA Ludacris, and was produced by Jim Jonsin.
“The Champion,” originally written to open NBC’s Super Bowl LII with its own video seen by over 131 million viewers worldwide, and was incorporated into NBC’s current coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Globally, “The Champion” has reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 10 countries including the U.S. where it held the top spot throughout its release week then rose back to the top of the chart for four consecutive days after the Super Bowl LII opening. The song also debuted Top 5 on the all-genre Top 200 Digital Songs chart and reached No. 7 on the Spotify US Viral 50 Chart.
The lyric video and playlist for “The Champion” are also available now.
Underwood is currently in the studio working on her next album which will be released on Capitol Records Nashville. This week, Underwood garnered her 13th ACM nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year and was also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban.
“The Champion” music video: http://umgn.us/TheChampionVideo
About Carrie Underwood:
Carrie Underwood emerged from the promise of her 2005 American Idol win to become a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, and film. A seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner, she has amassed over 100 major honors, sold 64 million records worldwide, and recorded 26 #1 singles, 13 of which she co-wrote, with a catalog of songs that have been streamed more than 2.6 billion times worldwide. The first female artist to be twice named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, Underwood was recognized by Pollstar as the top female country touring artist for each of her headlining tours in 2008, 2010, 2012, and for 2016’s “The Storyteller Tour – Stories in the Round.” Carrie also topped Billboard’s Top 25 Tours of 2016 as the leading female country artist and was the leading female artist on Country Aircheck’s top country radio performers list for her success in both 2015 and 2016. All five studio albums, Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, Play On, Blown Away, and Storyteller – are certified Platinum or multi-Platinum, and each an American Music Awards winner as Favorite Country Album – and tallied an incredible 40 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The RIAA’s highest certified country album artist to debut this century, Underwood also holds the distinction of the highest album certification of any country artist to emerge since 2000 with the 8x Multi-Platinum success of her 2005 debut, Some Hearts. She is the all-time Top Country Artist (male or female) on RIAA’s Digital Single Ranking, also placing her among the Top 5 females in the history of RIAA’s Digital Single Program across all genres. In December of 2014, she released her Platinum-certified Greatest Hits: Decade #1, which produced two new #1 hits co-written by Underwood, including the RIAA-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning “Something in the Water.” The Grand Ole Opry member demonstrated her creative diversity in 2013 starring as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s three-hour holiday blockbuster, the Emmy®-winning The Sound of Music Live!, whose airings attracted 44 million viewers. Her latest chart-topping platinum fifth studio album, Storyteller, produced four #1 hits. In 2017 Underwood began her fifth season as the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, Sunday Night Football, and she returned as co-host of the CMA Awards for the tenth consecutive year.
About Ludacris:
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has sold more than 25 million albums domestically, thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My Chick Bad.”
With an unrivaled match of lyrical acumen, wit, and imagery, Bridges has solidified himself as one of music’s premier entertainers. Although he’s best known for his infectious tunes, Bridges has shown that he’s equally adept at writing powerful songs with serious subject matter, including runaways, with the song “Runaway Love.” Bridges’ versatility and artistic complexity also enabled him to make a seamless transition to acting.
Most recently, Bridges starred in the highly anticipated The Fate of the Furious, which broke records at the box office, becoming the highest grossing film opening worldwide. His other feature film credits include Universal Pictures’ Fast 7, Fast & Furious 6, Fast Five, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Garry Marshall’s ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve; and Ivan Reitman’s romantic comedy, No Strings Attached, opposite Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. His acclaimed performances in film, (Crash, Hustle & Flow), and television, ( Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), have Hollywood and critics alike buzzing about his increasingly impressive screen resume.
A consummate businessman, Bridges is enjoying success outside of entertainment. His latest venture includes opening his long anticipated new restaurant “Chicken-n-Beer” at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. In addition, he is dipping his hands in tech space by partnering up with apps such as “Roadie” an on-the-way delivery service.
Currently, Bridges is both the host and executive producer of MTV’s revived Fear Factor, and is currently working on an album for release at the end of the year. Bridge’s philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments; he started The Ludacris Foundation in 2001 which focuses on helping youth help themselves. TLF has devoted more than 15,000 hours of service to youth across the nation.