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Key the truck, carve your name in the seats, take a Louisville Slugger to the headlights. Carrie Underwood's revenge anthem crossed over from country radio to everywhere in 2006–07, spent 64 straight weeks on the Hot 100, and became — for a time — the best-selling country song, period.
The bald rocker who got voted off American Idol in fourth place, said "A little, yeah" when asked if he was surprised, and then put out a six-times-platinum album the season's winner never came close to. "It's Not Over" and "Home" owned 2007 radio.
The breakup-scream anthem of the 2000s. Kelly Clarkson needed an identity beyond American Idol; Max Martin and Dr. Luke handed her a pop-rock chorus that demanded everything a voice could give, and every car ride since has been a rehearsal.