Kellie Pickler may be one of contemporary country music's most unlikely traditionalists. The Albemarle, N.C. native first shot to fame as a contestant on the fifth season of 'American Idol,' placing sixth. Pickler released her debut album, 'Small Town Girl,' in 2006, scoring a hit with 'Red High Heels.' Another single from the album, 'I Wonder,' addressed her difficult relationship with her mother. Pickler followed up with a self-titled second album in 2008. Her first two albums offered up contemporary pop country, but Pickler took a dramatically different approach for her third album, '100 Proof,' offering a much grittier, more traditional sound that earned her rave reviews. She parted ways with Sony and signed to Black River Entertainment for her fourth album, 'The Woman I Am,' in 2013, the same year that she partnered with Derek Hough to win 'Dancing With the Stars.' Pickler is also very active in various charities and is a staunch supporter of the US military.

• Full Name: Kellie Dawn Pickler
• Top Songs: ‘Best Days of Your Life,’ ‘Red High Heels’
• Did You Know? Prior to auditioning for ‘Idol,’ Pickler worked as a Sonic carhop.
• Further Reading: Top 5 Kellie Pickler Songs