Carmen Rasmusen
Encyclopedia
Carmen Rasmusen is a Canadian
-American
country music
artist who ranked sixth on the second season
of American Idol
in 2003. Rasmusen also plays piano
and guitar
.
heritage and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The second of four children, Rasmusen has been performing in public since the age of five: singing, dancing (including cheerleading, tap, ballet and hip-hop dance), and playing the piano.
She graduated from Woods Cross High School in Northern Utah in 2003, and is an alumna of Brigham Young University
.
Rasmusen performed "Can't Fight the Moonlight
" by LeAnn Rimes
for her Wild Card performance. Although the judges, including Simon Cowell
, opined that it was not a good enough performance to advance, the next night Cowell chose her as his "judge's choice" to move into the Top 12. Carmen survived for seven weeks in the finals, earning generally mixed reviews from the judges throughout her stay. Her performances of "You Can't Hurry Love
" and "Turn the Beat Around
" received relatively high marks from both judges and viewers, while her rendition of Blondie's
"Call Me
" during Billboard #1 Hits Night drew brickbats. Judge Randy Jackson
was often one of her harshest critics.
Rasmusen was praised by her fans as having a wholesome, girlish appeal and for refusing to wear outfits she thought were inappropriate for her. Fans also cited her on-stage energy and strong vocal projection. Detractors pointed to her recurring difficulty in controlling her natural vibrato
and her tendency to yodel
when changing registers. She was also one of the most outspoken defenders of the show among the second season finalists in the wake of the scandal
involving Corey Clark
's allegations regarding Paula Abdul
.
As the only contestant in the second season under the age of eighteen, she had to spend three hours a day with an on-set tutor. Her mother had to accompany her with the other contestants to the special American Idol house, where they all lived during the competition. She also became close friends with season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken.
After her elimination she went on to appear in numerous shows promoting American Idol and she appeared on the last episode of the second season singing with the other finalists. Rasmusen also appeared on the American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs
singing "How Do I Live
" by LeAnn Rimes.
In June 2008 Carmen starred as one of the headliners for a live music show in Branson, MO, called America's Favorite Finalists. The show featured six top 12 American Idol Finalists performing their own music, cover songs and group numbers. The show ran at the Grand Palace.
, Carmen, was self-released and included her first single, Photograph.
. Her debut album, Nothin' Like the Summer
was released on August 28, 2007, and the first single, "Nothin' Like the Summer", debuted in the United States on April 24, 2007 and also debuted in Shanghai
, Australia
and United Kingdom
. The song was written by Rasmusen, Victoria Shaw
and Jason Deere, who also produced both the song and her album.
Rasmusen did a radio tour in support of the album; she participated in shows at 30 radio stations and 10 television shows including Fox, MSNBC, Today, and Geraldo
. She also opened concerts for Tracy Byrd and Jason Michael Carroll
.
As part of her tour, she started a new program called “Hitching a Ride” where fans can hitch a ride and hang on her tour bus.
Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy as Charlotte Lucas. In 2004, Carmen released an EP
by R3 Records, Carmen.
Rasmusen also appeared in a three episode series of NBC's Fear Factor
, aired on June 13, 2006 - June 27, 2006 . In the first episode, she was teamed with Anthony Fedorov
, and won the first challenge involving a demolition derby
, ultimately winning a trip to Africa. She finished in second place.
In June 2006, Carmen played a news reporter in commercials for Maverik, a convenience store in the western USA.
in Bountiful, Utah
. In December 2008 she gave birth to a son named Boston. Her second son Beckham Herbert was born on October 26, 2010.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist who ranked sixth on the second season
American Idol (Season 2)
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in 2003. Rasmusen also plays piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
Early life
Rasmusen was born on March 25, 1985; she is of NorwegianNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
heritage and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The second of four children, Rasmusen has been performing in public since the age of five: singing, dancing (including cheerleading, tap, ballet and hip-hop dance), and playing the piano.
She graduated from Woods Cross High School in Northern Utah in 2003, and is an alumna of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
American Idol
Rasmusen auditioned initially in Los Angeles and was put through to Hollywood. She was originally eliminated by the judges during the Top 100 stage. In a surprise move, Rasmusen and three other young female singers were brought back to compete in the Wild Card show. No clear reason was made public, but speculation at the time centered on the show's producers wanting to provide a greater demographic diversity in the Final 12.Rasmusen performed "Can't Fight the Moonlight
Can't Fight the Moonlight
"Can't Fight the Moonlight" is a song written by Diane Warren, recorded by LeAnn Rimes and featured on the soundtrack of the film Coyote Ugly, and in the film itself...
" by LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
for her Wild Card performance. Although the judges, including Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, opined that it was not a good enough performance to advance, the next night Cowell chose her as his "judge's choice" to move into the Top 12. Carmen survived for seven weeks in the finals, earning generally mixed reviews from the judges throughout her stay. Her performances of "You Can't Hurry Love
You Can't Hurry Love
"You Can't Hurry Love" is 1966 song originally released by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song topped the United States Billboard pop singles chart and in the UK in the top 5, released and peaking late summer in 1966...
" and "Turn the Beat Around
Turn the Beat Around
In 1994 , the song was recorded by Gloria Estefan for the soundtrack to the film The Specialist. Released as a single, it became a hit reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is also featured on Estefan's fourth solo album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. She also sang the song as her opening...
" received relatively high marks from both judges and viewers, while her rendition of Blondie's
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
"Call Me
Call Me (Blondie song)
"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. Released in 1980, "Call Me" topped the singles charts in both the US and the UK ....
" during Billboard #1 Hits Night drew brickbats. Judge Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
was often one of her harshest critics.
Rasmusen was praised by her fans as having a wholesome, girlish appeal and for refusing to wear outfits she thought were inappropriate for her. Fans also cited her on-stage energy and strong vocal projection. Detractors pointed to her recurring difficulty in controlling her natural vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
and her tendency to yodel
Yodeling
Yodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...
when changing registers. She was also one of the most outspoken defenders of the show among the second season finalists in the wake of the scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
involving Corey Clark
Corey Clark
Corey Delaney Clark is an American singer. He is known for his highly-publicized disqualification from the second season of American Idol and later allegations of a sexual relationship between him and then-Idol judge, Paula Abdul....
's allegations regarding Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
.
As the only contestant in the second season under the age of eighteen, she had to spend three hours a day with an on-set tutor. Her mother had to accompany her with the other contestants to the special American Idol house, where they all lived during the competition. She also became close friends with season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken.
After her elimination she went on to appear in numerous shows promoting American Idol and she appeared on the last episode of the second season singing with the other finalists. Rasmusen also appeared on the American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs
American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs
Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs was compiled of classic American love songs performed by the top eleven finalists from season 2 of American Idol and contains two ensemble tracks. It was released in 2003....
singing "How Do I Live
How Do I Live
"How Do I Live" is the title of a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood...
" by LeAnn Rimes.
In June 2008 Carmen starred as one of the headliners for a live music show in Branson, MO, called America's Favorite Finalists. The show featured six top 12 American Idol Finalists performing their own music, cover songs and group numbers. The show ran at the Grand Palace.
Performances
- Wildcards - "Can't Fight the MoonlightCan't Fight the Moonlight"Can't Fight the Moonlight" is a song written by Diane Warren, recorded by LeAnn Rimes and featured on the soundtrack of the film Coyote Ugly, and in the film itself...
" by LeAnn RimesLeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her... - Top 12 (Motown) - "You Can't Hurry LoveYou Can't Hurry Love"You Can't Hurry Love" is 1966 song originally released by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song topped the United States Billboard pop singles chart and in the UK in the top 5, released and peaking late summer in 1966...
" by The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco... - Top 11 (Movies) - "Hopelessly Devoted to YouHopelessly Devoted to You"Hopelessly Devoted to You", written by John Farrar, is a song originally performed by Olivia Newton-John. The song, featured in the film version of Grease, received an Oscar nomination as Best Original Song, losing to "Last Dance" at the 51st Academy Awards. She performed the song at the 21st...
" by Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA... - Top 10 (Country Rock) - "Wild AngelsWild Angels (song)"Wild Angels" is the title of a song performed by American country music artist Martina McBride. Released in November 1995, it was the second single from McBride's album of the same name. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, giving McBride her first...
" by Martina McBrideMartina McBrideMartina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range.... - Top 9 (Disco) - "Turn the Beat AroundTurn the Beat AroundIn 1994 , the song was recorded by Gloria Estefan for the soundtrack to the film The Specialist. Released as a single, it became a hit reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is also featured on Estefan's fourth solo album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. She also sang the song as her opening...
" by Vicki Sue RobinsonVicki Sue RobinsonVicki Sue Robinson was an American theatre and film actress and singer, closely associated with the disco era of late 1970s pop music; she is most famous for her 1976 hit, "Turn the Beat Around."-Early life and career:...
(Bottom 2) - Top 8 (Billboard #1 Hits) - "Call MeCall Me (Blondie song)"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. Released in 1980, "Call Me" topped the singles charts in both the US and the UK ....
" by BlondieBlondie (band)Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s... - Top 7 (Billy Joel's Music) - "And So It GoesAnd So It Goes"And So It Goes" is a ballad written by Billy Joel in 1983, though it wasn't released until six years later. It appeared as the tenth and final track of his megahit album Storm Front. The original 1983 demo was released on the 2005 box set My Lives. Joel wrote the song about a doomed relationship...
" (Bottom 2) - Top 6 (Diane Warren's Music) - "Love Will Lead You BackLove Will Lead You Back"Love Will Lead You Back" is a song performed by Taylor Dayne. Released as the second single from Dayne's second album Can't Fight Fate , the ballad debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 27, 1990. It reached number one on April 7 that same year and spent 15 weeks in the Top 40...
" by Taylor DayneTaylor DayneTaylor Dayne was born Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 before later adopting her current stage name. She is an American pop vocalist, songwriter, and dance artist. Overall, she has had eighteen individual hit songs reach the top ten in Billboard magazine...
(Eliminated)
Carmen
Her first EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Carmen, was self-released and included her first single, Photograph.
Nothin' Like the Summer
Rasmusen is signed with Lofton Creek RecordsLofton Creek Records
Lofton Creek Records is an United States country music record label launched in 2002 by Harold and Vicky Shafer, along with Mike and Martha Borchetta. The label is based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, they also distributed the Big Al label, which was founded by country singer J...
. Her debut album, Nothin' Like the Summer
Nothin' Like the Summer
Nothin' Like the Summer is the debut album of country music artist Carmen Rasmusen . It was released on iTunes on August 14, 2007, and was physically released on August 28, 2007 on Lofton Creek Records....
was released on August 28, 2007, and the first single, "Nothin' Like the Summer", debuted in the United States on April 24, 2007 and also debuted in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The song was written by Rasmusen, Victoria Shaw
Victoria Shaw (singer)
Victoria Lynn Shaw is an American country music artist. She has recorded four studio albums, and has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
and Jason Deere, who also produced both the song and her album.
Rasmusen did a radio tour in support of the album; she participated in shows at 30 radio stations and 10 television shows including Fox, MSNBC, Today, and Geraldo
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
. She also opened concerts for Tracy Byrd and Jason Michael Carroll
Jason Michael Carroll
Jason Michael Carroll is an American country music artist. After being discovered at a local talent competition in 2004, Carroll was signed to the Arista Nashville label in 2006, releasing his debut album Waitin' in the Country that year...
.
As part of her tour, she started a new program called “Hitching a Ride” where fans can hitch a ride and hang on her tour bus.
Acting career
Rasmusen made her acting debut in 2003 in the feature filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy as Charlotte Lucas. In 2004, Carmen released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by R3 Records, Carmen.
Rasmusen also appeared in a three episode series of NBC's Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
, aired on June 13, 2006 - June 27, 2006 . In the first episode, she was teamed with Anthony Fedorov
Anthony Fedorov
Anatoliy Vladimirovich "Anthony" Fedorov is an American singer who was the fourth place finalist on the fourth season of the American Idol.- Biography :...
, and won the first challenge involving a demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
, ultimately winning a trip to Africa. She finished in second place.
In June 2006, Carmen played a news reporter in commercials for Maverik, a convenience store in the western USA.
Other projects
In the fall of 2007, Carmen's first book was released. Staying in Tune discusses how she's been able to uphold her values while involved with the entertainment industry.Personal life
On December 15, 2005, Carmen married Bradley Herbert, the son of Utah Governor Gary R. HerbertGary R. Herbert
Gary Richard Herbert is the 17th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Utah. Having served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009, he assumed the governorship on August 11, 2009, following the resignation of Jon Huntsman, who was appointed United States Ambassador to the...
in Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
. In December 2008 she gave birth to a son named Boston. Her second son Beckham Herbert was born on October 26, 2010.
Albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Carmen (EP)
|
| 2007 | Nothin' Like the Summer Nothin' Like the Summer Nothin' Like the Summer is the debut album of country music artist Carmen Rasmusen . It was released on iTunes on August 14, 2007, and was physically released on August 28, 2007 on Lofton Creek Records.... Lofton Creek Records Lofton Creek Records is an United States country music record label launched in 2002 by Harold and Vicky Shafer, along with Mike and Martha Borchetta. The label is based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, they also distributed the Big Al label, which was founded by country singer J... |
Singles
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Photograph" | Carmen (EP) |
| 2007 | "Nothin' Like the Summer" | Nothin' Like the Summer |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Nothin' Like the Summer" | Roman White Roman White Roman White is a music video director who has directed most of Carrie Underwood's videos. He has also directed music videos for Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and more... |
Filmography
- Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy (2003), as Charlotte Lucas
- Down and DerbyDown and DerbyDown and Derby is a 2005 comedy film about a Cub Scouts' pinewood derby race. The cars in the race are meant to be built from kits by Cub Scouts with appropriate adult supervision, but in Down and Derby the fathers of four Scouts take over the project from their kids, and get carried away by their...
(2005), as Marilyn
Awards and nominations
| Year | Presenter | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | New Music Weekly Awards | “New Country Artist of the Year” |