Most Unexpected
Carrie Underwood

True confession: I've never been a fan of American Idol's season 4 champ. But her beguilingly retro ''San Antonio Rose'' and heartfelt ''Desperado'' — respective tributes to Texan songwriters Bob Willis and Don Henley — were enough to convince even this long-standing holdout that Underwood is worthy of her breakaway successes. Not that she needs any props from a wayward critic: After all, she is Grammy's Best New Artist of 2007.