Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood and other stars reveal the big breaks that tempted fate and changed their lives forever. For Alan, it was a chance meeting between his wife, Denise, and Glen Campbell, who eventually hired Alan to work at his music publishing company. “It took several years for all of that to really help me,” Alan says. Carrie recalls the day her mother drove her to St. Louis for the American Idol auditions. “I never thought I would be able to handle it,” Carrie says. But Carrie’s mom never lost faith. Find out what other stars have to say about their big breaks in this special section.