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Carrie Underwood experienced a full-sacre moment last month when she returned to “American Idol” as a judge 20 years after being selected as the winner of the hit-singing competition show.
The 42-year-old country star joined Lionel Richie and Luke Brian on the judging committee along with longtime host Ryan Seacrest, the 23rd season of “American Idol,” which premiered on March 9th.
When Underwood was a contestant for the fourth season of 2005’s “American Idol,” Judge Simon Cowell shared bold predictions about the future of Muscogee, Oklahoma and Native.
“Carrie, you’re not just a beat girl. You’re a beater,” he said, “only” after the aspiring country singer played the rock band Hart hit.
Carrie Underwood experienced a full-sacre moment last month when she returned to “American Idol” as a judge 20 years after being selected as the winner of the hit-singing competition show. (Getty)
“American Idol” Judge Carrie Underwood admits that bringing faith to Hollywood is “hard”
“I make predictions. I’ll not only win this show, I’ll sell more records than previous idol winners.”
Cowell’s prophecy was met after Underwood declared a season 4 winner, and she continued to sell more than 85 million records than other “American Idol” winners to date.
When Underwood was a contestant for the fourth season of 2005’s “American Idol,” Judge Simon Cowell shared a bold prediction about the future of Muscogee, Oklahoma. (Robinbeck/AFP via Getty Images)
Let’s take a look back at Rise from Underwood’s reality TV contestants to country music royalty.
“American Idol”
Underwood was the winner of the fourth season of 2005 “American Idol.” (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Underwood won a million-dollar recording contract after being declared the winner of “American Idol” on May 25, 2005.
Less than a month later, Underwood made history when he released his first single “Inside Your Heaven,” becoming the first country singer to debut in No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In November 2005, Underwood released their debut studio album, “Some Hearts.” It was the top of the Top Country Albums chart and reached number two on the Billboard 200.
Underwood won her first Grammy Award in 2006, bringing home the trophies of the best new artists and the best women’s country performance. (Vince Butch/Getty Images)
“Some Hearts”, “Wasted” and “Before He Cheats,” featuring the No. 1 single “Yes, Take the Wheel,” became the bestselling solo female debut albums in the history of country music, and was certified platinum nine times by the RIAA.
In 2006, Underwood won her first Grammy Award, bringing home the trophies of the best new artists and the best women’s country performance. At the ACM Awards, she won the Top New Female Vocalist Award and a one-year single for “Yes, Take the Wheel.”
Carrie Underwood warns that children are watching too much TV, notices a “change in attitude” in her son
“Yes, Take the Wheel” won the Underwood CMT Award for this year’s groundbreaking video and the best women’s video of the year.
“Carnival Ride”
Underwood won the Top Women’s Artist Award, Album of the Year and Video of the Year. (Jemal Countess/WireMage)
Underwood tracked “Some Hearts” with his second studio album, “Carnival Ride,” which was released in October 2007 and debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 album and the Top Country Albums chart.
It was the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, which includes four singles from “Carnival Ride,” “Just a Dream,” “Last Name,” “So Small,” and “All-American Girl.” “Carnival Ride” has been certified platinum twice within two months of its release and has now received four platinum certifications.
In 2008, Underwood won her third Grammy Award after winning her best female vocal performance “Before I Cheat.” At Amas, she was awarded the Artist of the Year and Favorite Country Artist Awards.
Carrie Underwood has been appointed as the newest member of Grand Ole Opry by fellow Opry member Garth Brooks. (Rick Diamond/Wire Image)
The hitmaker embarked on her first headline tour after joining forces with fellow country star Keith Urban for a “Love, Pain and Crazy Carnival Ride Tour” kicked off in January 2008.
On May 10, 2008, country music legend Randy Travis introduced tearful underwood to Nashville’s famous Grand O’Reoplee.
“The induction award they gave me is saying, ‘Hey, you’re part of the family,'” Underwood said via Taste of Country.
Underwood and Brad Paisley held the CMA Awards together from 2008 to 2018. (via Katherine Bonboy Thorton/Getty Images of Disney General Entertainment)
In 2009, Underwood won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance with “Last Year” and won a Grammy Award.
At the 2009 CMA Awards, Underwood was named Female Vocalist of the Year for the third consecutive year. The singer also co-hosted the awards show for the first time with country star Brad Paisley, and she has returned as a host for the next 11 years.
“play”
The singer released her third studio album, “Play on,” in 2009. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)
“American Idol” alumnus Carrie Underwood acknowledges the “big problems” she faces in her new role as a judge.
Underwood released their third studio album, “Play On,” in November 2009. The record features three chart-top singles, including “Undo,” “Cowboy Casanova,” and “Temporary House.”
The singer teamed up with Travis for the single “I Tall You So,” before winning his fifth Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. She also won Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2009 ACM Awards.
In 2010, Underwood performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. That year, she won the Entertainer of the Year award at CMAS and became the first woman in history to win two times.
In 2010, Underwood performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. That year, she won the Entertainer of the Year award at CMAS and became the first woman in history to win two times. (Andy Lions/Getty Images)
Underwood released their fourth studio album, “Blown Away,” in May 2012. The album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 and The Top Country album charts. The record also produced chart-topping singles “Good Girl” and “Blown”.
In 2013, Underwood won his sixth Grammy Award when he was awarded the Best Solo Performance of “Blown Away.”
The following December, Underwood released her first biggest hit album, “Greatest Hits: Decade Number 1.”
In 2015, Underwood released their sixth studio album, “Story Teller.” (Christopher Pork/Getty Images)
“Greatest Hits: Decade Number 1” featured the single “Something in the Water.”
In 2015, Underwood notched his sixth consecutive No. 1 album on the Top Country album chart when he released his fifth studio record, “Story Teller.” In 2016, she embarked on her fifth headline tour in support of the album.
“Crying so cute”
Underwood’s 2018 album, “Cry Pretty,” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. (AP)
Underwood released their sixth studio album, “Cry Pretty,” in November 2018. After “Cry Pretty” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, Underwood made history as the first female artist at the top of the charts with four country albums.
“American Idol” alumni Carrie Underwood replaces Katy Perry as judge
In September 2018, Underwood won the 2,646th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony in honor of Cowell and Paisley.
On September 20, 2018, Carrie Underwood, husband Mike Fisher and son Isaiah at Underwood’s Star Unbyling Ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
Underwood released her first Christmas album, “My Gift” in September 2020. “My Gift” won the No. 1 spot on the Top Country Albums chart and reached the fifth spot on the Billboard 200.
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The record debuted at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums and Top Holiday Albums charts.
In March 2021, Underwood challenged a new genre of music when she released her first gospel album, “My Savior.”
“Denim and rhinestones”
She followed up in 2022 with her ninth studio album, “Denim & Rhinestones.” This took the 10th spot on the Billboard 200 at the 2022 ACMS. He also collaborated with Jason Aldean, “I didn’t love you.”
Carrie Underwood is watching the red carpet at the CMA Awards. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
In 2023, Underwood released a deluxe edition of “Denim & Rhinestones.”
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“Idol” will perform back at President Trump’s inauguration
Underwood joined Lionel Richie and Luke Brian as judges for the 23rd season of “American Idol.” (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
Underwood revealed that she will be returning to “American Idol” in a video she shared in August 2024.
“I’ve gone from someone who doesn’t know my name to tens of millions watching the show,” she said. “I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved on the show, and I’m very proud of everything I’ve accomplished ever since.”
Underwood began 2025 by performing “American Beautiful” at the 60th Presidential Inauguration, which was held on January 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Underwood kicked off 2025 by playing “American Beautiful” with President 60 Inauguration date President Donald Trump took office on January 20th.
Due to technical issues, Underwood sang patriotic songs and won rave reviews for her performance.
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Prior to the inauguration, Underwood announced his participation in the statement, saying, “I am honored to love our country and be asked to sing at the inauguration and be a small part of this historic event.
“I am humbled to answer the phone when we all have to look to the spirit of unity and the future.”
