Carrie Underwood‘s American Idol adventure has come complete circle.
Fans first met Underwood when she auditioned for season 4 of the making a song pageant. Following her 2005 victory, Underwood went directly to grow to be one of the most greatest names within the nation song global, and she or he returned to Idol a number of instances all the way through the years.
In 2024, Underwood was once introduced a extra everlasting place, changing Katy Perry as a pass judgement on along Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for season 23. “I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show,” she mentioned in a press release video on the time. “I’m proud of everything that I was able to accomplish on the show and I’m so proud of everything I’ve accomplished since.”
Underwood later make clear her taste of positive complaint, revealing in a radio interview that she was hoping to “be honest” all through the audition procedure “but still kind” to these hoping to earn their giant breaks. “You’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on,” she defined.
When season 23 premiered, Underwood gushed that competing on Idol “changed” her lifestyles. “Now, I have the privilege of helping a new generation of artists change theirs,” she added.
Many contributors of that new era made their love for Underwood identified earlier than heading into the audition room — and a few even attempted their hand at making a song the rustic megastar’s greatest hits.
Scroll underneath to look each and every time considered one of Underwood’s songs was once carried out on American Idol season 23:

Sophia Humbert
An established Underwood fan, the Arizona local took a possibility via auditioning with “Before He Cheats” at the piano. Underwood hinted that the efficiency wanted extra “rage in there somewhere,” so the judges requested Humbert to sing once more — this time whilst smashing a pickup truck with a baseball bat.

Breanna Nix
Nix captivated the judges along with her rendition of Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Her audition additionally served as a candy lullaby for her son, Emerson, who fell asleep in Underwood’s palms.

Landry Champlin
In a video bundle earlier than her audition, Champlin published that she was once “always” requested to accomplish Underwood’s song as a child when she sang on the Grapevine Opry in Texas. She endured the streak on Idol, making a song the 2012 hit “Good Girl.”

JMarie
The New Yorker put her personal spin on “Before He Cheats” all through a March 2025 episode. “This is a hood anthem, Carrie. I’m sorry, it is,” she joked. “All my girls on the block, we know that song word for word. It speaks to us, Carrie.”
At the top of her efficiency, JMarie added a little bit one thing additional, making a song, “Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats / ‘Cause he ain’t that dumb.”
Underwood admitted she “was a little worried” about listening to her personal songs used all through Idol auditions, however she liked JMarie’s interpretation. “I forgot about myself ever having sung that song,” she mentioned.

Yani
“I will be singing a song that perhaps is familiar. It’s pretty deep,” the New Jersey local mentioned earlier than sudden the judges with Underwood’s “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”
Underwood known as the tune selection “clever,” sending Yani thru to Hollywood.

Canaan James Hill
When the highest 10 tackled empowering anthems via feminine artists in May 2025, the gospel singer took a possibility along with his efficiency of Underwood’s 2018 tune “Love Wins.”

Jamal Roberts
In some other homage to Underwood’s empowering discography, Roberts put a soulful spin on “Undo It” in May 2025 — cowboy hat and all. “That was so much fun!” Underwood raved after his efficiency.

Mattie Pruitt and Breanna Nix
The pair of powerhouse vocalists teamed up for a duet of Underwood’s 2014 hit “Something in the Water” all through a May 2025 episode. “You guys had some tears in my eyes,” Underwood mentioned, including that she felt “honored” via the efficiency.
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