Carrie Underwood is one of the biggest stars in contemporary country music, but it wasn’t that many years ago that she was just another young singer looking for a break.
Her audition for American Idol changed all of that.
When Did Carrie Underwood Audition for American Idol?
Underwood was almost entirely unknown when she auditioned for American Idol on Aug. 11, 2004.
The clip below shows the young singer nervously pacing and wringing her hands in the hallway outside of the audition room, while her mom, Carole, proudly told the cameraman, “I just think she’s beautiful, and I think she’s got the voice, so I hope she’s going on. But I don’t know. I have faith in her.”
The 21-year-old aspiring star admitted to judge Randy Jackson that she was “a little bit” nervous, “because he’s scary,” she said with a cute laugh, indicating the sometimes-intimidating Simon Cowell, who was clearly bemused, saying, “No I’m not,” with a big grin.
She went on to completely charm the judges before she’d sung a note, talking about being the captain and quarterback of the football team and even — with some understandable reluctance — revealing on-air the fact that she was born with a third nipple, which she had removed.
What Did Carrie Underwood Sing During Her American Idol Audition?
Underwood auditioned by singing the Bonnie Raitt classic “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and it was obvious from the first note that she would make it through to the show, with both Cowell and Jackson complimenting her on her performance.
But she wasn’t done just yet — Underwood also demonstrated an uncanny ability to cluck like a chicken so convincingly that the normally unflappable Cowell said, “God, that was good.”
She not only made it to the live show, Underwood dominated the fourth season of American Idol and ultimately won the show on May 25, 2005.
Her 2005 debut album, Some Hearts, was a massive hit, and she has gone on to more than two decades of runaway success that includes Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and American Music Awards, along with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.
Underwood is the best-selling American Idol alum in U.S. sales and has scored 16 No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart.
When Did Carrie Underwood Start as a Judge on American Idol?
Underwood returned to American Idol beginning in March of 2025, this time as a judge.
Is Carrie Underwood Returning to American Idol for Season 24?
Underwood has not yet revealed whether she intends to serve another season as an American Idol judge.
However, fellow judge Luke Bryan told Taste of Country Nights that he believes she’ll do another season.
20 Things Carrie Underwood Has Done Since Winning ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood has been, well, busy since winning Season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Since the confetti fell, the country singer has released nine albums and embarked on seven tours. She’s also tried her hand at acting and launched a handful of businesses.
Over the years she’s become one of the biggest success stories to come out of the show, winning countless awards and amassing a staggering net worth of over $100 million.
Keep scrolling to see 20 things Underwood has done since her time on the reality singing competition.
A Look Back at Carrie Underwood on ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood had a truly unforgettable run on American Idol, and though she’s moved on to become one of country music’s biggest superstars, she’s never forgotten her roots on the show.
Flip through the gallery below to see Underwood’s history on Idol, from her journey to being the Season 4 champion in 2005 to all the times she’s returned to the show.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
