Carrie Underwood – American Idol Wiki
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality who became popular after winning season 4 of American Idol in 2005.
In 2025, Carrie returned as a judge on American Idol season 23, replacing the departed Katy Perry.
List of Contents
Profile
| Reality Show(s): | American Idol |
| Seasons (As a contestant): | 4 |
| Seasons (As a judge): | 23 |
| Birth Name: | Carrie Marie Underwood |
| Date of Birth: | March 10, 1983 |
| Place of Birth: | Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States |
| Occupation: | Singer, songwriter, television personality |
| Co-judges: | Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie |
As a contestant
Audition
Carrie auditioned in St. Louis. She sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. All three judges voted “yes”, sending her to the next round.
Hollywood Round
Carrie was shown in the first televised Group of Ten singing “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton she wa shown in the same group of 10 as Jaclyn Crum, Sarah Mather and Tamesha Foote. The judges told her that she did enough to advance. She was shown in the group round with Lakeisha Taylor and Vonzell Solomon she did enough to advance. On the final day of Hollywood Week, she was shown singing “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. She did enough to progress, along with Jamar Jefferson, Mario Vazquez, Matthew Kester, Constantine Maroulis, Judd Harris, David Brown, Anwar Robinson, Janay Castine and Vonzell Solomon. During the judges’ final deliberation, it was revealed that she did enough to land a spot in the Top 24.
Top 24
Carrie sang “Could’ve Been” by Tiffany. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 20
Carrie sang “Piece of My Heart” by Erma Franklin. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 16
Carrie sang “Because You Love Me” by Jo Dee Messina. She received enough votes to make the Top 12.
Top 12
Carrie sang “When I Will Be Loved” by The Everly Brothers. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 11
Carrie sang “Alone” by Heart. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for that week.
Top 10
Carrie sang “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 9
Carrie sang “Hello, Young Lovers” by Gertrude Lawrence from The King and I. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 8
Carrie sang “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 7
Carrie sang “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 6
Carrie sang “When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues” by Martina McBride. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 5
Carrie sang “Trouble” by Elvis Presley and “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 4
Carrie sang “Sin Wagon” by Dixie Chicks and “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. She received enough votes to be considered “safe” for another week.
Top 3
Carrie sang “Crying” by Roy Orbison, “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” by Air Supply and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain (as chosen by Randy Jackson). She received enough votes to advance to the Finale.
Season 4 Finale
Carrie sang “Inside Your Heaven”, “Independence Day” by Martina McBride and “Angels Brought Me Here” by Guy Sebastian.
After the Show
After her Top 11 performance, Simon Cowell made a prediction that not only would she win but that she would outsell any past Idol alum. This prediction came true. Carrie became a country music superstar and is arguably the most successful Idol alum, both commercially and in terms of awards and name recognition.
Her debut album Some Hearts became the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history and the best-selling country album of the last 14 years. She also won three Grammy Awards for the album, including Best New Artist. Her second album Carnival Ride earned Underwood two more Grammys, her third album Play On was a commercial success, her fourth album Blown Away earned her another Grammy and was 2012’s second best-selling release by a female artist. Her fifth album Storyteller made her the only country artist to have her first five albums reach either No. 1 or 2 on the Billboard 200. Underwood sold more than 65 million records worldwide, and has in total 7 Grammys, 10 Billboard Music Awards, 14 ACM Awards, 12 American Music Awards, 8 CMA Awards and a Guinness World Record.
As a judge
Carrie Underwood is a judge for the time in 2025 during season 23.
Seasons
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23
Judges
Randy Jackson (Seasons 1-12) . Paula Abdul (Seasons 1-8) . Simon Cowell (Seasons 1-9) . Kara DioGuardi (Seasons 8-9) . Ellen DeGeneres (Season 9) . Steven Tyler (Seasons 10-11) . Jennifer Lopez (Seasons 10-11, 13-15) . Mariah Carey (Season 12) . Nicki Minaj (Season 12) . Keith Urban (Seasons 12-15) . Harry Connick, Jr. (Seasons 13-15) . Lionel Richie (Seasons 16-) . Katy Perry (Seasons 16-22) . Luke Bryan (Seasons 16-) . Carrie Underwood (Seasons 23-)
Hosts
Brian Dunkleman (Season 1) . Ryan Seacrest (Seasons 1-)
Winners
Kelly Clarkson . Ruben Studdard . Fantasia Barrino . Carrie Underwood . Taylor Hicks . Jordin Sparks . David Cook . Kris Allen . Lee DeWyze . Scotty McCreery . Phillip Phillips . Candice Glover . Caleb Johnson . Nick Fradiani . Trent Harmon . Maddie Poppe . Laine Hardy . Just Sam . Chayce Beckham . Noah Thompson . Iam Tongi . Abi Carter
Runners-up
Justin Guarini . Clay Aiken . Diana DeGarmo . Bo Bice . Katharine McPhee . Blake Lewis . David Archuleta . Adam Lambert . Crystal Bowersox . Lauren Alaina . Jessica Sanchez . Kree Harrison . Jena Irene . Clark Beckham . La’Porsha Renae . Caleb Lee Hutchinson . Alejandro Aranda . Arthur Gunn . Willie Spence . HunterGirl . Megan Danielle . Will Moseley
2nd Runners-up
Nikki McKibbin . Kimberley Locke . Jasmine Trias . Vonzell Solomon . Elliott Yamin . Melinda Doolittle . Syesha Mercado . Danny Gokey . Casey James . Haley Reinhart . Joshua Ledet . Angie Miller . Alex Preston . Jax . Dalton Rapattoni . Gabby Barrett . Madison VanDenburg . (Dillon James, Francisco Martin, Jonny West) . Grace Kinstler . Leah Marlene . Colin Stough . Jack Blocker
