Relive Carrie Underwood’s Emotional “American Idol” Win
on Mar 13, 2025
Carrie Underwood Recently Began Her Stint As An American Idol Judge
The hit reality singing show American Idol announced on August 1, 2024 that country superstar Carrie Underwood will take her place at the judges’ table alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for the show’s 23rd season.
The former Idol champion replaces former judge Katy Perry, who announced her exit from the show. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Perry shared that the season would be her last, saying that she needed “to go out and feel the pulse to my own beat.”
Underwood is already doing a great job as a judge, connecting with the audience and the contestants. One contestant even trusted her holding her son while she auditioned, and the sweet child fell asleep in her arms.
A lot of the promotion for Season 23 of American Idol have been about Carrie Underwood coming home to the show 20 years after she won.
A Look Back At Carrie Underwood’s American Idol Journey
In 2005, a blonde Oklahoma native with a powerful voice was crowned the fourth winner of American Idol. Little did she know, she would become a household name on a global scale, selling out arenas on a national level.
“Congratulations to the both of you for being here on this stage right now,” said Idol host Ryan Seacrest. “One of you is about to make television history, here we go. The winner of American Idol 2005 is Carrie Underwood!”
As her name was read, 21-year-old Carrie Underwood burst into tears as her fellow contestants ran onto the stage to congratulate her. Following her historic win, the country singer performed her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven,” visibly overcome with emotion throughout her performance.
With a record-breaking 500 million votes cast, Underwood edged out long-haired Alabama rocker Bo Bice to take home the $1 million recording contract. The season was heralded as one of the toughest-matched pairings of the series.
Carrie occasionally shares throwback photos from her time on the show, paying homage to the place where she got her start.
Post-American Idol Success
Following the release of her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven,” Carrie Underwood became the first country artist to debut at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the only solo act in the genre to have a No.1 song on the Hot 100 chart in the 2000s.
Carrie has since released 8 more studio albums, one greatest hits album, and 29 singles. As of 2023, Underwood had sold more than 85 million albums, won 8 Grammys, 16 ACM Awards, 9 CMA Awards, 26 CMT Music Awards, and more than 120 other global awards, making her one of the most successful American Idol winners in the show’s history.
Relive the emotional moment Carrie Underwood won American Idol in the video below.
