Carrie Underwood appears to be exploring a very different musical direction, with new reports revealing that the country superstar is working on rock music with guidance from Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. The unexpected development has sparked fresh speculation about whether Underwood could eventually release a full rock project.
According to TMZ, Underwood has been working on new music that sounds different from the country material for which she is best known. Sources say Rose is mentoring her as she experiments with rock, adding another surprising chapter to a musical relationship that has already included several performances together.
Underwood and Rose have shared the stage before, most notably during the 2022 Stagecoach Festival. The pair performed together there, and Underwood has previously spoken about Rose’s influence on her own approach to singing. Their history makes the reported mentoring relationship especially notable as she explores the genre more seriously.
Underwood has never hidden her love for rock and heavier music. In a 2023 interview with Audacy, she said she has an affinity for rock and metal and explained that she loves the energy of rock concerts. She also said at the time that people should “never say never” when it comes to what she might record.
That earlier comment has taken on new meaning now that reports have emerged about her current studio work. While there is no confirmed announcement of a dedicated rock album, her willingness to experiment suggests that the possibility remains open.
Fans have already seen Underwood embrace her rock side onstage. On September 5, she performed a rock-heavy set at Iowa’s Velocity Festival that included songs associated with Collective Soul, Papa Roach, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, showing a noticeably different side of her performance style.
Her connection to Rose also goes beyond their past performances. Underwood has previously described him as an important influence on how she learned to sing, recalling that she was fascinated by the different things he could do with his voice. That admiration makes his reported role as a mentor particularly meaningful.
The timing is also interesting because Underwood continues to have deep ties to country music. She remains active as a country performer and is scheduled to headline the Barefoot Country Music Fest in New Jersey in June 2027, meaning her exploration of rock does not currently indicate that she is leaving country behind.
For now, the exact direction of Underwood’s new music remains unclear. Reports indicate that she is experimenting with a different sound and receiving guidance from Rose, but there has been no official confirmation that a complete rock album is on the way.
Still, the possibility is enough to get fans talking. After years of hearing Underwood dominate the country world, her growing interest in rock—and her reported work with one of the genre’s most recognizable vocalists—could open an entirely new chapter in her music career.
Compiled with information from various sources.
