Carrie Underwood may be preparing to show fans a very different side of her music. The country superstar is reportedly exploring new rock material, with Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose helping guide her as she experiments beyond the sound that made her famous.
According to recent reports, Underwood has been working on new music that leans more heavily into rock. Rose is reportedly mentoring her during that process, although no official rock album or release date has been announced.
The partnership makes sense considering Underwood’s long admiration for Rose. She has previously described him as one of her musical heroes and has spoken about how his ability to use his voice in dramatically different ways influenced her own approach to singing.
Their friendship also has a history onstage. Rose surprised fans by joining Underwood during her 2022 Stagecoach performance, where they performed Guns N’ Roses classics together. Underwood later described that night as one of the greatest experiences of her life.
Their musical connection continued after Stagecoach. Underwood joined Guns N’ Roses during performances in London in 2022, and Rose later appeared during her “Denim & Rhinestones Tour” stop in Los Angeles in 2023 for an explosive performance of “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Underwood’s interest in rock, however, started long before those collaborations. She has repeatedly talked about growing up with a wide range of musical influences and has made no secret of her love for hard rock and metal.
That side of her personality became especially obvious at the Velocity Festival in Dyersville, Iowa, on September 5. Instead of sticking entirely to her familiar country catalog, Underwood surprised the audience with a block of heavy rock and nu-metal covers.
Her set included Collective Soul’s “Shine,” Papa Roach’s “Scars,” Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” and Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff.” For the Limp Bizkit performance, she even wore a backward red baseball cap in a playful nod to frontman Fred Durst.
The performance followed another moment of inspiration for Underwood. She had arrived early enough to watch Shinedown perform at the festival and later said the experience inspired her to try some different things during her own set.
Her recent collaborations also show how comfortable she has become moving between country and rock. Underwood has performed with artists including Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach and Billy Idol, while continuing to record and perform the country songs that built her career.
A full rock album therefore remains possible rather than confirmed. Underwood has previously said she would “never say never” to making one, explaining that she loves the energy and freedom she experiences at rock concerts. She has also expressed interest in recording something with Guns N’ Roses someday.
For now, Underwood does not appear to be abandoning country music. Instead, she seems increasingly interested in allowing her heavier influences to become a bigger part of what she does. With Axl Rose reportedly offering guidance and Underwood already testing rock material onstage, fans may be getting their clearest glimpse yet of where this unexpected musical chapter could lead.
