Long before she became a Grammy-winning superstar and a fixture of the country music world, Carrie Underwood was just a small-town girl with a big voice and a dream. And one night in 2005, that dream came closer to reality when she stepped onto the American Idol stage and delivered a show-stopping rendition of Heart’s “Alone.”
Now, two decades later, Underwood is revisiting that unforgettable moment—and revealing the nerves, doubts, and behind-the-scenes jitters that came with it.
“I thought for sure they were going to hate it,” Underwood admitted in a new social media video, filmed while she was on set as a judge for American Idol Season 23. “I remember writing in my journal how much they were not gonna like me singing this song.”
At the time, contestants were challenged to perform No. 1 hits. For Underwood, “Alone” was a risky choice—not only was it a powerhouse rock ballad outside her country comfort zone, but the judges had previously urged her to stop playing it safe.
“It was one I’d had in my back pocket,” she explained. “I knew I could hit the high notes, and I wanted to show that rock ’n’ roll side of me.”
But it wasn’t just the vocal performance she was nervous about. Her look—complete with sky-high teased hair—also pushed her outside her usual style.
“That was some big hair,” she laughed. “I was a little self-conscious in the moment. It wasn’t how I was used to seeing myself.”
Looking back, she now sees the whole performance as a turning point, both stylistically and professionally. “Now it’s iconic. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
And the judges? They didn’t just like it—they were blown away.
Simon Cowell, never one to hold back, famously predicted, “Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any previous Idol winner.”
“It was amazing,” Underwood recalled. “But I also thought, ‘I have a target on my back now.’”
Fortunately, Cowell’s bold prediction proved prophetic. Underwood went on to win Season 4 of American Idol and has since sold more than 85 million records worldwide—more than any other Idol alum, including Kelly Clarkson.
“The compliment outweighed the fear,” Underwood says now. “Because that was just incredible. I know I slept well that night.”
Today, Carrie Underwood is more than just an Idol success story—she’s a benchmark of what can happen when risk, talent, and authenticity collide on one of television’s biggest stages.
