Carrie Underwood gave fans a throwback to one of her most memorable performances when she was competing on Season 4 of American Idol, 20 years ago. In her Idol to Icon series, where she looks back at her journey to being crowned the winner, Underwood recounts singing a cover of Heart's 1987 hit, "Alone," and how it made her step out of her comfort zone.
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Underwood recently relived that moment, performing the same song two decades later. The song celebrates her triumphant return to the show that made her famous, this time as a judge.
Underwood recalls, while reading her journal how she felt performing the rock song, which was a departure for her while on Idol.
"I, despite my mile-high hair, did a wonderful job tonight," Underwood reads. "All the judges praised me. Simon told me that I was not just the girl to beat, but the person to beat. He then went on to make a prediction that I would not only win the AI competition, but I would sell more albums than any other American Idol has. I was really surprised. I mean, I know that Simon loves me. That was a total shocker."
Carrie Underwood As A Judge on 'American Idol'
Underwood is enjoying her first time as a judge on American Idol, sitting alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. The experience has been eye-opening for the mother of two, who admits she had no idea so much talent would show up to audition for the TV show.
"I was nervous coming in because it's a different ballgame," Underwood says on Audacy's Superstar Power Hour. "Sitting on the other side of the table, more than anything, I want to help all of these people coming through, and help them become better performers and live their dreams. So I want to be constructive and tell them things they can work on. But then you're like, 'Am I coming across mean?' Or, 'How is it gonna turn out?' I'm really happy getting to watch the first little bits of it."
"There's so much talent," she adds. "It's kind of insane how gifted some of these people are."
