Carrie Underwood Reflects on Rewatching Her 'American Idol' Audition 20 Years Later

The country star revisited her 2005 audition as she prepares to join the judging panel for the upcoming season of American Idol.

Carrie Underwood, now 41, rewatched her 2005 American Idol audition in a video released ahead of her debut as a judge for the show's 23rd season.
Underwood performed Bonnie Raitt’s 'I Can’t Make You Love Me' during her audition, which was praised by the original judges despite Simon Cowell cutting her off mid-performance.
She revealed that Cowell’s known dislike for country music influenced her song choice, but he still recognized her talent and encouraged her to stay true to herself.
The singer reflected on her journey from a nervous 21-year-old contestant to a Grammy-winning artist with 85 million records sold worldwide.
Underwood will join Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the judging panel when American Idol premieres on Sunday, March 9, 2025, on ABC.