Carrie Underwood has one of the most versatile voices in music. Whether she’s belting it out on tour or offering a tender-hearted performance on an awards show, there’s no limit to what Underwood’s voice is capable of. In addition to being a powerhouse vocalist, she’s an electrifying performer that can hold her own in various genres. Check out some of her best live moments below.
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “How Great Thou Art” featuring Vince Gill
When Carrie Underwood performs “How Great Thou Art,” she doesn’t just sing it—she feels it. No performance proves that more than when she teamed up with Vince Gill at ACM Presents Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country in 2011. Gill supported her on guitar as she belted out the faith-based lyrics. From the moment she hit the first note, it was clear that Underwood could feel the song’s message deep in her bones, a feeling she conveyed to the packed room. By the song’s end, Underwood had the star-studded audience of her peers, including Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and The Judds on their feet, applauding at the sheer power of her voice as she held one spectacular note after another. “What a voice,” Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles can be seen mouthing while awarding Underwood with a standing ovation. We couldn’t agree more.
2. “Softly and Tenderly” at the 2017 CMA Awards
While she’s known for her powerhouse vocals, Underwood showed that she’s just as powerful when she lets the emotion in her voice shine with this cover of the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” at the 2017 CMA Awards. The performance served as a memoriam to the victims of the devastating mass shooting that occurred one month prior at Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas that claimed the lives of 60 country music fans and injured hundreds more, marking the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Underwood couldn’t have done a better job of taking care of the song and honoring the victims, offering a heartfelt performance that showed off the empathetic tones in her voice. A tear-jerking moment comes as the fans inside Bridgestone Arena held candles in their hands as Underwood’s voice started to crack with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes on the final lines, making for one of the most memorable sets of her career.
3. “Church Bells” at the 2016 ACM Awards
Underwood always delivers show-stopping performances, but “Church Bells” at the 2016 ACM Awards is easily one of her best. Underwood transformed the stage into a dramatic set complete with booming drums fit for this southern gothic tale. Underwood doesn’t miss a beat as she hits a series of grand notes, the performance coming to a climax when she does an impressive drum solo (and tosses the sticks like a boss). If you want to see the level of confidence Underwood has onstage, just watch this performance.
4. “Alone” on American Idol
If not for American Idol, the world may not know who Carrie Underwood is. While all of her performances were incredible, it could be argued that her cover of Heart’s “Alone” is what solidified her win during season four. The song suited her big voice and showed off her growing confidence on the stage. “Carrie, you’re not just the girl to beat, you’re the person to beat,” judge Simon Cowell professed. “I will make a prediction not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.” His instincts were correct—Underwood is currently the highest-selling Idol contestant in history, selling more than 66 million albums.
5. Guns N’ Roses Medley With Axl Rose at 2022 Stagecoach
Even though she’s a country queen, Underwood hasn’t been shy about how rock music has influenced her artistry, a fact she proved when she brought out surprise guest Axl Rose during her set at the 2022 Stagecoach Festival. “Welcome to the greatest night of my life,” Underwood proclaimed as she welcomed the Guns N’ Roses frontman to the stage, the two launching into a pair of Roses’ hits “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The country superstar held her own next to the rock legend, the set proving her voice knows no bounds.
6. Tribute to the Women of Country at the 2020 ACM Awards
There’s no better person to pay tribute to the iconic female country artists who came before her than Underwood. During the 2020 ACM Awards, Underwood performed a stellar tribute to the women of country ranging from Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn to Reba McEntire and Martina McBride. Performing to an empty Grand Ole Opry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Underwood proved her voice can fill a room all on its own as she rolled through covers of Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That” and McEntire’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” among others. But when she holds the final note of McBride’s “A Broken Wing” at the end of the medley, it’s likely to leave you gob-smacked at the glass-shattering nature of her voice that’s sure to solidify her place in the genre for decades to come.
Photo by Jeff Johnson / Full Coverage Communications
