Carrie Underwood Relives Her ‘Idol’ Audition 20 Years After Winning

In a preview for Sunday night’s American Idol episode, new judge Carrie Underwood takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane—by “auditioning” again for the show that launched her career.

Underwood first won over America as the season 4 champion of American Idol two decades ago. During her original audition, she performed Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me and secured her golden ticket to Hollywood. Her powerhouse performances led judge Simon Cowell to predict that she would not only win but also outsell every previous Idol winner—a prediction that proved to be true.

What Simon didn’t foresee was Carrie returning to American Idol as a judge. She made her debut on the season 23 premiere on March 9, instantly connecting with viewers through her musical expertise, empathy for contestants, and sharp sense of humor.

Carrie Underwood’s Full-Circle ‘Audition’ Moment

A heartwarming moment occurred during the March 16 episode when a contestant chose to sing I Can’t Make You Love Me—the same song Carrie performed at her 2004 audition. Inspired by the throwback, Carrie gave an impromptu performance of the song, mesmerizing her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

A video posted on Carrie’s social media captures the moment, with Lionel jokingly offering her a platinum ticket.

“You know, I have dreams that I’m trying out for #IDOL again. Like, I’ve already won once, but I’m gonna do it again,” Carrie captioned the clip.

Reflecting on her Idol journey, Carrie shared how she sees herself in the contestants she now judges, recalling the overwhelming validation she felt when she first received her golden ticket.

“Getting that first golden ticket, having somebody say ‘We believe in you,’ it was like…wow…it was validation,” she said. “It’s so much fun to be on the other side now, giving people that opportunity.”

Watch Carrie Underwood’s nostalgic Idol moment in the video below