Carrie Underwood wasn’t sure America was ready for her to smash headlights and slash tires — lyrically, that is.
The award-winning performer, 42, admitted that she wrestled with fear prior to recording “Before He Cheats,” the fiery 2000s anthem that defined her early career, in a new interview published on Wednesday, January 21.
“I remember even when we were talking about recording that song, it was kind of like, ‘Oh, is this too aggressive?’” Underwood, 42, told People while attending the Nashville American Idol season 9 press line.
The former American Idol winner revealed that she hesitated to proceed with the track, which included a chorus about digging her keys into a “pretty little souped up four-wheel drive” and carving “my name into his leather seats,” as it could have tarnished her wholesome image.
“Because I was like a sweet farm girl on [American Idol] — and I hope that’s who I still am — but it was almost, ‘Maybe we don’t do this song,’” she explained.
“Before He Cheats” was first featured on her debut album, Some Hearts, which was released in November 2005, and got a second release as a single the following year.
In the end, it worked out for the best as “Before He Cheats” not only dominated the charts, but also became one of her staple hits. “Everybody loved it so much, we went for it and it … worked. But, yeah, 20 years later, we still see people perform it, and it’s a lot of fun,” she added.
Underwood confessed that her own family members can’t even get the catchy track out of their heads.
“I recently was vacuuming my house, and when I turned the vacuum off [there was] a noise coming from my bedroom and I was like, ‘It’s music,’” the singer said, revealing that she recognized it the moment she got closer. “And I walk in there and my 6-year-old [Jacob] is lying on my bed watching my music video. And I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And he’s like, ‘Nothing.’”
She recalled, “He started going down the rabbit hole of my old music videos.”
Underwood is the proud mom of two sons shared with her husband, Mike Fisher. Their first child, 10-year-old Isaiah, was born in February 2015, followed by his younger brother, Jacob, born in January 2019. Underwood and the former hockey player, 45, wed in July 2010.
The “If It Was Up To Me” hitmaker said that she feels “blessed” to have accomplished so much while chasing her dreams, from winning American Idol to serving as a judge for aspiring singers, which has been a full-circle moment for the star, and performing at the 2025 presidential inauguration.
She also spoke about her past discography, and bringing it back to the stage for fans to enjoy all over again. “We’ve kind of started pulling out some of those songs just to play in show form for some recent shows, and I feel like the fans are liking that,” Underwood shared. “And I’m liking that too.”
Underwood added, “I feel like my voice has grown, my musicality, my songwriting, my performance abilities. I just — I feel better.”
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