Carrie Underwood competed on and won season 4 of American Idol , which aired from January 18 to May 25, 2005.

Her Journey

A 21-year-old college senior from Checotah, Oklahoma, auditioned in St. Louis in 2004, singing Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me." She wowed judges with powerhouse vocals, including Heart's "Alone," earning Simon Cowell's bold prediction that she'd outsell all prior Idol winners—which she did, launching a career with eight Grammys and countless hits.

Key Timeline

  • Audition : Early 2004 (St. Louis tryouts).
  • Hollywood Week : Performed "Young Hearts Run Free."
  • Top Performances : Standouts like "Sin Wagon" (country night) and "When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues."
  • Finale : May 25, 2005—beat Bo Bice with 37 million votes; season total hit 500 million.

Legacy Today

Two decades later, Underwood returned as a judge for season 23 (premiering March 2025 on ABC), reflecting on her full-circle moment alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Fans still buzz about her raw talent that turned a small- town dreamer into country royalty.

TL;DR : Carrie shone on American Idol season 4 in 2005, winning on May 25.

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