Carrie Underwood almost passed on ‘Before He Cheats’

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One of Carrie Underwood’s most iconic songs almost sounded a lot different.

During a recent interview with People, the 42-year-old singer revealed she almost passed on her hit song « Before He Cheats, » admitting she initially questioned if it was « too aggressive. »

« 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 told the outlet. « But 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. »

The hit song was featured on her debut album, « Some Hearts » in 2005, and was later re-released as a single in 2006.

Carrie Underwood at the finale of "American Idol" in May 2025.

Underwood said she almost turned down her hit song « Before He Cheats. » (Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty Images)

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While it’s been over 20 years since the song was released, Underwood shared that younger generations of country music fans continue to find the song, including her son.

« 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.’ And I was like, ‘That’s ‘Before He Cheats.’ And I walk in there and my 6-year-old is lying on my bed watching my music video. And I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And he’s like, ‘Nothing,' » she said.

She went on to say that after finding the iconic song, « he started going down the rabbit hole » of some of her other older music videos.

Underwood shares two sons with her husband, Mike Fisher: Isaiah, 10, and Jacob, 7. It seems she passed down her talent for singing to her sons, as she and Isaiah teamed up to sing « Little Drummer Boy » on her 2020 Christmas album, « My Gift. »

Carrie Underwood in a black dress with a white bow on set of American Idol.

Underwood teamed up with her son Isaiah to sing « Little Drummer Boy » on her 2020 Christmas album. (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)

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« It was so great. When we recorded, I was able to be in the booth with him and encourage him and try to remind him what words were coming up next, things like that, » she told People in December 2020. « I got to listen to his vocals [get] put together and then listening to myself with him. I was laughing, and I was crying, and it was just very overwhelming in a good way. It’s just very emotional. »

The singer shot to stardom after winning the fourth season of « American Idol » in 2005. She went on to release eight albums, including « Play On, » « Storyteller » and « Denim & Rhinestones. » Over the course of her career, she also won eight Grammy Awards and holds the record for the most-awarded artist at the CMT Music Awards.

Years after finding success on the competition singing show, Underwood returned as a judge for the 22nd season of the show, replacing Katy Perry.

« I do have a big problem … I can’t lie., » Underwood told « Good Morning America » in August 2024. « I feel like I’ll be very honest but hopefully constructive and encouraging. »

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Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood behind the judging desk when filming "American Idol" in November 2025.

Underwood returned to « American Idol » as a judge for season 22. (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)

She later added that even after all these years, the show « feels like home, » and that she will « be able to hopefully offer some insight, and help » to the contestants, as she knows how they feel.

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