American Idol season 4 winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood is about to take her seat at the judging table for American Idol season 23, so fans have been looking back at her twenty-year history with the show, and they’ve noticed a change in her appearance, which is due to her 2017 accident. Since Carrie won American Idol in 2005, she’s become one of the show’s most successful winners and a global superstar. She’s sold 85 million records worldwide and released 28 number one hits, among her many other incredible accomplishments. Now Carrie’s returning to the place where her phenomenal career began, but this time as a judge.
For American Idol season 23, Carrie will take Katy Perry’s place on the panel, alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Katy, Lionel, and Luke were the original judging panel when ABC revived American Idol in 2018 after FOX canceled it in 2016. They served as judges for seven years until Katy decided that she wanted to leave in order to focus on her own music career again. Although Katy was beloved, and it was hard to find someone to fill her shoes, Carrie was the perfect person to take her place. Here’s what to know about Carrie’s accident, and how it’s changed her appearance a bit since she won American Idol.
What Happened To Carrie Underwood During Her 2017 Accident?
Carrie Sustained Some Serious Injuries
In November 2017, Carrie fell down the steps outside of her Nashville, Tennessee home while walking her dogs. She broke her wrist, and even needed surgery and physical therapy, but her most serious injury was to her face. Carrie needed 40 to 50 stitches above her lip, both inside and outside of her mouth. The injury even hindered her ability to sing for a while, which delayed her 2018 album, Cry Pretty.
However, since her accident, Carrie has continued to have tremendous success in her career, including her post-injury studio albums, Cry Pretty (2018), My Gift (2020), My Savior (2021), and Denim & Rhinestones (2022). She also headlined the Cry Pretty Tour 360 in 2019 and the Denim & Rhinestones Tour in 2022-2023. In addition, Carrie has a Las Vegas residency, Reflection, which will play through 2025, and will be featured in a special called Carrie Underwood: Reflection. It will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ on January 24.
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Carrie also performed just before midnight on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest in 2024, joining the American Idol host as they rang in the New Year and welcomed 2025. Carrie’s accident was definitely a setback for her at the time, but she overcame it, and has continued to shine brightly.
What Has Carrie Underwood Said About Her Facial Injury?
Carrie Was Concerned That She Wouldn’t Look The Same
In a 2017 year-end message to her fans shared on her fan club’s official site seven weeks after her accident, (shared by Variety), Carrie shared that, in addition to her wrist injury, there was another part of the story that she hadn’t been ready to talk about because she was still living it and there was much uncertainty about how things would end up. She wrote, “It’s crazy how a freak random accident can change your life. In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well.”
Carrie went on to say that she’d spare “the gruesome details,” but when she came out of surgery the night of her fall, the doctor told her husband, NHL player Mike Fisher, that “he had put between 40-50 stitches in.” She continued, “Now, here we are 7 weeks later and, even though I’ve had the best people helping me, I’m still healing and not quite looking the same.“
Carrie shared, “I honestly don’t know how things are going to end up but I do know this: I am grateful. I am grateful that it wasn’t much, much worse. And I am grateful for the people in my life that have been there every step of the way. I’ve still got a ways to go in the recovery process, but it’s encouraging to see every day be a little better than the last.”
Carrie explained that she was heading into the studio the following week, and wanted her fans “to understand why I might look a bit different. I’m hoping that, by then, the differences are minimal, but, again, I just don’t know how it’s all going to end up.“
What Has Carrie Underwood Said About Having Plastic Surgery?
Carrie Denied Having Plastic Surgery On Her Face In 2018
In an interview with Redbook in 2018, Carrie was asked if the rumors that she’d had plastic surgery and that her accident was a publicity stunt bothered her. She replied, “I’m on some magazine every other week for something crazy. It’s a little sad, because the truth is just as interesting. I wish I’d gotten some awesome plastic surgery to make this [scar] look better. But I try not to worry too much about it.” Carrie’s denial of having had plastic surgery in 2018 could be an indication that she hasn’t done anything to her face since then either.
What Have Carrie Underwood’s Fans Said About Her Appearance In 2024?
Carrie’s Fans Have Noticed That She Looks Different
Seven years after her accident, Carrie has appeared in promos for American Idol season 23. The show is focusing on Carrie’s full-circle moment as she transitions from a contestant to a judge. Because of this, the promos contain footage from Carrie’s time on American Idol season 4, from her audition to her winning moment. In one post, shared by American Idol on Instagram, Carrie is shown in clips taken twenty years apart, at her audition and then at her debut as a judge. She wears the same color pink in both clips.
Some fans noticed that Carrie looks different now from how she did during American Idol season 4. While some fans pointed out that twenty years have passed, others wondered if Carrie had had plastic surgery. One fan wrote, “She didn’t need all that work done,” while another said, “She was so pretty why did she ruin her face?”
A fan replied to the second comment saying, “she fell and smashed her face then had to have reconstructive surgery,” to which the first fan replied, “oh I forgot. Thanks for saying so I’ll keep my mouth shut.” Another fan defended Carrie in a separate comment, writing, “All the haters in this comment section making fun of her for having a little plastic surgery because of a fall.” However, Carrie herself has denied having plastic surgery due to her injury.
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Although some fans were focused on Carrie’s looks, the majority of them were thrilled to see her taking her place as a judge on American Idol. They gushed about how much they love her, and how uniquely qualified she is for the role. While negativity will always be a problem with social media, it’s beautiful to see that Carrie’s fans are devoted to her and will jump to her defense when needed. Carrie has a world of support behind her as she begins her American Idol journey as a judge.
American Idol Fans Should Remember Carrie Had An Accident
It’s good that Carrie has fans who remember her harrowing ordeal and can explain why she doesn’t look exactly like she did during American Idol season 4. After twenty years, anyone would look different, but Carrie’s facial injury is part of the reason that she’s changed. However, she doesn’t look unrecognizable, and many fans are exaggerating what they see.
American Idol fans should give Carrie some grace because her injury was not only painful for her physically, but also emotionally. Fans might not remember or even know what happened to Carrie during her accident, which is all the more reason that they should keep their comments about her appearance to themselves. It’s also possible that newer American Idol fans who don’t follow Carrie’s career could be completely in the dark about her previous injury.
Carrie went through a very difficult challenge during and after her accident, and fans should keep this in mind when they criticize her looks. No one should be judged by their appearance, and Carrie is no exception. She doesn’t deserve to be bashed, especially because the difference in her appearance is minimal. She had to overcome a lot because of her injury, and she should be praised for it. Carrie is a beautiful person, both inside and out, and she’s going to be a fantastic addition to American Idol season 23.
American Idol season 23 premieres on Sunday, March 9, 2025, on ABC.
Sources: Variety, Redbook, American Idol/Instagram, American Idol/Instagram
American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international “Idol” brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they’d go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America’s next musical idol.
- Release Date
-
June 11, 2002
- Franchise(s)
-
American Idol
- Cast
-
Ryan Seacrest
, Brian Dunkleman
, Paula Abdul
, Simon Cowell
, Randy Jackson
, Kara DioGuardi
, Ellen DeGeneres
, Jennifer Lopez
, Steven Tyler
, Mariah Carey
, Nicki Minaj
, Keith Urban
, Harry Connick Jr.
, Luke Bryan
, Katy Perry
, Lionel Richie - Creator(s)
-
Simon Fuller
- Producers
-
Simon Fuller
, Simon Jones
, Nigel Lythgoe
, Ken Warwick
, David Hill - Franchise
-
Idol, American Idol
- Seasons
-
15
- Avg Episode Length
-
2-3 hours
- Production Company
-
Fremantle North Americ, 19 Entertainment
- Streaming Service(s)
-
FOX
- Showrunner
-
Nigel Lythgoe