Updated
2025-03-10T16:57:23Z
- Carrie Underwood returned to "American Idol" as a judge on Sunday.
- Since first appearing on the show in 2005, she's been pushing fashion boundaries on red carpets.
- Here are the singer's most daring looks of the last 20 years.
It's been two decades since Carrie Underwood took the stage and was crowned the fourth winner of "American Idol."
Since then, Underwood, 41, has become one of the most successful contestants on any reality show, not just "American Idol." She has dozens of awards to her name, including eight Grammys, 10 People's Choice Awards, and 25 CMT Music Awards — and now she's back on "American Idol," but this time as a judge.
She's also become a fashion risk-taker. Underwood has worn many bold styles across her career and rarely plays it safe.
We've chosen 38 of the most daring looks she's worn since winning "American Idol" 20 years ago — take a look.
After she won "American Idol" in May 2005, Underwood walked the red carpet in a bold animal-print dress with a jade-and-red belt.
Underwood beat the other finalist, Bo Bice, to become the champion of season four of "American Idol." She's since become one of the most successful contestants of all time.
She went full Old Hollywood glam at the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006.
Underwood opted for a satin champagne-colored dress with another low-cut neckline for her first ACM Awards. She accessorized with a silver necklace featuring a large black pendant.
At the 2006 CMA Music Festival in June, Underwood paired pinstripe shorts with a denim corset top and cowboy boots.
This look proves that Underwood wasn't — and still isn't — afraid to mix patterns, materials, and aesthetics on the red carpet.
At the 2006 CMA Awards, Underwood wore this backless white fit-and-flare gown.
While her piecey updo is very 2006, this dress has stood the test of time — Sabrina Carpenter wore a similar look to the 2025 Grammys.
Later that month, Underwood paired princess glam with some rock 'n' roll edge at the 2006 American Music Awards.
Underwood wore a bold, black ball-gown skirt over gray shorts with a matching gray and black top to perform a medley of her biggest hits at the time: "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Don't Forget to Remember Me," and "Before He Cheats."
Underwood wore a canary-yellow gown that was almost entirely backless at the 2008 CMA Awards.
This gown was designed by Roberto Cavalli.
Underwood switched it up a little for a 2009 Grammys event by channeling disco divas in a black polka-dot minidress with bell sleeves.
Underwood ditched her usual country vibes for this event by channeling '70s disco glam.
At a 2010 Grammys event, Underwood wore this one-shouldered dress that's criss-crossed with pearls and sequins.
Her look was designed by Jenny Packham.
Underwood looked like she was wearing a watercolor painting at the ACM Awards in April 2010.
The strapless dress featured a satin lavender belt around her waist.
Later that year, at the CMA Awards in November, Underwood wore a bold gray dress featuring an oversize peplum waist.
The gun-metal gray was a new look for the singer, as was the tulle, but the rose detail at the waist is pure Underwood. The look was designed by Talbot Runhof.
Underwood wowed in this red gown with a thigh-high slit at the American Country Awards in December 2010.
The beaded cummerbund and sheer overlay on the shoulders of this Georges Chakra gown really add to the glam.
Underwood wore this artfully draped fuchsia gown at the 47th ACM Awards in 2012.
As we've seen, Underwood is never one to shy from a daring neckline.
We can't tell if it's Underwood or Cinderella on the red carpet of the Billboard Music Awards in May 2012.
Underwood landed on many best dressed lists in this gray/blue ball gown that's fit for a princess and designed by Oscar de la Renta.
Underwood wore a white gown with sheer panels and golden leaves and accessorized with husband Mike Fisher at the 2012 CMA Awards.
The sheer panel on this dress goes all the way down to just above her belly button.
At the 2013 CMA Awards, Underwood rocked a skin-toned dress with a sheer skirt.
The elegant rose-gold look was designed by Ralph & Russo.
In May 2014, the "Smoke Break" singer walked the Billboard Music Awards red carpet in this electric-yellow dress with a silver bodice and low neckline.
The intricately detailed gown was designed by Oriett Domenech.
Later that night, she strutted the red carpet with her award in this shimmery gown with a slit and a cutout.
Underwood won the Milestone Award that year, and she showed it off while in this stunning dress with a bold golden belt.
Her heels feature miniature golden crocodiles, too.
She wore a white dress covered in pink and black flowers with a similar silhouette to the 2014 CMT Music Awards.
The dress, which features a keyhole cutout, was designed by Roberto Cavalli.
Underwood wore a sparkly blush-colored mini dress with a bedazzled cape at the 2015 American Music Awards.
Underwood, who took home the favorite country female artist award, was adorned in Yas Couture.
For the (original) "American Idol" series finale in April 2016, Underwood wore a feathery gown with a see-through bodice and skirt.
The look was designed by Yanina Couture.
She continued her bold choices at the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards with this structured white gown.
You might not be able to see them, but the Gauri & Nainika gown actually features white shorts underneath.
When Underwood and her husband attended the CMT Music Awards in 2016, she wore a dress with a slit all the way up to her hip.
Underwood's dress features a cutout just below her shoulder, too.
To walk the red carpet of the 2017 Grammys, Underwood wore this blood-red gown with a keyhole cutout and a center slit.
The dramatic long-sleeved dress was designed by Elie Madi.
Underwood wore a skin-colored high-neck gown with crystal embellishments for the ACM Awards in April 2017.
This sparkly, shimmery look was designed by LaBourjoisie.
She wore a beige gown with a tulle overlay, red flowers, and a deep-V neckline at the 2018 ACM Awards.
Underwood looked like a woodland fairy in this Berta gown — this evening was also her first performance after an accident that led to her getting 40 stitches in her face, per Us Weekly.
She wore an ornate beige and bronze dress with a periwinkle train on the red carpet of the 2019 CMA Awards.
This glam dress — one of nine looks she wore that evening — was designed by Elie Madi.
Underwood wore this deep-purple sequined gown with a high slit at the American Music Awards in November 2019.
The asymmetrical gown was from Stello by Stephanie Costello.
She went for this edgy black dress with buckle details for the ACM Awards in September 2020.
The sparkling, belted dress was designed by Marina Hoermanseder.
For the Latin American Music Awards, she chose beachy waves and a sunset-colored ombré dress.
This butterfly-inspired look was designed by Iris van Herpen.
Underwood made sure everyone stayed 6 feet away in this one-shouldered dress covered in silver spikes at the 2021 CMA Awards.
The bold look was designed by Jean-Louis Sabaji.
Underwood was dressed for a celebration at the 2022 ACM Awards, wearing this silver confetti-inspired minidress.
And celebrate she did in this Rami Kadi dress — she won single of the year for her duet with Jason Aldean, "If I Didn't Love You."
Underwood wore a gold ombré ball gown with a crystal bodice to the 2022 Grammys.
The bold look was designed by Dolce & Gabbana. That evening, she performed her song "Ghost Story" and won the Grammy for best roots gospel album for "My Savior."
The "Cry Pretty" singer wore a purple chain-mail leopard-print minidress at the CMT Music Awards in April 2022.
She paired the mini with a pair of sky-high black pumps.
She took a Canadian tuxedo to a whole new level at the 2022 iHeartCountry Festival.
In a nod to her album "Denim & Rhinestones," she picked a denim vest, purple acid-washed denim shorts, and rhinestone-encrusted denim boots for her performance.
At the 2022 CMA Awards, she wore a dramatic off-the-shoulder blue gown with a long train and high slit.
This look came from La Metamorphose, a French couture brand.
A few weeks later, Underwood walked the 2022 American Music Awards red carpet in a fringed pink gown with another slit.
The Tony Ward dress was a pastel pink with silver trim and blue, pink, yellow, and green fringe.
To attend the 2023 CMT Awards in April, Underwood was decked out in crystals.
The all-silver tailcoat and shorts were designed by Dolce & Gabbana and were entirely encrusted in Swarovski crystals.
