Carrie Underwood rose to fame after winning the fourth season of “American Idol” in 2005. Her undisputed performance featuring her powerful voice that can deliver amazingly high notes has been as remarkable as her natural blonde curls which have been arranged with a rocker-chic vibe at that time.
The country singer grew up on her parents’ farm in Checotah, Oklahoma. Although music never ran in their family, Carrie began singing at church when she was about three. She then starred in school plays and as she got older, she started performing in local talent shows.
Carrie wasn’t really completely into singing when she was in college. She entered Northeastern State University in 2002 pursuing a career in broadcast journalism. Two years later, she decided to audition for the fourth season of “American Idol” and the rest is history.
After winning the reality show, Carrie returned to college to graduate. She earned college credit for “American Idol” – serving as an internship. The country singer graduated magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism.
Carrie has been by far the most successful “American Idol” contestant of all time. She has received recognition by music industry heavyweights like Stevie Nicks, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, Steven Tyler, and Vince Gill. She has also won seven Grammy Awards and is the only female to have won the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year twice. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2014.
Along with her music career, the country star’s hair evolution is something to watch for. Her remarkable Southern hairstyles never fail to wow us. Whether it’s her big-barrel curls or volumized waves, dolly updo or just plain straight, she will always look fabulous as she’s already naturally pretty inside and out.
Check out Carrie Underwood’s hairstyles over the years.
Photos
Carrie Underwood with her plunging V neckline dress and a ponytail with loose tendrils as she attends the 2019 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5, 2019.
Carrie Underwood arrived at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards in a half-up hairstyle on April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas, NV.
On October 9, 2008, Carrie Underwood received an award at the 2018 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, CA. She wore a stunning black dress along with a wavy hairstyle that’s pinned on the sides.
Carrie Underwood looks sophisticated in a deep side-parted hairstyle during the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony honoring singer Carrie Underwood on September 20, 2018.
Carrie Underwood strikes a pose with her long, side-swept, blonde hair during the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards on June 22, 2018.
Carrie Underwood looks lovely wearing this short flippy hairstyle with side bangs at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2017 on April 2, 2017.
Carrie Underwood was ultra chic in a messy upstyle with side-swept bangs hairstyle as she attends the 59th GRAMMY Awards on February 12, 2017.
Carrie Underwood was the face of perfection in a classic short side-part bob haircut at the 74th Golden Globe Awards on January 8, 2017.
Carrie Underwood topped off her look with a tousled blonde hairstyle in curls for the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards on May 1, 2016.
Carrie Underwood chopped her hair into a bob for a more sleek and sophisticated look as she attends the American Idol FINALE Arrivals on April 7, 2016.
Carrie Underwood wears a cute bob that adds charm to her face during the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards Arrivals on April 3, 2016.
On April 1, 2016, Carrie Underwood performs onstage at the 4th ACM Party for a Cause Festival with a short, layered hairstyle in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Carrie Underwood rocked a short, side-swept hairstyle as she performs during The Storyteller Tour in Pittsburgh on February 17, 2016.
Carrie Underwood attended the 58th GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 15, 2016, in a short slicked hairstyle.
Carrie Underwood goes retro in a deep side-part upstyle hairstyle as she performs onstage during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on December 31, 2015.
Carrie Underwood completed her look with a side-swept voluminous bob hairstyle as she attends the 2015 American Music Awards on November 22, 2015.
Carrie Underwood in a short, white dress and a tousled hairstyle with side bangs during the 2015 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 10, 2015.
On September 27, 2014, country singer Carrie Underwood performs onstage with a voluminous wavy hair during the 2014 Global Citizen Festival to end extreme poverty by 2030.
Carrie Underwood arrived for the 2014 CMT Music Awards on June 4, 2014, wearing a long, halter dress and a bouncy, wavy hairstyle that’s complemented with statement earrings.
Carrie Underwood looked gorgeous in a dotted black dress along with a side ponytail that’s dramatically tousled during the 2014 Billboard Awards on May 18, 2014.
Carrie Underwood is as lovely as ever in a slicked side bun that she paired with dangling earrings at the Billboard Music Awards 2014 on May 18, 2014, in Las Vegas, NV.
Carrie Underwood attended the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards on April 6, 2014, in a beaded white dress along with her bouncy curls that she gathered on one side.
Carrie Underwood with her short and side-parted waves during the T.J. Martell Foundation’s 38th Annual Honors Gala at Cipriani’s on October 22, 2013.
Carrie Underwood gathered her voluminous curls on one side during the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 22, 2013.
On June 5, 2013, Carrie Underwood attended the 2013 CMT Music Awards in an edgy green dress as she styled her thick blonde hair in big curls.
Carrie Underwood gathered her blonde hair in a messy updo with wispy bangs and tendrils during the Academy of Country Music Awards 2013 on April 07, 2013.
Carrie Underwood complemented her shoulder-length waves with side bangs during the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013, in Hollywood, CA.
Carrie Underwood flashed a sweet smile at the 2012 American Country Awards on December 10, 2012. She wore a peach halter dress and parted her voluminous waves in the middle.
On November 18, 2012, Carrie Underwood wore a royal blue dress and a side-parted hairstyle during the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.
Carrie Underwood pinned her side-swept blonde hair during the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards on November 18, 2012.
Carrie Underwood looking fabulous in a blue embroidered dress and a volumized curly hairstyle during her blown away tour on October 6, 2012, in Seattle, WA.
Carrie Underwood arrived for the “American Idol” 2012 Finale on May 23, 2012, in a navy sequined dress and layered blonde curls.
Carrie Underwood in a lovely tube dress and voluminous blonde curls during the 2012 Billboard Awards at MGM Garden Arena on May 20, 2012.
Carrie Underwood styled her blonde locks with tousled curls during the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1, 2012.
Carrie Underwood looks sexy in a backless dress that she paired with a loose updo at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012.
Carrie Underwood sporting a low bun hairstyle during the 2011 Press Room of the American Country Awards on December 5, 2011.
Carrie Underwood looked glamorous in a beige sequined gown that’s paired with subtle curls and side bangs at the 2011 CMA Awards, Bridgestone Arena on November 9, 2011.
On September 23, 2011, Carrie Underwood appears on the red carpet at the 2011 iHeartRadio Music Festival wearing a black outfit and layered waves with full bangs.
Carrie Underwood was seen at the American Idol Finale last May 25, 2011, sporting an updo hairstyle with loose tendrils and side bangs.
Carrie Underwood in a floral embroidered dress and a low ponytail with messy tendrils at the Simon Fuller Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Ceremony on May 23, 2011.
Carrie Underwood shows off her tousled blonde waves during the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held last April 3, 2011.
Carrie Underwood is dazzling in a tube gown along with her glam updo with thick tendrils during the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 16, 2011.
Carrie Underwood looks fabulous in a red gown and updo hairstyle with tendrils and side bangs at the 2010 American Country Awards held on December 6, 2010.
Carrie Underwood attended the 2010 American Idol Grand Finale on May 26, 2010, in an asymmetrical dress and twisted waves with long side bangs.
Carrie Underwood completed her look with a glam upstyle that’s complemented with side tendrils during the Idol Gives Back 2010 in Pasadena Civic Center last April 21, 2010.
On April 18, 2010, Carrie Underwood was seen at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards wearing a pleated halter dress and a half upstyle hairstyle.
Carrie Underwood complements her short layered locks with a cute pin during The Recording Academy and Clive Davis Present The 2010 Pre-Grammy Gala held on January 30, 2010.
Carrie Underwood matched her unique tube dress with a short, side-parted hairstyle during the 2010 People’s Choice Awards last January 6, 2010.
Carrie Underwood looks like a goddess in a nude halter dress along with her short tousled waves that she pinned on one side during the 2009 American Music Awards on November 22, 2009.
Carrie Underwood flaunts her short, tousled curls with a pin on one side during the CNN Heroes An All-Star Tribute held on November 21, 2019.
On November 3, 2009, Carrie Underwood performed for Good Morning America GMA Concert with Carrie Underwood at Lincoln Center, New York. She wore a black front zipper dress that she paired with long layered curls.
Carrie Underwood gathered her long blonde locks into a messy upstyle with side bangs during the 2009 ‘American Idol’ Grand Finale on May 20, 2009.
Carrie Underwood looked gorgeous in a side ponytail that she wore at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music ACM Awards last April 5, 2009.
Carrie Underwood in a Zuhair Murad gown and a loose ponytail hairstyle during the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009.
Carrie Underwood rocked a tousled half-up hairstyle at the Clive Davis and The Recording Academy present the Annual Pre-Grammy Gala held on February 7, 2009.
Carrie Underwood opted for a glam look with a Jenny Packham dress and a loose updo with side tendrils during the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards last January 7, 2009.
On January 7, 2009, Carrie Underwood styled her long blonde waves with a half updo at the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, CA.
Carrie Underwood arrived at an in-store appearance for the Unveiling of Carrie Underwood Wax Figure on October 22, 2018. She styled her highlighted blonde curls with a side part and bangs to pair with her black dress and layered necklaces.
Carrie Underwood looks charming in a straight half updo with side bangs at the American Idol 2008 Grand Finale last May 21, 2008.
Carrie Underwood in the press room for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards held on May 18, 2008. She was wearing a lovely magenta dress along with her straight, layered locks that she complements with full bangs.
Carrie Underwood in a loose side-parted hairstyle and a striking asymmetrical dress at the 2008 Sony/BMG Grammy After Party held on February 10, 2008.
Carrie Underwood flaunted her long. blonde curls with side bangs during the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party last February 9, 2008.
Carrie Underwood gathered her long locks into a side-parted upstyle during the 2007 American Music Awards last November 18, 2007.
Carrie Underwood in a cute pink dress along with a side ponytail at the World Premiere of “Enchanted” held on November 17, 2007.
Carrie Underwood wearing a black outfit and side-parted curls during her concert for Good Morning America Concert with Carrie Underwood held on October 23, 2007.
Carrie Underwood styled her long curls with a half updo and side bangs during the 2007 Sony/BMG Grammy After Party on February 11, 2007.
On February 11, 2007, Carrie Underwood arrived for the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She wore a patterned gray dress and side-parted curls with subtle highlights.
Carrie underwood matched her purple dress with a half updo during the 2006 Billboard Music Awards held last December 4, 2006.
Carrie Underwood pinned her shoulder-length straight hair and complements it with side bangs during the 2006 American Music Awards on November 21, 2006.
Carrie Underwood in the press room for the Academy of Country Music Awards wearing a sexy black dress and voluminous curls held last May 23, 2006.
Carrie Underwood styled her thick blonde hair with twisted curls for the music mogul Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 7, 2006.
Carrie Underwood shows off her layered blonde waves during the 2005 Billboard Music Awards held on December 6, 2005, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
