At her most recent public engagement, the singer wore a stunning attire that grabbed praise, enhancing her body and dominating attention.
Carrie Underwood visited “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on March 5, 2025, and drew attention with her striking looks. New photographs from the performance have had people buzzing. They soon noticed the singer’s outfit, which emphasized her unique flair and toned figure. She donned a sleek little silver dress with exquisite decorations that shone beneath the studio lights, highlighting her beautiful legs.
The form-fitting design included transparent sleeves and a plunging neckline, which added a strong element to the outfit. The star’s huge waves swirled about her face, highlighting her radiant skin, while her distinctive smokey eye and glossy nude lip completed the look seamlessly. Underwood made an appearance alongside “American Idol” judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, which added to the night’s excitement.
She later turned to Instagram to share memories from the studio, uploading a selfie with the musicians with the message, “Had such a great time with @jimmyfallon, @lionelrichie, and @lukebryan on @fallontonight!”
While some praised Underwood’s toned legs, others criticized her look. Someone commented, “[…] Yikes on the Botox and fillers.”
Others said, “She ruined her face” and “Don’t like the new lips; go back to natural.” Another questioned her cosmetic choices, asking, “What did she do to her lips?” One person expressed disgust, saying, “Too much makeup and fake lips.”
Another person commented on how different she appeared now than when she was younger, saying, “She looks so different now; I remember her as young and very pretty.”
As talk about her appearance persisted, Underwood’s newest career move grabbed headlines. She took on a new role as a judge for the 23rd season of “American Idol,” with Bryan, Richie, and presenter Ryan Seacrest.
The show’s official Instagram account revealed the March 9, 2025 launch date, inviting viewers to tune in to ABC and Hulu. Reactions were mixed, with some excited about her involvement and others less so about her presence on the judging panel.
Despite the various reactions, Underwood accepted the chance with appreciation, noting in an interview the show’s importance in her life.
“They’re probably going to get sick of, like, ‘When I was on the show,'” she quipped, noting how frequently she brings up her personal experience. For the last two decades, she has returned in various ways—as a mentor or performer—and now, as a judge, she considers the program to be home.
Despite her experience with the competition, the diva admits to feeling nervous about her new responsibilities. “Criticizing and telling individuals, ‘No.’ It is people’s dreams, and I take it seriously,” she stated. However, “The Champion” singer views it as an opportunity to mentor budding musicians, saying, “But it is exciting to be a part of other people’s journeys.”
Underwood’s return as a judge on “American Idol” takes her career full circle, nearly two decades after winning the competition. During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she reflected on that life-changing experience and described the flurry of events that followed her 2005 triumph.
At the age of 21, she took the stage as contender number 14887, a number she still recalls and has the original tag sticker for.
Growing up in a rural area, the notion of flying to Los Angeles for the event seemed unreal to her. As she reminisced about that period, a replay of her victorious moment came on the screen. Fallon recognized how far she had gone, to which the Oklahoma native said, “It’s been amazing.”
Underwood’s journey from hopeful candidate to acclaimed singer has been fraught with watershed events. One of these occurred on January 20, 2025, when she mounted the stage at the United States Capitol to perform “America the Beautiful” following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president.
Underwood came to the inauguration wearing a sleeveless dove gray draped midi dress, white leather shoes, and a diamond leaf ring. She ascended the stage accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the US Naval Academy Glee Club, prepared to perform “America the Beautiful.”
However, a technical glitch left her without instrumental accompaniment. Standing in front of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, she turned to the audience for encouragement, saying, “You know the words, help me out here,” before doing an a cappella performance.
Country star Carrie Underwood sings "America the Beautiful" at President Trump's inauguration, shortly after the conclusion of his inaugural address. pic.twitter.com/qJLwhcHFue
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 20, 2025
Many in the audience sang along, and as she finished, she shook hands with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The scene instantly went viral, with others pointing out problems in her singing.
One listener said, “She sounds off-key.” She’ll do better next time,” while another said, “She couldn’t locate the note; she was off-key!” A harsher review stated, “I didn’t expect Carrie Underwood to be amazing a cappella, but I expected her to be able to carry a melody. I can’t believe how off-key she is. Years spent relying on auto-tune.”
Others remarked on her vocal control, stating, “She doesn’t sound flat and out of breath,” while another questioned her performance, stating, “The microphone wasn’t on.” However, not all replies were critical. Some defended her efforts, with one guy saying, “Not bad.” I could hear when the engineers began to improve the sound…but overall, solid performance based on what you presented here.”
Others appreciated her voice, with one describing it as “stellar” and another as “angelic.” One fan praised her abilities to handle the situation: “Carrie performed well! She was clearly apprehensive, as she invited the audience to sing along if they knew the words. Despite the pressure, she delivered an exceptional performance.
Underwood has expressed enthusiasm about playing at the inauguration. She viewed it as an honor and an opportunity to show her appreciation for her nation. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future,” the recording artist said.
While opinions on her decision were mixed, she remained unconcerned about the debate surrounding it. A source close to the singer stated, “She understands the backlash, but she also doesn’t care.”
While some admirers supported her, others quickly expressed their displeasure. However, her engagement was not political. The source added that her act was an homage to the American people, not in favor of Trump.
“She is a former American Idol, and America fulfilled her ambitions. “This is her way of giving back to the country she loves and has always supported,” the insider stated.
Underwood’s recent performances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and her inaugural performance have kept her in the limelight, earning both acclaim and criticism.
While others questioned her decisions, she stayed committed to respecting the country and seizing new chances. Her return to “American Idol” as a judge completes a significant milestone in her career, solidifying her position in the industry. Nearly two decades after winning the competition, she still makes headlines and captivates audiences.