Carrie Underwood Gets Emotional Watching Her ‘American Idol’ Audition

Carrie Underwood got her big break when she won season 4 of “American Idol.” Ahead of her full circle moment returning to the show as a judge on season 23, the country star rewatched her audition from 20 years ago.

Carrie Underwood Revisits Her ‘American Idol’ Audition

In a March 5 “Idol to Icon” video, Underwood looked at her “American Idol” audition from 20 years ago and all of the feelings from that moment came flooding back to her.

She recalled how an executive producer for the show told her that judge Simon Cowell didn’t like country music. When she sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, Cowell cut her off before she could finish.

“I was like, ‘Ah, I did a bad job. He stopped me singing,'” she shared.

Cowell told her, “I was saying to someone the other day, ‘I’m surprised that we haven’t found a good country singer in this competition yet.’ I think you’re very good. I think you should stay good at what you’re doing as well.”

Underwood said that Cowell’s advice to “keep being me” was so helpful. “I feel like he deserves a lot of credit for that,” the singer noted. “Instead of being like, ‘I don’t like country music. This isn’t what I wanna listen to,’ he saw a country artist and the value that country music has.”

The “Idol” winner noted, “I have no idea how that 21-year-old Carrie was able to muster up enough guts to walk into a room and audition in front of Simon, Paula [Abdul], and Randy [Jackson] — and the world.”

Underwood called the moment “destiny,” adding, “We all have one and it’s written. And you just have to follow it.”

Cowell, Abdul, and Jackson all agreed that Underwood advanced to the Hollywood round of the competition … and the rest is history.

Carrie Underwood Gets Choked Up About What She’d Tell Her 21-Year-Old Self

Underwood also took a moment to read her 2005 journal entry about the “American Idol” experience.

“I just have to keep in mind that it will all be worth it and the life I’ve started will be great,” Underwood wrote at the time. “Most importantly, I have to remember that this has all been my choice and it’s something I’ve wanted ever since I was a little girl.”

She continued, “I know I have some great things ahead of me. Right now I’m just trying to live in the moment and appreciate it all. I never dreamed that all of this would happen to me. I love it.”

Underwood became emotional when she reflected on how “Idol” changed her life. “I don’t even know if I could tell her what she’s about to experience,” she said as she held back tears.

“Seeing myself, 21 years old, the world ahead of you. Obviously, it’s overwhelming, but you’re gonna do fine, kid. You’re gonna be okay. Just hold on,” the singer said.