Country superstar Carrie Underwood has shared that one of her biggest hits almost never made it to the recording studio.
In a recent interview, the American Idol alum revealed she was initially unsure about recording "Before He Cheats," questioning whether its bold lyrics matched her wholesome image at the time.
"Even when we were talking about recording that song, it was kind of like, 'Oh, is this too aggressive?'" Underwood recalled. "Because I was like a sweet farm girl on American Idol-and I hope that's who I still am-but it was almost, 'Maybe we don't do this song.'"
Released in 2005 as part of her debut album Some Hearts, "Before He Cheats" became the defining track of Underwood's career. The song topped charts worldwide, won multiple Grammy Awards, and helped establish her as one of country music's most powerful voices.
Nearly two decades later, Underwood says she's glad she took the risk. "Everybody loved it so much, we went for it, and it worked," she said. "Even now, people love performing it-it's still a lot of fun."
The country star also shared a sweet family moment involving her youngest son, Jacob, who recently discovered her music video for the song. "I walked into my room, and there he was watching Before He Cheats," she said with a laugh.
Now balancing motherhood, faith, and music, Underwood remains thankful that one uncertain choice turned into a timeless anthem.
