Carrie Underwood Shares Her Proudest Song and Favorite Live Performance

During an appearance on Good Morning America, Carrie Underwood revealed some of her favorite songs from her career. While she has many songs to choose from, some of her favorites are also fan favorites.

When asked about her favorite song to play live, Underwood revealed that it’s “Before He Cheats” from her 2005 studio debut Some Hearts. She started by saying, “I love to do covers,” but added that “people really get into ‘Before He Cheats’ and sing it super loud and sassy,” punctuating her comment with a sassy finger snap.

Underwood was then asked about the song she’s most proud of, and it’s also the song that signified her big break. For Underwood, that song is “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” As she explained, “I feel like that set up an entire career of being able to sing songs about faith … I didn’t even realize how important it was at the time,” and added, “But I’ve since gotten to make a gospel album, and sing songs like that. I feel like that’s what started it all.”

She also recounted how “Jesus, Take the Wheel” made a significant impact, staying at No. 1 for a long time and resonating with many people. “I felt like I arrived,” she said with a laugh.

During the same appearance, Underwood revealed what kind of judge she will be on American Idol. She recently signed on to take Katy Perry’s place, concluding a lengthy search for the next judge. For Underwood, who won the show in 2004, it feels like coming home.

She now faces the task of deciding her judging style. One thing about her personality will likely shape her approach. As she disclosed, “I can’t lie.”

Speaking with GMA on August 2, she continued, “I just can’t. You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully I can be very constructive and encouraging.”

It sounds like Carrie Underwood aims to find a balance between judging styles. She’ll navigate between someone as tough as Simon Cowell, who was notoriously hard to please, and someone like Lionel Richie, who seeks out the positives in every performance. Some fans have expressed disappointment with the overwhelmingly positive feedback from recent judges, feeling there’s a lack of constructive criticism to help contestants grow. These fans will have to wait and see how Underwood delivers her constructive criticism this season.

Featured Image by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images