Carrie Underwood just gave fans an unforgettable trip down memory lane, sending social media into a frenzy with never-before-seen throwback photos from the early days of her career.
The 42-year-old country music sensation took to Instagram to share a series of nostalgic images from her American Idol journey, showcasing how far she’s come since first auditioning as a hopeful contestant with a bright smile and big dreams.
In the photos, a fresh-faced Carrie is seen striking playful poses with her fellow contestants outside the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, back when she was just another aspiring singer trying to make her mark.
Sporting her signature golden curls, light-wash jeans, and a pink T-shirt, Carrie embodied early 2000s fashion, completing the look with a brown and pink logo handbag that fans quickly declared “peak Y2K chic.”
One photo captures her joyfully placing her hands into the celebrity handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while another features her proudly wearing her contestant badge—number 14887—grinning from ear to ear as she sat in a fluffy blue chair. The excitement in her eyes was evident.
“Check out never before seen personal photos from my #AmericanIdol Hollywood Week in 2005,” Carrie wrote in the caption.
Fans went wild, flooding the comments with heart emojis, nostalgic reflections, and praise. “The QUEEN of Idol! The best winner ever,” one fan exclaimed, while another added, “You have not aged a day! Still the sweetest, most humble superstar.”
