Why Carrie Underwood Nearly Didn’t Record “Before He Cheats”
Carrie Underwood was initially uncertain if America was ready for her to lyrically smash headlights and slash tires.
The award-winning artist, 42, shared that she battled with anxiety before recording “Before He Cheats,” the fiery anthem from the 2000s that became a cornerstone of her early career, in a new interview published on Wednesday, January 21.
“I remember when we first discussed recording that song, it was like, ‘Is this too aggressive?’” Underwood told People at the Nashville American Idol season 9 press line.
The former American Idol champion hesitated to move forward with the track, which featured a chorus about digging her keys into a “pretty little souped up four-wheel drive” and etching “my name into his leather seats,” fearing it might tarnish her wholesome image.
“Because I was this sweet farm girl on [American Idol] — and I hope that’s still who I am — but it was almost, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t do this song,’” she explained.
“Before He Cheats” was first included on her debut album, Some Hearts, released in November 2005, and was released as a single the following year.
Ultimately, it turned out to be a great decision, as “Before He Cheats” not only topped the charts but also became one of her signature hits. “Everyone loved it so much that we decided to go for it, and it… worked. But, yeah, even 20 years later, we still see people performing it, and it’s a lot of fun,” she added.
Underwood revealed that even her family members can’t escape the catchy tune.
She recalled, “He started going down the rabbit hole of my old music videos.”
Underwood is the proud mother of two sons with her husband, Mike Fisher. Their first son, 10-year-old Isaiah, was born in February 2015, followed by Jacob, who was born in January 2019. Underwood and the former hockey player, 45, tied the knot in July 2010.
The “If It Was Up To Me” hitmaker expressed feeling “blessed” for achieving so much while pursuing her dreams, from winning American Idol to serving as a judge for aspiring singers, marking a full-circle moment for her, and performing at the 2025 presidential inauguration.
She also discussed revisiting her past discography and bringing it back to the stage for fans to enjoy once more. “We’ve started pulling out some of those songs to perform for some recent shows, and I feel like the fans are really enjoying that,” Underwood shared. “And I’m enjoying it too.”
Underwood added, “I feel like my voice has developed, my musicality, my songwriting, and my performance skills. I just — I feel better.”
