For Years, She Was the Face of Classic Country Glam—Now Carrie Underwood’s Bold Transformation Has Everyone Talking. ML
Carrie Underwood Surprises Fans With a Bold New Look — and a Tearful Tribute — at the Opry’s 100th Birthday Show
Carrie Underwood made jaws drop at the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th Birthday Celebration on October 25 — not just because of her powerhouse vocals, but because of her stunning new look that has everyone talking.
The country queen, 42, stepped out with noticeably darker hair, ditching her long blonde locks for a richer, brunette tone that fans instantly fell in love with. Sharing photos from the night on Instagram, Carrie looked radiant as she performed in front of a packed house.
“This hair color is everything!” one fan wrote, while another added, “She looks amazing — so natural.”
Carrie first hinted at going darker this summer, telling fans she hadn’t seen her natural shade since she was “around 12 years old.” Now, she’s fully embraced it — and fans say she’s never looked better.
A Bittersweet Night on Stage
The night, however, wasn’t just about glitz and glam. Carrie took a quiet moment to honor her late friend and songwriter Brett James, who recently died in a plane crash that also claimed the lives of his wife and daughter.
Performing “Jesus, Take the Wheel” — the same song she sang at his funeral — Carrie dedicated the performance to him, writing afterward:
“I’m blessed to have known him, and I get the gift of singing his words for the rest of my life.”
Fellow artists including Junior Brown, Shaun Cassidy, John Foster, and Mark Willis also took the stage for the celebration, making it a night of both remembrance and revival.
A Look Back at Carrie’s Journey
Before her rise to superstardom, Carrie studied Broadcast Journalism and competed in college beauty pageants, even taking first runner-up in the 2003 Miss Northeastern State University contest.
She went on to marry Mike Fisher in a lavish half-million-dollar wedding, and in the years since, has become one of the most decorated artists in country music history with over 85 Billboard number ones.
Her life hasn’t been without struggle — in 2018, she suffered a severe fall that left her with a broken wrist and facial injuries requiring up to 50 stitches. Yet, true to form, Carrie came back stronger than ever.
Now, with a refreshed look, a heart full of faith, and a career defined by grace, Carrie Underwood reminds us once again why she’s country music royalty — timeless, resilient, and always evolving.
