Let’s Take a Look Back at Carrie Underwood’s Red Carpet Style Evolution — From 2005 to Present Day

Country chic! It’s been about 17 years since Carrie Underwood won season four of American Idol — and her style has come quite a long way. 

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The 39-year-old singer, who has collected a very glamorous wardrobe throughout the years, was first a fan of low-key outfits and early 2000s trends. Think: crimped hair and low rise jeans. 

But she rocked ‘em all. Just before winning her season, Us Weekly readers voted the “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer their Celebrity Style Crush in 2005. And it might have a little something to do with the leopard-print halter dress she wore on American Idol. 

The Oklahoma native made her first official red carpet debut later that year, stunning in a strapless pale pink dress with floral embellishments. Fast forward a few years though and Underwood refined her red carpet fashion choices. It was all designer mini dresses and gorgeous flowing gowns. 

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One of her most memorable style moments of all time came to pass at the 2010 CMA Awards in November 2010. The “Before He Cheats” singer made a bold statement in a tiered Talbot Runhof metallic silver gown, which she paired with a Swarovski crystal clutch. 

For more casual engagements, Underwood has made it clear that she gravitates toward short-shorts. She not only wore some daisy dukes while performing for the Today show in August 2012, but she also showed off her toned gams in a Georges Chakra blue short set at the CMT Music Awards in 2013. 

Shortly thereafter, the mom of two started to wear anything and everything with a little — or a whole lot of — glitz. In November 2014, while pregnant with son Isiah, who she shares with Mike Fisher, Underwood shimmered in a Lorena Sarbu dress. 

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The sparkly trend has stayed strong through present day, as the country star has stunned in everything from a beaded Michael Cinco gown at the 2016 CMAs and a bedazzled yellow minidress at the 2018 CMT Music Awards to a head-to-toe sequin gown with a thigh-high slit at the 2019 American Music Awards. 

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More recently, she stunned in a black sparkly number at the 2020 American Music Awards, where she accepted the award for Entertainer of the Year. She switched things up at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards though, rocking a red, orange and purple ombre Iris van Herpen Haute Couture gown. 

But her latest look is perhaps our favorite yet. For the 2022 ACM Awards, Underwood completely shut down the red carpet in a glitzy Dolce and Gabbana mini dress that landed her on our best dressed list.

To take a look at Underwood’s 17-year style evolution, keep scrolling! 

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Before winning the fourth season of American Idol, Underwood was named by Us Weekly readers as their Celebrity Style Crush. That year, she rocked a colorful leopard-print maxi dress.

 

The country crooner looked cute and casual while backstage at the CMA Awards in New York City, wearing low rise jeans and shimmery black top. 

At American Idol's fifth season finale, Underwood donned a pale pink strapless dress for her red carpet debut. 

Not only did Underwood win big at the 2007 American Music Awards, but she she also started to get noticed in a good way for her fashion choices, thanks to this white Georges Chakra dress.

The star stunned in a Grecian-inspired red Neem Khan dress at the Movies Rock event. 

At the 2008 Grammys, Underwood accepted the award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in this floral-print Zuhair Murad dress.

Sparkle and shimmer! Underwood wowed in a sparkly gold Badgley Mischka minidress at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Underwood channeled all the Greek godess vibes at the 2009 American Music Awards, wearing a gold Theia dress.

The star wore a white Edition by Georges Chakra gown with Ippolita Silver earrings at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

At the 2010 CMT Music Awards she sported a hot pink Jenny Packham dress.

Underwood arrived at the 2010 CMA Awards in a tiered strapless Talbot Runhof gown paired with a Swarovski crystal clutch.

Lady in red! She dazzled in a red Edition by Georges Chakra dress at the 2010 American Country Awards.

The star sparkled at the 2011 Golden Globes in a strapless champagne-colored Badgley Mischka dress.

Acting in Soul Surfer alongside AnnaSophia Robb, Underwood supported her film at its Los Angeles premiere in a ruffled Zuhair Murad cocktail dress with flower accent.

Underwood's backless beaded Gomez-Gracia gown was a total white-hot hit at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

The singer showed off her polished, girl-next-door style in jeans and a sparkly top during a visit to the Late Show With David Letterman in New York City.

Wearing a Badgley Mischka mini for American Idol's season 11 finale, Underwood looked amazing. 

Nothing like a little extra sparkle in the morning! Underwood helped wake up Today show viewers with an outdoor concert, rocking out in New York City wearing a glittery blouse and short shorts.

Always a fan of ultra-girlie red carpet frocks, Underwood was perfection in a peach Georges Chakra mini, Brian Atwood heels, and a Swarovski clutch.

Nabbing a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy at the 55th annual awards show, Underwood — who performed in a one-of-a-kind LED ivory Theia dress — walked the red carpet in Roberto Cavalli's strapless gown. Accessorizing the "Blown Away" singer's look? More than $31 million in diamonds by designer Johnathon Arndt. Her necklace alone featured 381 carats of oval, pear, marquis, and round brilliant white diamonds. Joked Underwood: "It's worth more than me."

Flower power! The star wore a Naeem Kahn gown and David Yurman jewelry at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Mint green goddess! The Video of the Year winner — who always knows just how to flaunt the right amount of skin — showed off her super-toned legs in aqua crepe shorts and a matching geometric-patterned tulle jacket from Georges Chakra's Spring/Summer 2013 collection. She finished off her red carpet look with David Yurman jewelry.

The Sound of Music star wore a purple ball gown to the 65th Emmy Awards in L.A. on Sept. 22.

The singer rocked a sheer, beaded gown to the CMA Awards at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 6, 2013.

Underwood wore a printed black frock and red booties to the Rebecca Minkoff show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Feb. 7, 2014.

The pregnant singer stunned in an illusion neckline, empire waist Lorena Sarbu dress that played up her growing baby bump at the 2014 CMA Awards. She paired the high-low hem ensemble with nude pumps and silver earrings.

Underwood, at the time eight months pregnant with her son Isaiah Michael Fisher, flaunted her baby bump in a figure-hugging white ball gown by Xtreme with gold embroidery at the 2014 American Country Countdown Awards. She paired the look with a statement ring from L'Dezen by Payal Shah and an intricate brassy clutch.

The singer, who welcomed her son in February of 2015, wowed in a skintight white Thomas Wylde minidress that showed off her slim, toned legs (not to mention her tiny post-baby body) with silver baubles, a silver clutch, and matching silver heels at the CMT Music Awards in Tennessee.

The “Jesus Take the Wheel Singer” stunned in a beaded pink gown by Michael Cinco at the 50th Annual CMAs.

For the 52nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards the star dazzled in a jewel-encrusted tulle gown by LaBourjoisie.

The star stole the show at the CMT Music Awards in a bedazzled yellow minidress with a plunging neckline.

Dressed in a sleek black Steven Khalil gown that accentuated the country singer’s baby bump, the American Idol winner posed for photos at the AMAs looking as confident as ever.

The blonde beauty attended the CMT Music Awards in Nashville wearing a jewel-covered, long-sleeved minidress designed by Michael Cinco.

The stunner wore a purple sequined gown with a high leg slit to take home the award for Country Album of the Year at the 47th annual American Music Awards.

The hitmaker turned heads in a floor-length gilded princess-style gown at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.

Wearing a black sequin gown with a thigh-high slit, the “Cowboy Casanova” singer stunned at the 2020 American Country Music Awards, where she accepted the award for Entertainer of the Year.

Switching up her style! A departure from her go-to glittery gowns, the country star rocked a colorful Iris van Herpen Haute Couture gown at the sixth annual Latin American Music Awards.

Glitz and glam! The “Before He Cheats” singer brought out all the stops for the ACM Awards. She stunned at the Las Vegas event in a sparkly Dolce and Gabbana mini dress and Stuart Weitzman heels.