Carrie Underwood went back to her beginnings on Sunday night (May 13), returning to American Idol to perform her latest hit “Cry Pretty” and pass the torch to Season 16’s Top 5 contestants.
Before taking the stage to deliver roaring performances of “Cry Pretty” and “See You Again,” Underwood flew the Top 5 — Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard — out to Nashville to share some of her Idol wisdom at the iconic Bluebird Cafe. In a montage from their visits with the Season 4 champion, this season’s contestants couldn’t help gushing over their time with a superstar like Underwood.
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“I kinda had a heart attack meeting her,” Hutchinson admitted. Woodard’s account summed up what everyone felt after their day with Carrie: “She just gives such valuable advice, she’s just an amazing person. And she’s so gosh darn pretty.”
The Top 5 reunited with Underwood as they all opened the May 13 episode together with a performance of her 2013 single “See You Again,” later honoring the country star by each singing another Underwood hit on their own. Capping off the Carrie night was her own chill-inducing rendition of “Cry Pretty,” which was a firm reminder why she is one of the American Idol greats.
Ahead of her latest Idol appearance, Underwood celebrated Mother’s Day with her son Isaiah, sharing a hilarious post on Instagram about her not-so-glamorous (but adorable) day with her little boy. Take a look at her post and watch her Idol post below.