Carrie Underwood Labeled 'Unrecognizable' By Fans Over Resurfaced 'American Idol' Audition

Carrie Underwood's earlier days auditioning on "American Idol" have left fans stunned over her looks.

Several have since taken to social media to share their reactions to the country music star's transformation since she won the popular singing competition.

Carrie Underwood sparked plastic surgery rumors in the past, which were sent into overdrive after an expert suggested she may have had a nose job, lip filler, and Botox.

An old clip of Underwood performing on "American Idol" more than 20 years ago has resurfaced on the Internet, leaving many fans stunned with her transformation.

The then-shy, curly-haired farm girl from Oklahoma would eventually go on to win the 2005 edition of the show, but some fans are having a hard time seeing this version of her in the person they watch on TV nowadays.

The clip, which has garnered millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, shows 21-year-old Underwood sporting her signature natural blonde curls, a simple pink off-the-shoulder top, blue jeans, and a modest demeanor that masks the powerhouse vocals to come.

"Carrie Underwood didn't just win American Idol in 2005; she also won the Y2K fashion game," the creator said as she reflected on Underwood's outfits worn during her early days as a rising star.

Many fans took to the comment section of the viral post to share their reaction to Underwood's transformation, with some claiming that she looked "unrecognizable."

"I forgot how she was literally like gorgeous af," an Instagram user said, while another noted, "She doesn't even look like the same person."

"She doesn't even really look like the same person. In fact, in the pink outfit, I thought she was Hilary Duff for a split second," a third user wrote.

"Her face, those lips... She looks nothing like she used to," a different individual noted.

One more person claimed, "She looked prettier before all the plastic surgery and weight loss tbh..."

Amid the shocked reactions were also words of support from fans of the singer, who branded her "beautiful."

A person wrote, "I don't care what ANYONE tries to tell me. Carrie is one of the most beautiful women to ever live."

Underwood was plagued by plastic surgery speculations in the past, particularly after she suffered an accident.

Back in 2017, she was involved in an accident, and it left her needing multiple stitches to her face.

The singer said of the incident, "I feel like I do [look different] a little bit. My biggest worry at the time was like, if I say nothing then later on... I feel like people are gonna say, 'What has she done to herself electively?'"

"And it definitely was not a choice. I feel close to myself. I feel pretty close to normal," Underwood answered.

At the time, Underwood also addressed rumors she had gotten a "nose job" or "other work done" on her face.

She said, "The truth is just as interesting. I wish I'd gotten some awesome plastic surgery to make this [scar] look better, but I try not to worry too much about it."

Earlier this year, Dr. Daniel Barrett went deep into what may have happened and claimed that the singer had a nose job, lip filler, and Botox.

"If you look at the nose, there's more of a swoop and pinched tip, which could indicate a possible rhinoplasty," he said on TikTok, per the Daily Mail.

"The lips, for sure, in my opinion, look like they've had some work done. I love Carrie Underwood, but this is my unbiased opinion of what she's had done," he continued. "The other thing is her cheeks are looking pretty full, and her forehead is completely flat. She's probably had some sort of Botox or a little bit of filler in the cheeks."

He added, "I think the chin looks great. But if you look back at her previous photos, her chin is pretty prominent there too, so I don't think she's had a chin implant."

Underwood has enjoyed an incredible career since her time on "American Idol," winning eight Grammy Awards for her music, along with several other incredible achievements.

The singer has also become a part of the show that helped push her to stardom, after joining the judging panel alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in 2025.

In a recent interview on Sirius XM's "The Highway," she addressed the negative reactions she received for her judging style on the show.

"Sometimes I get in trouble from people like, 'How dare she say that it wasn't perfect?'" she said. "And I'm like, 'I just want everybody to learn,' and that's part of it. And nobody wants to just hear that they're amazing all the time."