On April 20, 2025, the Easter Sunday episode of American Idol’s Season 23 featured a special “Songs of Faith” segment in which Carrie Underwood closed the Top 20 performances with a stirring rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Dressed in a flowing pink gown and backed by a full gospel choir, Underwood’s voice soared with both technical precision and heartfelt emotion, enveloping the stage in an atmosphere of worship.
Judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and artist-in-residence Jelly Roll were visibly moved, offering a standing ovation and an emotional moment of collective worship as Underwood hit an extended high note. Host Ryan Seacrest captured the sentiment of the room when he admitted, “I have no words after that,” reflecting the profound impact of the performance. Within 24 hours, the clip had amassed over one million views on YouTube, cementing its viral status among both fans and fellow artists. Watch below.
Judge Luke Bryan later praised Underwood for her ability to blend vocal power with genuine faith, noting that her artistry continues to inspire contestants to share their own stories of hope on the Idol stage.
You may also like...
- Article Continues Below -
Billboard reported that Underwood’s influence has sparked a noticeable uptick in faith-based song choices among contestants, a trend that culminated in this unforgettable performance. Fellow judge Lionel Richie later commented on social media that the evening’s performances were “a beautiful reminder of how music connects us,” underlining the communal spirit that Carrie’s hymn evoked.
All music-lovers know how the right song can resonate with us and evoke an emotional response. This could be joy, sadness, hope, or despair. We might have tears in our eyes, or the hairs may rise on the back of our necks. Few genres can match the raw emotional power of country music, however, and Carrie’s 2025 Easter hymn was a stirring testament to that timeless bond—echoing the goosebumps-raising effect of her 2011 duet with Vince Gill.
It is unsurprising that when you combine the silky, sultry voice of Carrie Underwood, a powerful harmony and flawless guitar solo by Vince Gill, and the beautiful hymn “How Great Thou Art” you won’t have a dry eye in the house. Yet her solo turn on American Idol revealed new facets of that magic: there was no need for duet backup, as Carrie’s own phrasing and dynamic control carried every soaring melody with cathedral-like majesty—a modern complement to her celebrated ACM performance.
Throughout the song the audience was so spellbound you could have heard a pin drop. It was obviously an emotional performance for the duet—and just as gripping this Easter, Carrie channeled that same intensity in every phrase. The power and beauty of her singing was mesmerizing and so were the breathtaking peaks she hit on the climactic runs, proving that her vocal prowess has grown even more refined over the past decade.
Carrie was able to maintain the power of her singing right to the end due to a beautiful guitar solo played by Vince in the middle of the piece. In 2025, she entrusted the mid-song instrumental break to a soaring string arrangement and a subtle piano motif, yet the effect was identical: by the final chorus, you could feel the collective breath of the crowd catch as Carrie delivered that iconic high note, sending the studio into a standing ovation.
Carrie Underwood rose to fame in 2005 when she won the fourth season of American Idol. Since then she has shown her star quality over and over again. In Easter 2025, she came full circle—returning to the Idol stage to deliver a performance that not only honored her roots but elevated them, reminding viewers why she remains the reigning queen of heartfelt country-pop.
Vince Gill began his journey to stardom with country-rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979. Over the years he played with a number of bands and was even asked by Mark Knopfler to join Dire Straits. Though Vince was absent this time, his spirit seemed present in every measured guitar-inspired flourish woven into Carrie’s backing track, a subtle nod to their unforgettable collaboration.
This duet remains a standout piece for both artists in spite of their impressive resumes. But Carrie’s solo Easter performance proved that the hymn’s beauty, power, and quality of delivery speak for themselves—past and present—united by one of the greatest live performances of “How Great Thou Art.”