Carrie Underwood Delivers a Soul-Stirring Rendition of “How Great Thou Art” on “Idol” Easter Special

Carrie Underwood’s Deep Faith Shines Through in Her Performances

When American Idol announced their Easter Sunday special (April 20) centered around faith, fans immediately anticipated a powerful and emotional performance from judge Carrie Underwood.

From the very beginning of her career, Underwood has been open about her faith. She introduced the world to her beliefs with the release of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as the first single from her debut album. Later, in another one of her iconic songs, “Something in the Water,” she shares themes of baptism and salvation.

Over the years, fans have enjoyed Underwood’s renditions of faith-based classics like “Softly and Tenderly” and “How Great Thou Art.” These performances led to her 2021 gospel album My Savior, which includes these tracks along with other beloved hymns like “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Amazing Grace.”

My Savior debuted at the top of both the Billboard Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts, and it won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2022.

During the Easter special in 2021, Underwood performed all 13 songs from My Savior in a heartfelt concert streamed online, filmed at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Carrie Underwood – How Great Thou Art (Official Performance Video) In addition to her musical performances, Underwood has consistently shared her faith in interviews, on social media, and during acceptance speeches. She’s been vocal about her love for Jesus and how it’s guided her journey in the entertainment industry.

During Hollywood Week on the latest season of American Idol, Underwood praised contestants Breanna Nix and IAMKNOWN for their performance of “Gratitude,” a Christian song by Brandon Lake. Overcome with emotion, she encouraged the contestants, acknowledging the challenges of bringing faith into an industry that often resists it:

“Ladies … I wanna tell you how difficult it is to come into the entertainment industry and bring your faith with you. It is a brave thing to do because there are a lot of outside forces that are gonna tell you not to do that. I wanna tell you that I’m proud of you guys.”

Carrie Underwood Steals the Show During American Idol’s Easter Special This year, Underwood had another opportunity to share her faith with an even larger audience during American Idol’s three-hour “Songs of Faith” special on Easter Sunday (2025). The special featured faith-inspired performances from the Top 20 contestants, judges, and special guests like Jelly Roll.

Underwood wowed the audience when she took the stage in a stunning glittery gown. She chose to perform the beloved hymn “How Great Thou Art,” a song she knows well and has made her own over the years. As always, Underwood delivered a flawless performance that left everyone in awe.

“I have no words after that!” exclaimed host Ryan Seacrest, as the audience erupted in applause.

Watch the video below to experience Carrie Underwood’s unforgettable performance during the American Idol Easter special. Her rendition of “How Great Thou Art” continues to give us chills and leaves us deeply moved.