American Idol fans likely noticed that Season 4 winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood didn’t perform as promised.
Sunday night’s 3-hour star-studded live finale was packed with performances from artists such as Thomas Rhett, Gabby Barrett, Deana Carter, Melissa Etheridge, and more including some of this season’s standouts and judges. Carrie Underwood was also slated to appear to deliver a live debut of “Denim & Rhinestones,” the title track of her soon-to-be-released ninth studio album.
It was shared by host Ryan Seacrest during the broadcast that Carrie was unable to appear as scheduled.
“There was a COVID exposure in Carrie Underwood’s group, so following protocol she will no longer be performing tonight,” Seacrest said.
The country star appeared earlier in the season to mentor the Top 5 from her Las Vegas residency and the competitors covered some of Carrie’s biggest hits.
For those disappointed to miss out on Carrie’s return to the American Idol stage on Sunday, the singer has released four songs from Denim & Rhinestones, including the title track that she was set to perform on Idol.
“We cover a lot of ground on this album,” Underwood said of the album in a press release. ”We have a lot of songs that have a bit of a ‘throwback’ feel, but they sound super fresh. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music and that is extremely evident in this body of work.”
“These are musical influences that are all in me and work their way out, and I just decided this time not to get in their way,” she added. “I think this whole album ended up being a big reflection of me as a person and as an artist.”
In addition to the new album, Underwood will be kicking off a 43-city tour this fall.