Carrie Underwood has always worn her faith on her sleeve — but even she admits it’s not always easy.
During Monday night’s episode of American Idol, the country superstar and guest judge grew emotional while sharing a heartfelt testimony. The moment came after contestants Rylee and Breanna performed a powerful duet of Brandon Lake’s worship anthem, “Gratitude.”
“I know how difficult it is to come into the entertainment industry and bring your faith with you,” Underwood said, visibly moved. “It is a brave thing to do because there are a lot of outside forces that are going to tell you not to do that.”
Underwood’s honest words struck a chord with fans who have long admired her boldness in standing up for her beliefs. Since the beginning of her career—when she first rose to fame as the winner of American Idol in 2005—Underwood has often been open about her relationship with God, weaving her faith into songs like “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Something in the Water,” and “How Great Thou Art.”
But standing firm hasn’t always come without criticism.
Earlier this year, Underwood faced backlash after agreeing to sing at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Despite the controversy, the eight-time Grammy winner remained gracious. “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” she said at the time. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
It’s not the first time Underwood has navigated the tricky waters of public opinion. Over the years, she’s made it clear that while she holds strong personal convictions, she’s careful about entering political debates.
“There is someone I do support, but I don’t support publicly,” she told TV Guide back in 2008. “I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate. It’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions. I would never want anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to.”
Still, Underwood has used her platform to speak out on issues close to her heart — always rooted in love. In a 2012 interview with The Independent, she voiced her belief in the right for all people to love freely. “Above all, God wanted us to love others,” she said. “It’s not about setting rules, or [saying] ‘Everyone has to be like me.’ No. We’re all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.”
Underwood knows she won’t always make everyone happy — and that’s OK with her.
“The role-model word is really scary to me,” she once shared with the Associated Press. “No matter what happens in your life, something you do, wear, say, sing, whatever — somebody somewhere is probably not going to like it too well. I just really try hard to do what I do, try to be nice to people, and make great music. If people think they can look up to that, that’s wonderful. If not, that’s OK, too.”