On August 5, 2024, Carrie Underwood, the country music superstar and newly announced American Idol judge, shared a heartwarming revelation that sent waves of excitement through her fanbase: her nine-year-old son, Isaiah, finally thinks she’s “cool.” Despite her global fame, numerous awards, and a Las Vegas residency, it wasn’t her chart-topping hits or Grammy wins that impressed Isaiah. Instead, it was her unexpected collaboration with the ‘90s rock legends Papa Roach that earned her this long-sought approval from her eldest child. In a candid interview on Good Morning America, Underwood revealed how this duet not only bridged her love for rock music with her country roots but also created a special moment of connection with her son, highlighting her versatility as an artist and her deep-rooted passion for rock music.

Carrie Underwood, born March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, has been a household name since winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her debut album, Some Hearts, sold over seven million copies, establishing her as one of the show’s most successful alumni. Over the years, she has amassed a plethora of accolades, including eight Grammy Awards, multiple CMA and ACM trophies, and a spot on Time’s 2014 list of the 100 most influential people, where Brad Paisley dubbed her “the best singer in any format of music”. With albums like Carnival Ride (2007), Play On (2009), and Cry Pretty (2018), Underwood has solidified her status as country music’s reigning queen, blending country pop with rock influences akin to artists like Kelly Clarkson. Yet, despite her monumental success, her son Isaiah remained unimpressed—until her collaboration with Papa Roach changed everything.

Underwood’s love for rock music is no secret. Growing up in the small town of Checotah, Oklahoma, she was exposed to a variety of musical genres, but her teenage years were marked by a deep affinity for hair metal and hard rock. In a 2022 interview with Rolling Stone, she recalled being mesmerized by Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, whose vocal range inspired her own singing style: “The way I learned how to sing was I would pick really hard vocalists to try to emulate, and his voice always mesmerized me”. This passion for rock has been a consistent thread throughout her career, evident in her live performances where she’s covered songs like Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City,” Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” and Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You”. Critics have lauded her ability to channel rock energy, with Rolling Stone noting her “standout performance” of “Paradise City,” where she “twirled like a tornado and tossed in more than a few banshee wails”.

Isaiah’s admiration for Papa Roach, a band known for their nu-metal anthems like “Last Resort,” might seem unusual for a nine-year-old, but it’s a testament to Underwood’s influence as a rock-loving mom. In a SiriusXM interview with Jose Mangin in 2023, Underwood revealed that Isaiah, then eight, was a massive fan of the band, a love likely nurtured by her own musical tastes. She explained how attending rock festivals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, introduced her to extreme music, including bands like Slipknot, and how she’s been a fan of Papa Roach since her teenage years. Her husband, former NHL player Mike Fisher, doesn’t share her enthusiasm for rock or metal, preferring different musical genres, which makes her connection with Isaiah over Papa Roach even more special.

The collaboration that finally earned Underwood her son’s approval was a re-recording of Papa Roach’s “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” originally released on their 2022 album Ego Trip. The duet, released on August 2, 2024, was part of Papa Roach’s “Talk Away the Dark” campaign, aimed at raising awareness for suicide prevention in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). All royalties from the song are donated to AFSP in perpetuity, a cause that resonated deeply with Underwood. During her Good Morning America interview with Eva Pilgrim, she shared her excitement: “For them to ask me to be a part of this song specifically was just absolutely incredible. I love the song. I was like, ‘I already know the song, so let’s do it’”. She also highlighted the song’s message, noting how Papa Roach’s lead singer, Jacoby Shaddix, uses his platform to connect with audiences about mental health struggles, a mission she admires: “He wants to use those things to help other people, which I think is absolutely amazing”.

Isaiah’s reaction to the collaboration was the highlight for Underwood. “My nine-year-old son, who’s a massive fan of Papa Roach, I finally am doing something cool to him,” she quipped on Good Morning America, adding, “He thinks his mom’s cool, for probably one minute. But I’ll take it”. This moment of approval from Isaiah, who shares his mother’s musical inclinations—evident in his sweet voice during their 2020 duet of “Little Drummer Boy”—underscored the personal significance of the project for Underwood. While her younger son, Jacob, five, also shows musical talent, it’s Isaiah’s newfound admiration that has captured fans’ hearts, reflecting a relatable mother-son dynamic amidst Underwood’s larger-than-life career.

The collaboration with Papa Roach is just one example of Underwood’s ongoing love affair with rock music. In 2023, she opened for Guns N’ Roses on their North American tour, delivering electrifying covers of classics like Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” and Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”. She even joined Axl Rose on stage at the 2022 Stagecoach Festival, performing “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City,” a moment she described as “the greatest night of my life”. Her SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Country, launched in June 2024, further showcases her eclectic taste, featuring classic rock alongside country hits, with personal insights into her career. This platform has allowed her to share her love for artists like Ozzy Osbourne and George Strait, bridging genres in a way that reflects her versatile vocal abilities.

Underwood’s rock fandom extends beyond performances. She has expressed admiration for metalcore band I Prevail, even meeting them in 2023 after admitting to being a “fangirl” of their album Trauma. Her workout playlists often feature heavy metal, a habit she jokingly warned fans about during a CBS Sunday Morning interview: “There’s a lot of not-children-friendly words on it. That’s important to note”. This duality—balancing her country roots with a love for rock—has been a defining aspect of her career, earning her praise from critics and peers alike. Rolling Stone called her “the female vocalist of her generation of any genre,” while Randy Travis lauded her soprano voice for its ability to hit high notes with ease, as seen in her cover of his song “I Told You So”.

The Papa Roach duet also aligns with Underwood’s commitment to using her platform for good. The song’s focus on suicide prevention resonates with her history of advocacy, such as her 2013 support for animal welfare when she criticized Tennessee lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill, tweeting, “Shame on TN lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill. If Gov. Bill Haslam signs this, he needs to expect me at his front door”. Her involvement in charitable causes, from releasing a digital-only single of “I’ll Stand by You” in 2007 that raised funds for charity to her 2020 Christmas album My Gift, reflects a consistent pattern of giving back.

For Underwood, this collaboration with Papa Roach is more than just a musical milestone—it’s a bridge to her son’s world, a validation of her rock roots, and a meaningful contribution to a cause she cares about. As she prepares to join American Idol as a judge in 2025, marking 20 years since her own victory on the show, Underwood continues to evolve as an artist and a mother. Isaiah’s fleeting moment of thinking his mom is “cool” may have lasted only a minute, but for fans, it’s a reminder of Underwood’s ability to connect across genres and generations, proving that even a country queen can rock hard enough to impress a nine-year-old Papa Roach fan.