Regardless of Injury or Image, Country Music Needs Carrie Underwood Right Now
Country music needs Carrie Underwood right now.
I don’t know that I would ever have fathomed typing those words a few years ago, when before Taylor Swift made her way onto the scene, and after Shania Twain had ended her reign, Carrie Underwood defined the cutting edge of pushing country music in the direction of pop. She got her start in country music on American Idol, after all. I mean, the horror! On paper at least, she was as much of an adversary to preserving the roots in country music as anyone, despite her powerful voice and Oklahoma upbringing.
But over the years, and as mainstream country music has descended into the slag pit it is today, Carrie Underwood has gone from defining the edge of pop in country, to being one of the final remaining bright spots of talent in the mainstream, one of the few females the mainstream will still give attention to, and moreover, she has proved herself not just a generational talent, but a timeless voice for the country genre, worthy of consideration right beside the other icons of country pop throughout the genre’s history.
Miranda Lambert may be the heart of modern mainstream country music woman, but Carrie Underwood is the the voice of it. And Miranda would tell you that. Miranda Lambert would also tell you that Carrie Underwood is the face of the modern country music woman, which is why the news that Carrie Underwood’s injuries after a fall at her home in November were much more severe than first reported, is that much more disconcerting.
With so many other calamities see sawing the emotions of the American public these days, it was easy to forget about the footnote from the Carrie Underwood camp that in mid November, she fell on some steps outside her home, and suffered “multiple injuries.” Though multiple means more than one, the news centered mostly around her injuring her wrist, even though the fall resulted in at least a slightly-extended hospital stay. Now we’re getting the news that along with her wrist, Carrie Underwood suffered a major injury to her face. This is the information coming out of a personal note that Carrie Underwood sent to the members of her fan club.
“I haven’t been ready to talk about since I have still been living it and there has been much uncertainty as to how things will end up,” Carrie says in the note. “It’s crazy how a freak random accident can change your life … In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well. I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told Mike [Fisher, Underwood’s husband] that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in.”
Just a few days before, Carrie Underwood had delivered the cornerstone performance at the 51st Annual CMA Awards. Just over a month before, a crazed gunman had opened fire upon a crowd of country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, resulting in the largest massacre in modern United States history, with over fifty dead, and over 300 injured.
When the 51st Annual CMA Awards commenced with Darius Rucker singing a dated Hootie and the Blowfish song in what was highly-touted as an “emotional” opener, it looked like mainstream country was going to drop the ball once again at capturing the emotion of moments that music is supposed to. But midway through the presentation, Carrie Underwood took the stage and absolutely stunned, making for not just the marquee performance of the night, but a moment that will likely go down in country music history as one of the most poignant and perfect tribute performances.
And who better to handle that moment than Carrie Underwood? For years now Carrie has been the bright spot at country music presentations, showcasing an absolute cannon for a voice, and the fearlessness to use it to its utmost capability. It’s fair to question some of Carrie’s song selections over the years, or to ask just how country her musical canon is. But if was Carrie Underwood defining the pop edge of country at the moment as opposed to Sam Hunt, Walker Hayes, or even Kelsea Ballerini, country music would be in such an incredibly better state, it would qualify Carrie Underwood for sainthood.
Like Patsy Cline, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, and the many before her, Carrie Underwood is a pop voice that should be welcome in country, because it shines a greater spotlight on the genre, and showcases a talent second to none. Pop has always had its place in country. It’s just recently where that place has become so overwhelming it casts shadows over everything else, and is lacking in sheer talent.
This is not to directly compare Carrie Underwood’s talents or contributions to anyone in the past, or to disregard the missteps she has made in her career (“Somethin’ Bad” anyone?). But in an era where the representation for women in the country genre is anemic, the talent level is direly depleted, and the prospects for any woman receiving attention is bleak, we need Carrie Underwood. And not just for gender diversity, but for the amiable candor, the authenticity to herself, and the iconic voice.
Carrie Underwood warned in her note to fans that she’s “not quite looking the same” these days. She says, “I am determined to make 2018 amazing and I want to share things with you along the way. And when I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different.”
This evokes thoughts of Hank Williams Jr., who almost died after falling off of Ajax Mountain in Montana in 1975, and had to undergo years of reconstructive surgeries to his face, emerging later and looking nothing like himself before the fall. Or recall the stigma Renée Zellweger faced when she emerged after a few years out of the spotlight and with completely reconstructed features.
Maybe it won’t be as bad for Carrie Underwood, and yes these things based on image shouldn’t even matter. But they often do, to the individual, and to the public. People talk, especially when you’re in the public eye as much as Carrie Underwood. There is a reason we never saw Carrie after the birth of her son sporting a post-pregnancy bod. Because the judgements from the cretins in celebrity media would have been incredible.
So it’s dependent on all of us to be adults, no matter what Carrie Underwood looks like after she’s whole. And maybe it will all be fine, and this is just Carrie Underwood worrying. But what we can’t have is this incident affecting the career of Carrie Underwood in any sort of adverse way. And it’s up to fans and the industry to make sure this is the case. Because country music needs Carrie Underwood. Otherwise, who knows who will become the face of country pop? With the collection of unruly artists and opportunistic interlopers looming out there at the moment, the prospect of it being anyone but Carrie Underwood is not very pretty.
Mo Crawford
January 1, 2018 @ 7:58 pm
she got beat up…lot of injury to just fall down stairs
Trigger
January 1, 2018 @ 8:32 pm
Okay there Matlock.
Willie Nelson’s bass player Bee Spears fell outside his home in Tennessee and died.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/willie-nelsons-bassist-dan-bee-spears-dead-at-62/
Jo
January 1, 2018 @ 10:01 pm
If you’re implying her husband beat her, he was out of state on a hunting trip. The original press release even mentioned him flying in so don’t be ridiculous. Falls happen and so do severe injuries from them.
Mike Honcho
January 3, 2018 @ 10:01 am
That’s what they want you to think, Jo.
Jo
January 3, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Except there are social media posts to back up the fact that he was on a hunting trip along with his Catching Deers co-owners. His brother and a guy who is a part of the business also worked on all the fan giveaways during the Preds playoff run.
CountryKnight
January 3, 2018 @ 10:16 am
First of all, I don’t see Mike Fisher beating her. Second, I doubt Fisher would want to beat a lady who sang, “Church Bells.” After all, “She slipped something into his Tennessee whiskey no lawman was gonna find.”
Leroy
January 3, 2018 @ 8:13 pm
The real twist of the song is that the “mystery” of how he died is pretty well known.
What Jenny slipped into his drink was viagra, when she met him at the restaurant to apologize for getting his beating. To make up, they went to his favorite honkey tonk bar, where his rage began to flare, still pushing her around after his sixth drink. The roofies she slipped him there, just started to work. He made it clear he hated his wife, when the large, rough riding ladies from the neighboring county, came in and took him to his favorite drive- through motel to haunt. The police didn’t want to break the news to Jenny and never told her the position they found him in. They were so considerate, they even burned the photos of his party strewn everywhere. That’s why his death remains a “mystery.”
Cilla
January 1, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
There is more to this story of her incident then we are reading it seems. Her “career” can take a back seat for now.
She has a young child to think of and a marriage that takes two people. I read today that she has injuries to her face and chin which needed a lot of stitches. Comments made ” don’t know what I’ll look like when this heals”, THAT right there is indication CARRIE UNDERWOOD needs healing of her whole self. Looks don’t make you, talent will remain. Her child needs his mother to be well.
Entertainment industry is faithful to No One.
Get Well Carrie Underwood.
David
January 1, 2018 @ 8:35 pm
Amen. Get well, Carrie.
albert
January 1, 2018 @ 8:41 pm
This is very very sad news ….I hadn’t heard about her facial injuries- we can only hope Carrie will make a full recovery and not be left with noticeable scarring or trauma .
Although I am not and have never been a fan of her material and her pop approach to country music , I think she is one beautifully gifted and hard-working woman with more vocal talent and pure passion than just about anyone in any genre today. Saying that , I do believe there are female vocalists who , while not nearly as gifted , better represent the traditions of the COUNTRY genre .
Best of luck and wishes for a speedy and full recovery to Carrie Underwood.
Erik North
January 1, 2018 @ 8:49 pm
Obviously, first thing’s first. Carrie needs however much time it takes to heal from those injuries, which were quite severe. Her voice and her vocal chords, however, weren’t harmed, so that part’s taken care of.
I agree with Trigger that country music, insofar as her fellow peers and industry friends go, needs to have her caliber of talent in there. But given the two and a half years or so since Keith Hill’s odious “Saladgate” comments, in which things have only gotten worse for women in country music, will country radio really want her back when the time comes, and she’s ready to do it? That’s really the kind of question that ought to really concern fans of hers, and even country music fans overall (IMHO).
Marc
January 1, 2018 @ 9:03 pm
The fact that she commented about her injury I think it’s a good thing as it’s a step forward.And much respect to the medical team. In today’s media driven world a celebrity can’t pass gas without it being on TMZ. I’m sad that something like this happened but I’m glad she was able to dictate when and how the info came out.
Marc
January 1, 2018 @ 9:10 pm
And hopefully there’s not a million dollar reward for the first photos of her post accident.
Aggc
January 2, 2018 @ 4:48 pm
But you know there will be.
Aggie14
January 1, 2018 @ 9:31 pm
Thank you for the kind words. Even though Carrie’s music may not be exactly what this crowd gravitates toward, the fact is undeniable that she is supremely talented and pure-hearted. Best to her as she recovers.
Jamie
January 1, 2018 @ 10:09 pm
I wasn’t a huge fan of Carrie when she first came out out in the mid 00’s, but I grew to appreciate her more as the years went on. Her brand of pop country became very refreshing to me, especially during the onslaught of “I’m Country” checklist songs and the beginning of the bro-country trend. I also discovered other sides of her music with great album cuts such as “Someday When I Stop Loving You,” “Look At Me,” “You Won’t Find This,” “Do You Think About Me,” “Good In Goodbye,” and “Wine After Whiskey,” which made me have more respect for her as an artist. Every once in a while, she’ll release a single that I don’t care for, but overall, she’s one of the few pop country artists on the radio today that I actually like. It’ll be a shame if this recent injury had any negative effects on her radio success. Here’s hoping she makes a speedy and successful recovery!
countryfan24
January 2, 2018 @ 4:40 pm
Amen to that! Completely agree with your thoughts on those album cuts, especially “Wine After Whiskey” and “Someday When I Stop Loving You.” It’s sad that songs and lyrically and vocally-driven as those didn’t get highlighted as singles. Hopefully she feeling better soon.
Jamie
January 2, 2018 @ 8:20 pm
Yeah, I was and still am frustrated that those songs were never released as singles. “Someday When I Stop Loving You” is actually my favorite Carrie Underwood song. There’s a lot of people who are not already fans of hers who probably don’t know that she has songs like that in her catalogue.
Amanda
January 4, 2018 @ 4:03 pm
I absolutely love Someday When I Stop Loving You.
Nicole
January 3, 2018 @ 5:55 pm
Like I’ll Never Love You Again is amazing.
beee
January 1, 2018 @ 10:14 pm
You are being over dramatic as usual.
Her face looks fine and completely the same without makeup. A reality star posted a selfie with her from the gym 2 weeks ago post accident.
Trigger
January 1, 2018 @ 11:03 pm
I agree I can be over dramatic. But all I’m doing is reacting to what Carrie Underwood said. So if anything, it’s Carrie Underwood who is being over dramatic in this instance. 40 stitches is a lot of stitches though. That’s pretty dramatic.
Marc
January 2, 2018 @ 12:31 am
I don’t think she is being over dramatic I think her response is “normal” for someone who just had 40 stitches.
Cilla
January 1, 2018 @ 11:04 pm
Her face is covered quite well with a heavy scarf. Her eyes are the only thing you see. Yes,she’s wearing heavy eye makeup. No one is being over dramatic. Carrie Underwood put out the statement yesterday to her fans.
Liza
January 2, 2018 @ 1:18 am
He face isn’t covered in the photo Adrienne Gang posted on December 12. If she had 40+ stitches, the surgeon did an amazing job.
beee
January 1, 2018 @ 10:18 pm
https://twitter.com/AdrienneGang/status/940626741122519045/photo/1
Her face looks fine and completely the same without makeup. AdrienneGang posted a selfie with her from the gym Dec 12 post accident.
Cilla
January 1, 2018 @ 11:16 pm
This looks like an old photo….If you received 40-50 Stitches in your face, it would show from that photo. So either Carrie Underwood is being over dramatic or that photo was taken awhile ago.
What might appear to be a ” wrist brace” looks the one I wear when I work out.
Carrie Underwood took a hard fall,she had surgery three wks ago and says she had 40-50
Stitches in her face. That photo is not convincing.
Marc
January 2, 2018 @ 12:08 am
The pic you posted isn’t a full facial.
Desperado Destry
January 1, 2018 @ 11:15 pm
If country music is the family they claim they are then Carrie shouldn’t have anything to worry about here. The entertainers, managers, producers, marketers and the listeners (you and me) included in that family. She needs everyone’s support right now while she goes through this… as does her family. Her career shouldn’t be up in the air because of an accident… it should be secured it the hearts and souls of her fans and non-fans because after all… she is part of our family. You’re in our thoughts and prayers Carrie… we all hope you recover quickly.
Ulysses McCaskill
January 1, 2018 @ 11:37 pm
Regardless of what you think of her music, she does have an amazing voice overall. Hope she continues to recover and can continue her successful career.
Sue
January 2, 2018 @ 7:05 am
As an entertainer, as unfortunate as it is, her looks are part of her job description so I can understand the concern and I’m sure it was traumatic for her. I do think however that 40 stitches may conjure an image that is worse than reality. Surgeons intentionally use many tiny stitches on facial wounds to minimize scarring.
Cilla
January 2, 2018 @ 8:31 am
It’s Carrie Underwood’s reality, she reached out to her fans and made the Statement. I believe Carrie. What’s interesting is in her statement she said “Not only did I break my wrist,I managed to injure my face and chin” She said she wants her fans to know that “WHEN SHE’S READY to get in front of a camera, she might not look the same. THAT right there is serious. She will probably get reconstructive surgery.
Jill
January 2, 2018 @ 9:39 am
Carrie is not only a singer/entertainer. She is a model for her athleisure line, an actress, a spokeswoman for Oil of Olay Skin Care and a makeup line. Her face is as much her livelihood as her voice.
Cilla
January 2, 2018 @ 8:21 am
That’s an OLD picture. Check the picture that was posted this wk end.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
January 2, 2018 @ 11:07 am
oh how far Country Music has fallen
Willie Potter
January 2, 2018 @ 11:56 am
Trigger…you’re a riot.
Last week you’re pissing all over Sugarland’s return…every other week there is some type of disparaging article about Sam Hunt or Luke Bryan and their contribution to the demise of “county”music… or there’s another long winded and insignificant diatribe about the authenticity of this artist or that artist being “country”enough…..
And now we have this article about Carrie Underwood, her face, and how country music needs her right now.
Sad.
Truly,truly sad.
A walking contradiction.
Trigger
January 2, 2018 @ 12:14 pm
Despite your attempt to illustrate inconsistency, I have been very consistent in saying that we need to draw distinctions between the artists of pop country as opposed to just labeling all pop country as terrible.
For example, here is an article I wrote on the matter nearly a decade ago, and mentioned Carrie Underwood specifically:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/is-it-important-to-draw-distinctions-in-pop-country/
“Carrie Underwood is about as country as a New York City sewer rat, but though it pains me to say it, the American Idol product has a strong, powerful, always on-pitch voice … There are tiers of pop country, just like there are to anything. Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and Keith Urban aren’t really country at all. Neither is Carrie Underwood, but like Brad Paisley, as a musician she has some undeniable talent.”
By giving credit where credit it is due, it creates credibility behind the arguments against Walker Hayes or Sam Hunt, as opposed to coming across simply as a reactionary hater who thinks anything except hard country is garbage.
Pop country is not going to go away. Even if the country charts and radio fill with the music of Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, and the Turnpike Troubadours in the coming years, they will still be playing some element of country-inspired pop, just like the format has been doing for 70 years. Forget Patsy Cline, go listen to Eddy Arnold. The fight has never been for the evisceration of pop country, because not only is this impossible, it’s also unfair. Pop country fans deserve representation too. The fight has always been about returning balance and roots to the country format.
A strong career and big songs by Carrie Underwood defining the pop edge of country would be a massive, massive improvement from where we are in country music today.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 2, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
Generic voice. Generic songs. Generic career.
How pathetic things have become, as I predicted they would.
Instead of pushing back vehemently against the murderers of Country Music, Trigger continues to lead the way along the, “I’d rather eat horse crap than dog crap” path.
Instead of resisting the destruction, he embraces the destruction, and seeks to compromise with its architects.
And to top it off, he uses utterly moronic phases like, “gender diversity” when writing articles about the music business.
Chris
January 2, 2018 @ 9:09 pm
Dude stop living in the 1940’s! Western music pretty much died. Genre has changed just like ROCK did.
jtrpdx
January 3, 2018 @ 11:38 am
Always so unnecessarily dramatic, Honky.
Clyde
January 2, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
I wish her all the best in her recovery, but this article seems to be indulging in some serious hyperbole when it comes to Carrie Underwood’s contributions to and position in the world of country music.
Rachel
January 2, 2018 @ 4:42 pm
What part do you disagree so strongly about? Genuinely curious, because I seem to agree she does hold a relatively important place knowing pop country never will actually go away.
Clyde
January 3, 2018 @ 9:17 am
Maybe I’m wrong. We’ll have to wait 20 years and see if Willie’s Roadhouse is playing her catalog right alongside Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.
Chris
January 2, 2018 @ 9:10 pm
She’s the biggest female voice in country music. Zero drama as well ssy compared to Lambert.
j. conoly
January 2, 2018 @ 8:24 pm
I had an injury in Nam. It took lots of stitches to get my eye back in, eye lids sewn back on, eye put back in socket my eye ball was fractured and I have a large scare covering half my eyeball. It’s not bragging or funny but the kind of grit that young lady has will pull her through. Mike being a NHL star has seen many a cut and will be there for her day and night. Say some prayers instead of ragging on her.
Aidan
January 3, 2018 @ 10:18 am
Amen!
Rebecca Gavin
January 4, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
Ralph Carney, known for many things, including his work with Tom Waits, and the collaboration with his nephew Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) on the theme song for BoJack Horseman, died just a couple of weeks ago after falling on some steps in his front yard, and hitting his head. He was 61.
Falls can be very serious. I don’t see the point in second-guessing whatever explanation is offered.
Chase
January 5, 2018 @ 4:04 pm
I hope she gets better. I am saying some prayers for her.
Distorted Culture
January 12, 2018 @ 7:40 am
Sorry for what she’s going through personally. However, her new song is awful and features Ludacris. She’s better than that.