Carrie Underwood delivered what many are calling one of her most powerful performances yet with “How Great Thou Art” on American Idol.
She teamed up with Platinum Ticket winners Filo, Canaan James Hill, and Kolbi Jordan for the moving performance during the show’s “Songs of Faith” night. Dressed in a shimmering white gown, Underwood stood center stage as a soft piano set the tone. Her emotional delivery built steadily, culminating in soaring high notes that drew loud cheers from the audience, who held candles throughout the performance.
As the song progressed, Filo, Canaan James Hill, and Kolbi Jordan joined in one by one, each adding powerful vocals. Underwood raised her hands in praise as the group harmonized, closing with a breathtaking final note that earned a standing ovation and widespread praise online.
Fans flooded social media with reactions, calling the performance “chilling,” “incredible,” and one of Underwood’s best renditions of the song. Many noted that her voice and emotion made the moment unforgettable.
The song originally appeared on her Grammy-winning gospel album My Savior, and this marks the second consecutive season she has performed it during the “Songs of Faith” episode—possibly delivering her strongest version yet.
The episode also featured judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie joining contestants for a group performance of “Jesus Is Love.” It was part of the first live show of Season 24, where the Top 14 contestants performed faith-inspired songs before America’s vote narrowed the competition to 12 finalists.
The “Songs of Faith” episode, first introduced in 2025 around Easter, returned this season after strong viewer response. American Idol will continue on April 6 with a “’90s Judges Song Contest” episode, featuring contestants performing iconic songs from the decade.