Carrie Underwood has shocked fans with a subtle but deeply personal transformation, returning to her natural hair colour after three decades of being a blonde. The country music superstar and American Idol judge debuted a brownish blonde shade on August 4, sharing the look on Instagram with the caption, “Well, the last time I saw my natural hair color, I was probably about 12 years old, but I thought it might be time to give it a second chance.” She also thanked her Nashville-based colourist, Katelin August, for helping her “get back to her roots,” adding the hashtag #NewOldMe.
The 42-year-old has been known for her golden locks since she shot to fame in 2005 as the winner of American Idol, and her blonde hair has long been a defining feature of her public image. In past interviews, she’s expressed hesitation about switching it up, fearing that fans might interpret a darker look as a dramatic change in her personality. “I don’t want people to think I’m turning dark and serious,” she said in a 2012 interview with Refinery29.
Despite her reservations, Carrie had always harboured the desire to experiment more with hair colour and styles. Reflecting on her Idol days in a 2013 interview, she recalled having ‘a lot of big hair’ for the first time, thanks to professional styling. “I like big hair,” she admitted, “but I wouldn’t go back there again.”
Motherhood also played a role in her approach to beauty. After becoming a mum to sons Isaiah and Jacob, she traded hair extensions for a more manageable cut, explaining that time was better spent with her kids than under a blow dryer.
The new hair reveals a softer, more grounded side of Underwood, one that embraces change without needing to make a spectacle of it.
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