20 Years Ago, Carrie Underwood Took a Risk on “Before He Cheats” — And It Changed Her Career Forever

On August 19, 2006, Carrie Underwood released “Before He Cheats,” the fourth and final single from her debut album Some Hearts. What started as a song Underwood worried might alienate her wholesome American Idol audience went on to become one of the biggest hits of her career.

The song eventually spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the country chart and climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned major industry recognition, including a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

“Before He Cheats” Became Bigger Than Anyone Expected

Underwood had already established herself as a chart force before releasing the song.

Her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven,” reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. She followed it with “Jesus Take the Wheel,” which topped the country chart, while “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” reached No. 2.

With that kind of early success, another hit from Some Hearts was hardly unexpected. What surprised everyone was just how far “Before He Cheats” would go.

The song became the first country single to sell two million digital copies and has since been certified 11x Platinum by the RIAA.

Its success also brought Underwood the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the CMA Award for Single of the Year. Songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins took home the Grammy for Country Song of the Year.

Carrie Underwood Almost Passed on the Song

Despite what the song eventually became, Underwood was initially unsure about recording it.

After winning American Idol, she had already built a huge fan base, many of whom viewed her as wholesome and family-friendly. Underwood worried that “Before He Cheats” might change that perception.

According to Songfacts, she recalled being concerned that fans would react negatively to the song.

“I thought, ‘People are going to hate me for singing this song,’” Underwood recalled. She worried listeners might decide her music was no longer appropriate for their children.

But after hearing the song again, her attitude changed.

Underwood realized that, regardless of what people might think, she genuinely enjoyed the track.

“Finally, I was just like, ‘You know what? I like this song. I would turn this song up on the radio. So, I’m just gonna go for it.’”

That decision proved to be a turning point.

Twenty years after its release, “Before He Cheats” remains one of the defining songs of Underwood’s early career — and the risk she once feared taking became a massive commercial and award-winning success.