Carrie Underwood Looks So Different Without Her Signature Hair Extensions

Ever since Carrie Underwood shot to fame on "American Idol" in 2005, her big, super-long blond locks have become as much her signature as her powerful voice. "We country folk, we like our big hair. I am certainly no exception," she told People. The star has been open about using hair extensions, telling Donna Bella in 2008 that she gravitates toward clip-ins, as they can be less damaging than semi-permanent versions that are beaded or even glued into the hair. We also know she's tried Habit Hidden Extensions — the company confirmed on Instagram in 2017 she wore the hand-tied hair accessories during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

But while Underwood is clearly an extension girl (and there's nothing wrong with that) she has gone au naturel with her locks before. In late 2015, she took a stunning leap from long to short hair and removed her extensions in favor of a bob. "I needed my life to be a little more simple. It was taking too long to do things that shouldn't take long. It keeps getting shorter!" the "Blown Away" singer said on the red carpet of the CMT Music Awards (via People). "I was just like, 'Enough, no more extensions.' It was a mess. It was enough. This is better. This is me," she told People.

Underwood shared several selfies showing her shorter locks in 2015 and 2016. In one Instagram snap taken on Australia's Bondi Beach, she looked almost unrecognizable without extensions as she tousled her much shorter locks and showed off the choppy ends.

Carrie Underwood gave us the best look at how her long hair extensions change her look in 2017, when she posted an Instagram selfie with her short 'do wet. The country superstar's tresses were around shoulder length and she flashed a slight smile as she relaxed at home. "A 5 mile run, a shower, and now some quiet time on the back porch," wrote Underwood. Fans loved the look, with many complimenting her on the cut.

In 2016, Underwood told Elle that taking out her extensions was inspired by her new life as a mom to son Isaiah (she's since welcomed a second son, Jacob). "I blow out my hair with a round brush and I'm good. It's not complicated at all and I'm out the door still feeling good, but that's the simplest level [of upkeep] I do," she said.

The Oklahoma native has since returned to long hair. Underwood's transformation has come full circle as she was back to big, lengthy locks in early 2025 when she performed at President Donald Trump's inauguration and returned to "American Idol" as a judge.