Carrie Underwood Brings Her Rock Side to Iowa Festival

Carrie Underwood may be one of country music’s biggest stars, but she proved once again that she has a serious love for rock.

The 43-year-old singer surprised fans during her performance at the Velocity Festival in Dyersville, Iowa, on Saturday, Sept. 5, mixing her biggest country hits with songs from some of rock and nu-metal’s most popular bands.

Underwood performed familiar favorites such as “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” But she also took the crowd by surprise with covers of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” Papa Roach’s “Scars,” Collective Soul’s “Shine” and Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer.”

During “Break Stuff,” Underwood showed off her energetic rock-star side. She jumped around the stage and sang along to the song while skipping some of its more explicit lyrics. She also wore a backward red baseball cap, a nod to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.

She brought the same energy to “One Step Closer,” headbanging as she performed the Linkin Park classic.

Underwood later shared her excitement about the festival on Instagram.

“Had the BEST time last night in Dyersville, IA at the @velocitymusicfest!!! Everything about it was 🔥🔥🔥!!!” she wrote. “Thanks to all who came out to party! Y’all were crazy!”

The singer had already hinted that something different might be coming. In an earlier post, she said she had arrived in Iowa early so she could watch Shinedown’s headlining performance. The show inspired her to try some new songs during her own set.

Rock music has been part of Underwood’s career for years. She has performed with major rock acts including Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe.

She famously shared the Stagecoach stage with Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose in 2022 and later performed with the band several more times. At the Velocity Festival, she also added Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” to her set.

Earlier this year, Underwood teamed up with Mötley Crüe on American Idol to perform “Home Sweet Home” and “Kickstart My Heart.” She also performed with Papa Roach in 2025, joining the band during its Las Vegas show for their collaboration “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark).”

Underwood has previously said that she grew up listening to many different types of music and would not rule out making a rock album someday.

“I do have an affinity for rock music and metal, and I just love the energy more than anything,” she told Audacy in 2023. “I love going to rock concerts because it feels like freedom to me.”

For now, fans got a taste of what a Carrie Underwood rock show could sound like at one of the most unusual concert locations in the country.

The Velocity Festival was held at the Field of Dreams movie site, with Shinedown and Creed among the other headliners.