Carrie Underwood is ditching her famous blonde locks to debut a new look.
The “American Idol” judge posted an Instagram photo Aug. 4, revealing that she said goodbye to the bleached tresses that have been synonymous with her life and career since she won Season 4 of the reality singing competition show in 2005.
“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. Thanks, @hairbykatelin_ at @parlour3beauty for helping me get back to my roots!” Underwood captioned the snap, adding the hashtags “#NewOldMe” and “#Bronde.”
‘American Idol’ winner Jamal Roberts speaks out about judge Carrie Underwood
One of the most famous contestants to ever compete on the show, Underwood returned to “Idol” – replacing pop star Katy Perry on the judging panel – alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as a judge on Season 23, which premiered in March.
The news, first announced on “Good Morning America,” was an exciting throwback for “Idol” fans. Underwood’s 2005 win happened when the show still had its original judges: Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. With eight wins, Underwood is the past contestant with the most Grammy trophies to her name.
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But there were bumpy moments during Underwood’s first season as an “Idol” judge when the Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts threw a bit of shade at the country star after following in her footsteps.
In July, when journalist Nate Vinson asked him about the “very strong narrative online” around Underwood’s first season as a judge and how “people (who) watch the show that felt like she really wasn’t supportive of you like other judges or other people,” Roberts said that “Carrie is a country singer and she likes country music.”
During Season 23, which ended in May, the genre-bending Mississippi gym teacher won over a pair of country singers, John Foster and Breanna Nix. The conversation surrounding Roberts and Underwood reached a fever pitch online all season long.
“I mean, I don’t think she likes every genre for real. She had her picks, and she had her (choice) of who she really liked, and she stuck with it,” Roberts added in the red carpet clip from a BET 45th anniversary dinner. “We applaud her for sticking to her roots and sticking to who she liked, but I feel like the better person won.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carrie Underwood new hair color marks big transformation
