Carrie Underwood's Red Carpet Looks Ranked Best To Worst

In November 2017, just two days after Carrie Underwood hosted the Country Music Awards with fellow country singer, Brad Paisley, she suffered a terrifying fall. Originally, Underwood's spokesperson told The Tennessean the singer was treated for a "broken wrist and cuts and abrasions" after falling down the steps of her home. 

It wasn't until some two months later that Underwood shared the extent of her injuries. "I somehow managed to injure my face as well," she wrote on her website (via CNN). The singer revealed she received 40 to 50 stitches in her face and warned fans, saying, "When I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different." 

Underwood finally braved the world at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2018, where she even performed. Not even true stans of Underwood could discern her looking any different than before her fall. In fact, she looked flawless — as she always does. Well, perhaps not always. Here are some of Underwood's very best — and arguably not-so-good — fashion choices of years past.

Can we take a minute to talk about that amazing cobalt blue number Underwood wore to the CMAs in 2017? The low-cut, off-the-shoulder gown was the creation of Fouad Sarkis, Entertainment Tonight reported. You may not have noticed, as they were hidden underneath her floor-length dress, but she was also donning a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti heels.

Underwood also chose to accessorize her ensemble with two large statement rings, one by Anabela Chan and the other, Hearts on Fire. Underwood's barely-there manicure set the stage for this pop of jewelry. Underwood balanced out the whole look with the addition of dangling Butani earrings. Since Underwood wore her hair down but also kept her locks tucked behind her ears, the earrings were the perfect focal point.

The singer's decision to forgo a necklace proved to be the right one and brought even more attention to that magnificent — and daring — plunging neckline. 

When you find a style that works for you, do as Underwood does and keep workin' it! Nude hues and sheer numbers are definitely one of Underwood's tried-and-true trends. Just one year before she would make her triumphant return to the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2018, she showed up to the same awards show the year prior looking absolutely stunning in a dazzling backless, sleeveless, sheer and silver gown. Underwood's ensemble also featured an embellished choker neckline as well as a full skirt and train made of tulle.

Just as she did with her gorgeous cobalt blue dress, Underwood kept the jewelry simple. One statement ring and long diamond earrings were the only two accessories that were really necessary to tie this look together. Underwood also kept her makeup simple with bronzed cheekbones, a pale lip, and smoky eyes. Oh, and you cannot ignore those magnificently manicured eyebrows! Um, brow goals, much?

Underwood may have been worried about her appearance ahead of the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas but, as pictures prove, she had no reason to fear. For her performance, she wore a short black and silver sequined dress with metallic shoes — the entire outfit carrying a hint of 1920s Flapper pizzazz. Hollywood Life pointed out that even her eye makeup — glittery tears — was coordinated to match the cover of her new single, "Cry Pretty." Well done! 

After the country star performed her new song for the audience, she changed into something very much less dramatic, but still beautiful — a nude gown — complete with floral appliqués, high slit, and plunging neckline that she does so well.

Although the awards show was the first time the singer had been seen publicly since her accident, you would never know it. Underwood certainly appears to have made a full recovery, and fans and fellow stars were undoubtedly happy for her — even giving the singer a standing ovation after her performance.

Underwood may be slaying it with her outfit choices as of late, but she's been able to pull off gorgeous looks for years. At the 2012 Grammy Awards, Underwood stepped onto the red carpet wearing a floor-length white sparkling gown by designer Gomez Garcia. The high-neck, long-sleeve, and backless dress featured top-to-bottom sequins that Underwood paired with oversize teardrop diamond earrings and a black sequined clutch. It was a great night for Underwood, who was nominated — and won — for her song "Blown Away" in the Best Country Solo Performance category.

Prior to her evening win, fans of the country singer were certainly already blown away by her look. Many left comments about her ensemble on YouTube, saying, "best dressed for sure" and "elegant, sophisticated, stunning, draws you right to her, absolutely gorgeous." You don't even have to be a fan of her music to appreciate her style — but, of course, it wouldn't hurt.

By 2017, Underwood was no stranger to Grammy nominations — especially the Best Country Solo Performance award. Although she didn't take home a win in 2017, she certainly turned heads with her ensemble. Underwood's dress of choice was an Elie Madi gown in deep red — an unusual color choice for the singer.

The gown featured a high neckline, keyhole cutout, exaggerated sleeves, and a high slit. The bell sleeves added an unexpected flair — and, of course, literal flare — and helped balance out her look. Underwood paired her stunning dress with open-toed Jimmy Choo heels and minimal jewelry, per usual.

Underwood kept her makeup light and bright, aside for her smoky eye shadow and long, dark lashes — just dramatic enough. The country singer also wore her hair back, aside from just a few tousled waves to frame her face. It may have been a surprising outfit choice for Underwood but, it was a good one.

Although Underwood most definitely killed it with that gorgeous cobalt blue gown at the 2017 Country Music Awards, it wasn't her most original color choice. Back in 2014 at Music City Center for the American Country Countdown Awards, Underwood sported a deep blue dress, a creation of Leanne Marshall. 

Unfortunately, this bulky gown with black sequined built-in belt resembled more of an off-the-rack prom dress than a designer dress you'd see on the red carpet. As Underwood would later prove, the color of the dress wasn't the issue. In fact, Underwood may just be able to pull off every color. It was simply the style and fit that were questionable. 

Underwood, who was pregnant at the time, donned another outfit that same evening — a form-fitting one-shouldered gown with gold accents by Xtreme — which ended up being an excellent choice. Nevertheless, Underwood performed flawlessly at the outset of the awards show and was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Underwood can certainly pull off sheer dresses with the best of them, but that doesn't mean she always does. When attending the 2017 Country Music Television Awards in the early summer of 2017, Underwood wore a sparkling super short and somewhat sheer dress by Elie Madi. The long glittering sleeves combined with the iridescent fringed skirt was an odd choice for the singer.

Underwood didn't wear a necklace with her ensemble, but she still accessorized to the max by donning many statement rings and large, dangling diamond earrings. While that alone may very well have been pushing the limits of sparkly, Underwood also paired her outfit and jewelry with metallic high-heeled sandals and added a silver Atelier Swarovski clutch. Yes, more crystals, more sparkles. 

Underwood wore her hair up in a braided mohawk, which was another unusual choice for the singer, but this hairdo definitely worked. The accomplished singer ended up Female Video of the Year for her song "Church Bells" so, we're sure Underwood doesn't regret too much from that night.

Did you jump aboard the chevron pattern bandwagon? We may all be guilty of embracing the trend at some point. Although it wasn't revolutionary — the first usage of the word dates back to the fourteenth century — by 2012, the V-shaped print was all the rage, with She Knows dubbing them "hot for the summer of 2012." Two years into the trend, Underwood sported chevron on the red carpet. Well, technically, she was on the blue carpet as she was attending the Samsung Hope for Children Gala in New York City.

The asymmetrical, strapless dress in a silver-black combination was the design of Rubin Singer, Just Jared reported. Underwood paired the bold striped knee-length dress with pointed-toe Henri Lepore Dezert heels in black, elongated Jacob & Co. diamond earrings, and a small Rauwolf clutch.

Although Underwood's ensemble of choice may be a little cringe-worthy in retrospect — as often happens with of-the-moment trends — her attendance at the gala brought support and awareness to an organization that helps children in need. 

Shortly after the 2017 Golden Globes, E! News named Carrie Underwood one of the worst dressed celebrities in attendance — ouch! Underwood's full-length pale pink gown proved, yet again, that the country singer can literally look good in any color and, really, in anything. Although the bottom-half of her dress was simple, the top is what caused the commotion. E! News described the issue as being "an overwhelming amount of ruffles." 

Naturally, they weren't the only ones with this opinion. Self even penned an article entitled "Carrie Underwood's 2017 Golden Globes Dress Looks Like A Rose Highlighter Come To Life." Fans chimed in about the dress as well. One Twitter user wrote, "Why does Carrie Underwood's dress look like it's covered in sliced deli ham at the top?" Okay, so, the frills were perhaps a bit much. We guess that makes this Carrie's version of a meat dress?

Underwood's sliced lunchmeat dress wasn't the only time the superstar experimented with ruffles. In 2010, she attended the Country Music Awards in a strapless, gunmetal gray Talbot Runoff dress. Underwood looked stunning, as usual, but it was hard to find her beneath all the ruffles. So. Many. Ruffles. Even the peplum portion was ruffled with layers and layers of tulle, with one statement tulle rose front and center.

Underwood paired her ensemble with Stuart Weitzman shoes, but it would've been hard to spot them beneath all that fabric. Underwood's jewelry was on point and included a glistening bracelet by Jonathon Arndt. She also posed for pictures on the red carpet holding her sparkling silver Daniel Swarovski clutch.

Although she may have excelled in accessorizing, many couldn't look beyond the dress. Page Six even dubbed the dress "a flower patch", adding, "[It's] not only overgrown, but smothered with cheap looking layers." Since Carrie Underwood hasn't been spotted in another ensemble quite like this one, she may very well agree.