Top 10 Carrie Underwood Songs

There always comes a day when momma’s little baby must set off to experience the world on her own, and when the front door slams shut, this is the track that makes both mother and daughter sob uncontrollably. Co-written with former “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi, “Mamma’s Song” is exactly what you might expect: an ode to a young girl’s mother. A tender tale of spreading one’s wings, “Mama’s Song” was destined to a be a hit as well as the perfect soundtrack for mother’s day!

Fellas, here’s some advice. When you already have a girlfriend, keep your Jimmy in your jeans otherwise it might come back to haunt you. For this devilish hit, Carrie Underwood took inspiration from the classic Stephen King tale “Christine,” in which a vintage car becomes possessed. For “Two Black Cadillacs,” Carrie put a little stank on her angelic voice and sang about a woman out for vengeance by way of a motorized vehicle. And you better believe she handled her business.

Now here’s a sassy number that not only won Carrie Underwood her third Grammy in a row, but allowed her to have a whole lotta fun. With “Last Name,” the country star delivered a modern party classic for debaucherous Vegas weekends, as the very essence of “Last Name” focuses on getting hitched up on a booze filled night in Sin City. Powerhouse vocals. Anthemic Chorus. It’s time to go to Vegas, make some bad mistakes, and keep them there.

Back in 1988, Randy Travis released an emotional country ballad that he’d been playing on the club circuit. Nearly 20 years later, Carrie Underwood put her own twist on “I Told You So” for her second album, Carnival Ride. Released as the fifth single from the album, the song's success meant it was only natural to record a follow-up duet with the song's writer and original artist. Underwood and Travis performed their would-be hit on the “American Idol” stage, thus blending the old with the new, and returning Mr. Travis to the Top 40 charts after a seven year absence.

By 2012, Carrie Underwood had become an unstoppable force of boot scootin’ boogies, and with this track, she took a playful approach by poking fun at all the “good girls” of the world who suffer from that dreadful affliction known as idealized love. A message of female empowerment, “Good Girl” highlighted the rock and roll side of Carrie Underwood’s sound, while the music video afforded her the opportunity to dress up and play a bad girl equipped with a more mature outlook on romance and life itself.

Yet another smash hit co-written by Carrie Underwood, this single kicked off the promotion for her third album, Play On. “Cowboy Casanova” was, oddly, co-written by Mike Elizondo, the man behind Eminem's “The Real Slim Shady.” Playing around with the concept of a male country hustla, this track features soaring Carrie Underwood vocals and boasts a classic outlaw sound for a new generation of country sweethearts. “Cowboy Casanova” won Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards, and even took home the top honor at the French Country Music Awards for cryin’ out loud.

Based on a concept that many young women of the world can identify with, Carrie Underwood may not have written this production, but her voice channeled the pain of those coping with the loss of a loved one. The lyrics of “Just a Dream” are based on the prototypical coming of age story often heard in country music, however the unrelenting vocals of Carrie Underwood take the song to greater heights. Both a somber reminder of the realities of war and a crossover hit for blossoming star, “Just a Dream” showcased the unbelievable range of a true American Idol.

Ok, so there’s a few things going on in this blustery song – fear, alcoholism and tornadoes - and given that Carrie Underwood was born and raised in Oklahoma, she obviously has a close connection to the lyrical content. The subtext of the song, however, reveals a larger set of problems from the singer’s point of view. The song surprisingly charted across the pond in the UK, while in the US the song's epic video production netted the CMT Music Award for Video of the Year.

After winning “American Idol” in 2005, Carrie Underwood found herself with millions of adoring fans, and for her first post-Idol single, she did not disappoint. Delivering a palms-to-the-sky anthem that was a hit with her Christian fan base and anyone else seeking personal redemption, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” went #1 on the Billboard Country chart while a top 5 hit on the Christian chart. Lyrically focused on a girl struggling with the realities of life, the song thrives on Carrie’s monster chorus fueled by the spiritual nature of the song. Melodic, inspirational and catchy, “Jesus, Take The Wheel” announced the arrival of a superstar.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Something in the Water”
Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (2014)

“Temporary Home”
Play On (2009)

“All-American Girl”
Carnival Ride (2007)

“See You Again”
Blown Away (2012)

“Undo It”
Play On (2009)

Whether you’re an American Idol or partaking in karaoke at the local bar, it’s essential for any innovative artist to break free from routine and take a few chances, and that’s exactly what Carrie Underwood did for this smash hit from her debut album. While she’s now a mother and all grown up, “Before He Cheats” proved that Carrie Underwood wasn’t just a sweet little country girl singing about Jesus and ice cream. As a result, she found immediate success as a crossover artist while bolstering an image of independence and connecting to the female demographic in a big, big way.

So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite Carrie Underwood song? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.