One of Carrie Underwood‘s musical dreams came true last night, and it happened on American Idol. The Grand Ole Opry member performed “Rebel Yell” with Billy Idol and his frequent collaborator, Steve Stevens, on the night the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced.

“What is my life?!?!” Underwood captions a series of photos. “I got the incredible chance tonight to sing with THE Billy Idol and Steve Stevens as part of our [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame] night on American Idol. It was an honor for me to get to share the stage with some real legends! Billy was so kind and put up with my nervousness and fangirling…I still can’t believe THAT just happened!”

Idol was announced as an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with Phil Collins, Gram Parsons, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross, and more. See the complete list here.

What Carrie Underwood Says About Her Love of Rock Music

Underwood might be a country music superstar, but she has been vocal about her love of rock music. She even served as the opening act for Guns N’ Roses in 2023.

“I remember going to big rock festivals in Tulsa, and just being exposed to bands like Slipknot and stuff like that,” Underwood recalls on SiriusXM‘s Octane channel. “It was just a really great time in music. I feel like the late ’90s, early 2000s was just a fun time in rock music.”

On Underwood’s own Carrie’s Country channel on SiriusXM, the 43-year-old plays everything from traditional country to heavy metal music, an intentional choice to not be restricted to one genre of music.

“I think it’s so much fun,” Underwood boasts. “I remember, I was tuning in one day, just listening to my own channel, and I heard Ozzy [Osbourne], and then I heard George Strait. I was like, ‘This is amazing.’ This is how I listen to music, so I hope people enjoy it.”

Carrie Underwood’s Determination to Live a Normal Life

Underwood is one of Idol’s biggest success stories. After winning Season 4 of American Idol in 2005, Underwood has had hit albums, No. 1 singles, sold-out tours, and more. But after marrying Mike Fisher in 2010, and becoming a mother to her two sons, 11-year-old Isaiah and seven-year-old Jacob, her professional life has taken a distant backseat to focusing on her family.

“I went from living on a farm to being on stage in front of a ton of people,” Underwood reflects on SiriusXM Front Row. “And traveling, and we’re in a different city every day. I learned very quickly that this is not real life. It’s not real life. It’s so wonderful. I love performing. I love singing. I love writing. I love being creative. Singing is definitely one of my happy places, but the world that that takes you to is just not real. And more than anything, for my family, I want them to know that.”

Underwood is judging this season of American Idol alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. The show airs Monday nights at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

Photo Credit: Disney / Eric McCandless