If anyone knows how hard it can be, it’s Carrie Underwood.

The country star has always been outspoken about her Christian faith, and in 2021, she took home the Grammy award for Best Roots Gospel Album for her My Savior album, which is still one of my favorite projects she’s ever done.

We all know about how Hollywood can be when it comes to only accepting people of the Christian faith in particular, and I’m sure Carrie had moments where she was encouraged to go against her faith for one reason or another, especially when she was first getting started, but she’s seemed to have stood strong in that and continued to make it a huge part of her career.

And during a recent interview with the Christian Post, Carrie explained that young artists don’t have to “sell [their] soul to make it in the entertainment industry,” contrary to popular belief, adding that it’s important for them to “remember where [their] gifts come from,” because it’s “not from you”:

“You don’t have to … sell your soul to make it in the entertainment industry. You are going to have to stand strong in your faith and remember who got you here, because it wasn’t you. Remember where your gifts come from, because it’s not from you. Everybody kind of has to make their own way, but it is possible.”

It really can be as simple as that, and Carrie is a great example of someone who has done it and never wavered.

This interview came because of the recent American Idol themed episode titled “Songs of Faith,” where the Top 14 contestants performed gospel, contemporary Christian, and inspirational music. Carrie also took the stage that night with some contestants for a stunning rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” and she talked about how happy she was that ABC was so bold in choosing this theme:

“I mean, what’s not to love [about this night]. I respect ABC and ‘American Idol’ so much for being bold in this theme, because it’s not easy. I feel like in the world of entertainment in general … it’s not easy.

But I also love that it was a gentle way. It’s songs of faith, and it was kind of what that means to you as hopeful. So it’s not like we were making everybody sing about Jesus. It’s kind of like you could take that and sing something inspirational that means something to you.”

She went onto explain how overwhelmed she was from all of it:

“I love that we were able to … just be joyful and, you know, kind of have some moments of just worship in front of the world. I love that we had a little kid praying for us, Pastor Luke, it was just no fear. There were a lot of moments. I feel like I’m still downloading all that we just experienced.”

I saw some highlights of the episode and it looked like a really good one, but of course, Mrs. Carrie taking the stage was the highlight… check it out: