Carrie Underwood Conquers Charts With First-Ever Rock No. 1 Thanks to an Unlikely Collaboration

Carrie Underwood has been making waves in the country music world for nearly 20 years. Since releasing her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven” in June 2005, she has launched more than 20 singles to the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts. Now, she’s conquering the rock and alternative charts.

While she has been a country superstar for nearly two decades, Underwood never gave up her love of rock and roll. In fact, she covers several rock songs during her live shows. Additionally, she has shared the stage with Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses. Recently, she teamed up with rock band Papa Roach to record a duet version of their song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” for a good cause.

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[RELATED: The Great Cause Behind Carrie Underwood’s Duet Version of “Leave a Light On” With Papa Roach]

The song debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales Chart and the publication’s Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. Additionally, it debuted at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart. So, it’s the second-best-selling song in the country.

Underwood has scored multiple hits on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Digital Song Sales, and Christian charts. “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” is the Oklahoma native’s first appearance on the Alternative Song Digital Sales chart. Her first appearance on the rock chart came in 2021 when she partnered with NEEDTOBREATHE for “I Wanna Remember.” The single peaked at No. 6. Her collaboration with Papa Roach is, however, her first No. 1 on the chart.

Carrie Underwood Teams with Papa Roach for a Good Cause

Papa Roach originally released “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” as part of their 2022 album Ego Trip. In 2023, they partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to release the song as a single in cooperation with their Talk Away the Dark Campaign. Proceeds from the single went to the Foundation.

Carrie Underwood teamed up with the band to release a duet version of the song earlier this month. Proceeds from this release also went to the AFSP.

“We were humbled that Carrie was open to our mission, and hearing the power of Carrie’s voice in that recording session, we were blown away,” Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix shared in a press release.

“I’m such a huge fan of Jacoby and Papa Roach and was honored to be invited to record ‘Leave a Light On’ with them,” Underwood shared in the statement. “It’s a beautiful song and the message behind it and the band’s mission to shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness has never been more important,” she added.

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