Since winning American Idol in 2005, Carrie Underwood has been pumping out songs that make us want to cry — or dance. Either way, her music is sure to be a winning recipe for your special day.
Underwood’s 2005 debut would be the envy of any recording artist. Her first single, Inside Your Heaven, made her the only country singer to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her first album also set an impressive record: the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history. And she hasn’t looked back since, as she continues to win awards and break records. As of 2021, she had sold 70 million records worldwide.
Despite all of her success, her music remains down-to-earth and relatable, making it a great choice for your wedding. To save you sifting through a pile of tracks looking for the right ones, we’ve crafted a list of the best Carrie Underwood love songs of all time.
Top Carrie Underwood Love Ballads and Dance Songs for Your Wedding Day
Whether you’re looking for a rockin’ reception entrance song, a romantic first dance tune or the perfect track for your father-daughter dance, you’re sure to find songs you love on our list of the 19 best Carrie Underwood wedding songs.
Best Carrie Underwood love songs
1. “Inside Your Heaven”
One of Carrie Underwood’s best love songs was also one of her first. She sang “Inside Your Heaven” during the finale of the fourth season of American Idol and won the competition as a result. The track was released to mainstream radio shortly after and it went on to be the top-selling country track of that year.
The piano ballad features lyrics about a true love that stands the test of time, making it the perfect song for your first dance together as husband and wife.
Best lyric: “And I wanna be the earth that holds you; Every bit of air you’re breathin’ in; A soothin’ wind; I wanna be inside your heaven.”
2. “Look at Me”
Originally released by Alan Jackson, Underwood’s cover of the song appeared on 2009’s “Play On” album. While it wasn’t released as a single, Underwood’s rendition of this beautiful love song has become a popular choice for weddings because it showcases her lyric soprano vocals to perfection.
A great option for a first dance song, this track would also work for your walk down the aisle or as a sentimental last dance at the end of the reception.
Best lyric: “I tell myself I’m in too deep; Then I fall a little farther; Everytime you look at me.”
3. “Heartbeat”
The second single released from her album Storyteller in 2015, the song topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and features backing vocals from fellow country artist Sam Hunt. Co-written by Underwood, this song of love and passion is thought to be inspired by her husband, former NHL player Mike Fisher.
A natural choice as a first dance or final dance song, “Heartbeat” could also be used for your reception entrance if you want something slower and more intimate.
Best lyric: “Standing on your shoes in my bare feet; dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeat; Yeah we’re dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeat.”
Underwood co-wrote “There’s a Place for Us” for “The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in 2010. But that doesn’t mean this song is for kids. While the song can be interpreted as being about chasing one’s dream, the track actually works quite well as a love song.
The song, which was nominated for best original song at the 68th Golden Globe Awards, has multiple uses. It would work as a reception entrance song or as a first dance song. An instrumental version would also be beautiful for your walk down the aisle.
Best lyric: “It’s written in the stars that shine above; A world where you and I belong; Where faith and love will keep us strong; Exactly who we are is just enough; There’s a place for us.”
5. “Like I’ll Never Love You Again”
While some of Underwood’s songs border on pop, this song is pure country. Although Underwood didn’t write this song, it is one of the more romantic tracks off of 2015’s “Storyteller” album.
Despite never being released as a single, “Like I’ll Never Love You Again” is the perfect way to end your reception and gives you a chance to have one last romantic dance with your husband.
Best lyric: “I wanna love you like the world’s gonna stop; ‘Til the very last second, last tick of that clock; I’m gonna slow it all down and then take you from zero to ten; Oh, I wanna love you like I’ll never love you again.”
6. “I’ll Stand By You”
Underwood’s cover of this Pretenders song was released as a charity single in 2007 as part of the American Idol special, Idol Gives Back. Underwood performed the song during her visit to Africa, and footage was used in the subsequent music video.
This song is pretty versatile in how it can be used. You could opt to play the chorus for your reception entrance, have it as your final dance of the night or simply put it on your playlist for the reception.
Best lyric: “I’ll stand by you; I won’t let nobody hurt you; I’ll stand by you.”
7. “So Small”
Co-written by Underwood, this song is about remembering not to let small problems blind you to the blessing of loving and being loved. Released in 2007 as the first single from her album “Carnival Ride,” it was a No. 1 hit on country charts but also made an appearance on the Hot 100 and Christian music charts.
If you’re looking for a less predictable song to use as a first dance, “So Small” is a great choice.
Best lyric: “And when you figure out love is all that matters after all; It sure makes everything else seem so small.”
8. “What I Never Knew I Always Wanted”
Perhaps her most personal song, the lyrics from “What I Never Knew I Always Wanted” are based on her marriage and having a baby. “I never dreamt of my wedding day and the perfect guy. Then I met Mike, and I was like, ‘Wow, so now I know what I was missing,'” Underwood said in an interview with People. “And the same with my son. I was never like, ‘I want kids so bad.’ And now that I have Isaiah in my life, I’m like, ‘What did I do before?'”
If you are already a parent or can simply relate to the sentiments in this song, this is a great song to add to your reception’s playlist.
Best lyric: “I didn’t know there was a hole; Something missing in my soul; ‘Til you filled it up with your love, yeah.”
If you’re looking for a poignant father-daughter dance song, this is the one for you. Underwood and her two co-writers both channeled their own experiences with their dads to come up with this sentimental song for her “Storyteller” album. The music has influences from both country and pop making it a good choice no matter which style is your preference.
Best lyric: “Cause you think I’m brave, and you think I’m beautiful; You think that I can do the impossible; You always see the best in me when I can’t; I wanna be the girl you think I am.”
10. “Mama’s Song”
Not to leave moms out, this sweet song about a mother-daughter relationship, sees Underwood reassuring her mom that she’s found a good man who will treat her right. Some of Underwood’s best work is when she makes her songwriting personal — and the critics obviously agree because “Mama’s Song” was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards.
If you’re looking for a song to dedicate to your mom at your wedding, then you can’t choose a better one than this.
Best lyric: “Cause he is good, so good; And he treats your little girl like a real man should.”
Best Carrie Underwood duet wedding songs
1. “I Wanna Remember”
Underwood teams up with Christian rock group NEEDTOBREATHE in this heartfelt track from the group’s 2021 album “Into The Mystery.”
“I was thrilled when … the band invited me to be a part of their new project,” Underwood said. “I love the song and have had the best time getting to know and sing with these amazingly talented guys.”
This nostalgic track is all about remembering some of the sweetest times you’ve shared with your love, making it a great first dance song for your wedding.
Best lyric: “Oh, I don’t know how; Every second gets better; I wanna be here now; I want to remember.”
2. “Only Us”
Underwood’s duet with Dan + Shay is adapted from Dear Evan Hansen, a film version of the 2017 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. The song describes the relationship between the main characters, Evan Hansen and Zoe Murphy but is really about the wonder and insecurities that can accompany a brand new love.
This song would make a great last dance of the night song, or it can just be included on your reception playlist for couples who prefer to slow dance.
Best lyric: “What if it’s you, what if it’s me; What if that’s all that we needed to be? And the rest of the world falls away; What do you say?”
3. “The Fighter”
Keith Urban’s collaboration with Underwood for his 2016 album “Ripcord,” won him two country music awards and earned the song the No. 2 spot on country charts. The song was inspired by Urban’s relationship with his wife, actress Nicole Kidman.
This song’s uptempo beat makes it a great choice for a grand entrance or as a song to play to get your guests up on the dance floor.
Best lyric: “What if I fall (I won’t let you fall); What if I cry (I promise I’ll never make you cry); And if I get scared (I’ll hold you tighter); When they’re tryna get to you baby I’ll be the fighter.”
Underwood teamed up with Aerosmith on this power ballad for the rock band’s 2013 album “Music from Another Dimension!”
Underwood’s voice was actually a last-minute addition to the song after lead singer Steven Tyler and his co-writer Marti Frederiksen became worried that he sounded “a little too country.” They called Underwood and she came in and recorded her part of the song that night, giving the song the cohesiveness it lacked.
This is the perfect first dance song for couples who love rock music with just a touch of country.
Best lyric: “Hey, I can’t stop loving you; Cause it’s all I wanna do.”
Carrie Underwood’s most popular songs for dancing
1. “Some Hearts”
If you’re looking for an uptempo love song, “Some Hearts” could fill the bill. The title track of Underwood’s debut album, the song was written by Diane Warren, who is known for penning some of the best love ballads of the past 30 years.
Originally written for Belinda Carlile in the 1980s, Underwood’s version of the song is happy and upbeat, making it an ideal entrance song to your reception, or a great song to play to get your guests grooving.
Best lyric: “Who’d have thought I’d ever find somebody; Someone who, someone who makes me feel like this.”
2. “End Up With You”
This song, from her “Cry Pretty” album, features a completely different vocal from Underwood. Instead of trying to hit all of the high notes, Underwood keeps it a bit more mellow for an easy-to-listen to, upbeat, mid-tempo tune.
The lyrics are also laid-back and talk about being with the one you love and living in the moment. This song would be great as an entrance to your reception or simply for your overall playlist.
Best lyric: “All I wanna do is end up with you.”
3. “All-American Girl”
There isn’t a better upbeat song for a father-daughter dance than this one. This song, which was co-written by Underwood, was a No. 1 hit in 2007. The lyrics first describe a dad’s love and pride in his daughter and then go on to talk about a boy falling in love with her. When they eventually get married, he decides he wants to have a daughter of his own.
Best lyric: “And now he’s wrapped around her finger; She’s the center of his whole world; And his heart belongs to that sweet little beautiful, wonderful, perfect all-American girl.”
4. “Southbound”
This song is the kind you bring to a party. If you want to get your guests up on the dance floor, then “Southbound” is a must for your party playlist. Released in 2019 as part of the “Cry Pretty” album, this song is pure fun to listen and dance to.
Best lyric: “It’s all looking up when we get down; And get a little southbound, southbound.”
5. “We’re Young and Beautiful”
This song from 2005’s “Some Hearts” is a must for any wedding reception. All about celebrating youthful love and living in the moment, this upbeat tune has a rock-country vibe, making it a good reception entrance song. It could even be used if you want to buck tradition and have a fast first dance.
Best lyric: “It’s a crazy ride; And baby, you and I; Are keeping our sweet love alive.”
