The stage lights dimmed, the crowd quieted, and a gentle acoustic melody began to fill the room. On Carrie Underwood: All-Star Holiday Special, Carrie Underwood delivered a live performance of “What Can I Say,” joined by the harmony-driven group Sons of Sylvia. This wasn’t just another country-pop ballad; it was a soft unraveling of heartbreak laced with regret and the weight of things left unsaid. The pairing between Carrie and Sons of Sylvia was not only vocally seamless but emotionally potent breathing new life into a lesser-known gem from her Play On album.
Carrie’s voice opened the track like a whispered apology, clear, aching, and personal. As the chorus unfolded, Sons of Sylvia joined in and their layered harmonies lifted the song’s emotional weight higher. It was a rare kind of duet: not a dialogue but a shared confession. The pain in their voices didn’t clash; it harmonized creating a bittersweet blend of sorrow and beauty that filled every inch of the performance space.
Carrie Underwood – “What Can I Say” featuring Sons of Sylvia
The lyrics painted familiar scenes of emotional distance, empty goodbyes, broken conversations and moments where love runs out of words. But what made the performance resonate wasn’t the subject matter alone. It was the sincerity with which Carrie delivered it leaning into vulnerability without ever overplaying it. Even when the melody swelled, the restraint in her delivery kept the heartbreak grounded and believable.
Then, in a dramatic shift in energy, Carrie took the stage alongside Dwight Yoakam for a rousing live duet of “Guitars, Cadillacs” at CMA Summer Jam. From the first twang of the guitar, it was clear this was Carrie in her honky-tonk element. Dressed in rhinestones and grinning wide, she matched Yoakam’s swagger beat for beat turning a country classic into a rollicking, two-step throwdown.
Carrie Underwood, Dwight Yoakam – Guitars, Cadillacs (Live From CMA Summer Jam)
Their chemistry was undeniable. Carrie brought grit and sparkle to the song’s moody nostalgia, while Yoakam stayed calm and steady, a master of the genre’s lonely poetry. Together, they honored the old-school vibe while giving it fresh energy, all while the audience clapped along under the open sky.
From delicate confessions to barn-burning duets, Carrie Underwood once again proved her range isn’t just vocal, it’s emotional. Whether she’s nursing wounds or setting the stage on fire, she always shows up with truth, talent, and an unmistakable spark.