Photo: Getty Images
Carrie Underwood delivered “a surprise no one saw coming.”
The Grammy-winning country superstar joined powerhouse contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Ben Fuller to perform a surprise duet at the 2025 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. The two artists teamed up on “If It Was Up To Me” earlier this year. The collaboration was nominated in the Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year category.
“When I wrote this song, I kept thinking about how difficult life can be and that if I was in control, and it was up to me, I’d make it a lot easier on myself – but I’d never know then how good God’s plans can be,” Fuller said in a statement when the duet made its debut. “I’m so grateful Carrie wanted to share her love for Jesus on a song with me. She was so kind and calm when we were in the studio. And I’m pretty sure I smiled almost as big as God did when she stepped up to the mic that day!”
Underwood added in a statement of her own: “Ben is such a talented singer and songwriter and I love the joy he brings to singing about his faith, which we have in common. I was honored when he asked me to sing with him on ‘If It Was Up To Me,’ and I love how our voices blend on such a positive and uplifting song.”
TBN, the Dove Awards, Fuller and Underwood shared a clip of the “surprise no one saw coming” on Instagram on Tuesday (October 14). The network noted that the Dove Awards encore broadcast will air on Friday (October 17) at 7:30 p.m. ET and again at 10:30 p.m. ET on TBN and the TBN app. Watch Underwood’s surprise appearance here: