Carrie Underwood Joins Guns N’ Roses in Atlanta as Axl Rose Reportedly Guides Her Rock Project
Carrie Underwood has spent years making it clear that her musical tastes extend well beyond country, and her latest appearance with Guns N’ Roses in Atlanta has added fresh fuel to reports that she may be preparing to explore rock music in a much bigger way.
On September 19, Underwood surprised the crowd at Truist Park by joining Guns N’ Roses onstage during the band’s Atlanta concert. She performed with the group during “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and later returned for “Paradise City.”
The appearance comes just as TMZ reports that Underwood is working on new rock-oriented music and receiving guidance from Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. According to sources cited by TMZ, Rose is mentoring Underwood as she experiments with a sound that is a significant departure from the country music that has defined most of her career.
For now, there is still no official announcement from Underwood confirming that a rock album is in the works. It is also unclear whether the project, if it moves forward, would become a full-length album, an EP, or a single.
Still, the timing is certainly interesting.
A Rock Connection That Goes Back Years
Underwood’s connection with Guns N’ Roses is hardly new.
In 2022, Axl Rose joined her during her headlining set at Stagecoach, where the two performed “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Later that year, Underwood surprised fans by appearing at a Guns N’ Roses show in London and performing with the entire band.
She has also brought Guns N’ Roses into her own shows, including a performance of “Welcome to the Jungle” at the first stop of her Denim & Rhinestones tour. During that same period, she showed another side of her musicianship by delivering a drum solo during “Poor Everybody Else.”
Her interest in heavier music has continued well beyond those performances. Earlier this month, Underwood surprised audiences with a cover of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff.” At the September 5, 2026, Velocity Festival in Dyersville, Iowa, she also incorporated songs by Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Collective Soul into her set, further highlighting how comfortable she has become stepping outside the boundaries of country music.
That makes her latest Guns N’ Roses appearance feel less like an isolated surprise and more like another chapter in a long-running interest in rock.
Underwood Has Never Ruled Out a Rock Album
Underwood has actually addressed the possibility of making a rock record before.
In a 2023 interview with Audacy, she was asked about the idea of releasing an album devoted to rock music. Rather than dismissing it, she left the door wide open.
“You never really know with me. I never say never about anything,” Underwood said.
She explained that different musical influences can find their way into her work, even when she does not ultimately record the songs associated with those influences.
Underwood has also spoken specifically about her love of rock and metal, saying she grew up listening to a wide range of music.
“I do have an affinity for rock music and metal, and I just love the energy more than anything,” she said. “I love going to rock concerts because it feels like freedom to me.”
Those comments make the possibility of a rock project considerably less out of character than it might seem at first.
From Country Star to Rock Experiment
The latest reports suggest Underwood may now be moving from talking about a possible rock project to actually exploring one.
TMZ reported on September 19 that Underwood has been working on new music that differs from her established country sound, with sources saying Rose is helping mentor her as she ventures further into rock. TMZ also reported that Underwood was expected to attend the Atlanta Guns N’ Roses show, where she could potentially join the band onstage.
That report was followed by exactly that appearance.
Underwood took the stage with Rose and Guns N’ Roses at Truist Park on September 19. According to coverage of the show, she shared vocals with Rose on “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and later joined the band for “Paradise City.”
Afterward, Underwood shared photos from the Atlanta performance on Instagram and thanked Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash and the rest of the Guns N’ Roses crew for inviting her to perform.
She wrote:
“Yet another amazing show from Guns N’ Roses …this time in Atlanta at Truist Park!
Thanks, Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash… and the whole crew for having us and for letting me try and keep up on stage! You are always so kind! Love you all forever!”
Her wording makes clear that the relationship between Underwood and the band remains a warm one, while the reported collaboration with Rose gives the Atlanta performance an added layer of intrigue.
A Different Direction for Her Career
A full rock record would represent a significant departure for Underwood, whose eight studio albums have been rooted in country music. Her most recent studio album, Denim & Rhinestones, was released in 2022.
But Underwood has already demonstrated that she is willing to move outside her usual lane.
In 2021, she released My Savior, an album centered on gospel music. The project earned her the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2022.
Rock would obviously be a very different direction from gospel, but her career has shown that she is capable of taking her voice into different musical settings.
Her recent performances suggest that this interest in rock is not limited to occasional guest appearances, either. Along with her history with Guns N’ Roses, she has performed rock material by artists including Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Collective Soul. Her collaborations with rock acts have also continued over the years.
At this point, however, it is important to separate what is known from what is being reported.
There is no confirmed announcement from Underwood that she is releasing a rock album. The reports about Rose mentoring her come from sources cited by TMZ, while Underwood herself has previously said that she would not rule out making a rock project.
So the shape of whatever she may be working on remains unknown.
Could Axl Rose Appear on the Project?
If Underwood really is developing a rock project with Rose’s guidance, the possibility of a Guns N’ Roses connection on the finished music will naturally attract attention.
Underwood and Rose already have a performance history together, beginning with their Stagecoach appearance in 2022 and continuing through later collaborations. Their latest performance in Atlanta only adds to that history.
For now, though, there is no confirmation that Rose or any other Guns N’ Roses member will appear on a future Underwood recording.
What happens next will depend on what Underwood has actually been working on behind the scenes. It could eventually become a full-length rock album, a smaller project, a single or something else entirely.
The most recent developments have at least made one thing clear: Underwood’s long-standing affection for rock music is continuing to show up in her work, and Axl Rose now appears to be part of that story.
For a country superstar who has repeatedly said never say never, a serious move into rock may no longer seem quite so far-fetched.
What We Know So Far
- Carrie Underwood joined Guns N’ Roses at Truist Park in Atlanta on September 19, 2026.
- She performed “Sweet Child O’ Mine” with Axl Rose and also joined the band for “Paradise City.”
- TMZ reported that Underwood is working on new rock music and that Rose is mentoring her as she experiments with the genre.
- Underwood has previously said she would not rule out making a rock album and has described her love of rock and metal.
- She has performed with Guns N’ Roses several times and has also recently incorporated songs from Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Collective Soul into her live performances.
- There is currently no official confirmation from Underwood about a forthcoming rock album, and the format of any potential project remains unknown.
For now, Atlanta has provided another memorable collaboration between Underwood and Guns N’ Roses. Whether it ultimately becomes a preview of a much bigger musical shift remains to be seen.