“DON’T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS… BECAUSE TONIGHT, WE NEED THEM MORE THAN EVER!” — this unexpected statement echoed across the stage, silencing the entire audience the moment Carrie Underwood stepped out beside Papa Roach and transformed “Leave A Light On” into an unforeseen emotional earthquake. As the lights dimmed, the guitar roared, and Carrie’s clear yet burning voice ripped through the night, causing over 20,000 audience members to rise to their feet. There was no longer a boundary between rock and ballad, between pain and healing — only two souls conversing through music, frank and raw to the point of being breathtaking. Many wept, many held up their phones in silence, as if afraid to break that sacred moment. Within hours, the performance went viral with millions of views, dubbed a “heart-touching collaboration.” No fireworks, no gimmicks — just truth, emotion, and a gentle reminder: sometimes, a song is enough to save a life.

Carrie Underwood Joins Papa Roach For A Powerful Performance Of “Leave A Light On”

On October 1 in Nashville, Tennessee, Carrie Underwood surprised fans by stepping onstage with Papa Roach for an emotional performance of “Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark).” The unexpected collaboration took place during the rock band’s live show and quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments.

Dressed in platform combat boots, leopard-print leggings, and a black dress, Underwood fit right into the high-energy atmosphere as she joined Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix at the microphone. The two harmonized on the rock ballad, blending country grit and alt-metal intensity in a way that felt both raw and natural.

Papa Roach later shared footage of the performance on social media, taken from the October 1 show in Nashville, giving fans who weren’t there a chance to witness the powerful duet.

While the pairing may seem unexpected on paper, this was not the first time Carrie Underwood and Papa Roach have worked together.

“Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)” was originally released on Papa Roach’s 2022 album Ego Trip. Two years later, the band revisited the song for a special collaboration tied to Suicide Prevention Month. The track is deeply personal for the band, as Shaddix has shared that it was inspired by the late Chester Bennington, who died by suicide in 2017.

Papa Roach has long partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and when Underwood joined them for a newly recorded version of the song in 2024, the collaboration took on even greater meaning. Proceeds from the updated version go to the organization in perpetuity, reinforcing the song’s message of hope, awareness, and reaching out.

Speaking about the collaboration during an appearance on Good Morning America, Underwood explained why the project resonated with her:

“When they asked me to come sing on this song, I loved the song and I loved their cause. They work a lot with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and they want to help people and use their life stories to do that.”

The Nashville performance made it clear that the connection between the artists goes beyond a studio collaboration. The live version carried extra weight, with Underwood and Shaddix delivering the song as a shared message rather than a feature moment.

Fans may not have been entirely surprised by Underwood’s comfort on a rock stage. Viewers of American Idol recently saw another side of her musical taste when she revealed herself to be a genuine metal fan. During auditions, she enthusiastically reacted to a contestant performing Korn’s “Freak On A Leash” and Drowning Pool’s “Bodies,” even singing along to the latter and proving she knew every word.

The Nashville duet with Papa Roach reinforced what many fans already suspected: Carrie Underwood is just as at home delivering a heavy rock anthem as she is commanding a country stage. More importantly, the performance highlighted how music—regardless of genre—can be a powerful tool for connection, awareness, and healing.