NASHVILLE – After a stretch of sold-out residencies, family milestones, and a deep dive into causes like fitness and faith-based charities, Carrie Underwood is trading the comforts of home for the roar of international crowds. The country powerhouse, who’s kept her boot heels planted firmly in the U.S. for the last half-decade, just unveiled her “Reflections” World Tour for 2026 – a 40-date juggernaut that’s got insiders buzzing about celebrity drop-ins, jaw-dropping collabs, and production values that could make Las Vegas blush.

The announcement hit like a thunderclap on Underwood’s official site and socials Thursday morning, complete with a teaser video of her belting a stripped-down “Cry Pretty” under arena lights that morph from Oklahoma sunsets to Tokyo neon. “It’s time to look back at where we’ve been, celebrate where we are, and charge toward what’s next – all while taking this show around the world,” Underwood said in a statement that had fans hitting refresh like it was 2005 Idol voting season. At 42, the small-town girl turned eight-time Grammy winner isn’t easing back in; she’s gunning for her most ambitious run yet, blending her catalog of chart-toppers with fresh tracks from an untitled album insiders say drops early next year.

Underwood’s been off the global radar since her 2019 Cry Pretty Tour, which grossed $55 million across North America alone and wrapped with a bang at the Grand Ole Opry. The pause wasn’t burnout – far from it. In 2020, she and hubby Mike Fisher welcomed son Jacob, joining big brother Isaiah in their Tennessee nest. Then came the Las Vegas residency “Reflection” at Resorts World in 2021-2023, a 52-show spectacle that raked in $100 million and earned her a Billboard Women in Music Icon award. Amid the glitz, she poured energy into her CALIA fitness line, authored a devotional book, and headlined her own all-female festival, THE PLAYLIST, proving she could build empires without a tour bus.

But philanthropy? That’s where Underwood’s shone brightest offstage. Through her “Checotah Can” foundation, she’s funneled millions into youth programs back home, while her 2024 partnership with the American Cancer Society spotlighted early detection – a personal nod after Fisher’s health scares. “Family and giving back grounded me when the road could’ve swallowed me whole,” she told People in a rare 2025 sit-down. Now, with the boys hitting school age and her voice – that powerhouse belt that turned “Before He Cheats” into a feminist anthem – sharper than ever, she’s ready to export her brand of boot-stomping soul to the masses.

The “Reflections” Tour kicks off March 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, a homecoming nod before jetting to Europe for a spring blitz: London’s O2 on March 20 and 22, Paris’ Accor Arena March 25, Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena March 28, and a Dublin 3Arena double-dip April 1-2. Summer shifts stateside with 15 U.S. stops, including a Fourth of July blowout at Boston’s Fenway Park and a two-night stand at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena. But the real heat? The fall leg hits Asia and Australia for the first time in a decade: Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan October 10, Seoul’s KSPO Dome October 13, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena October 20 and 22, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena October 25, and a Brisbane Entertainment Centre finale November 1.

That’s 40 shows across five continents, produced by Live Nation with production whispers of LED “mirrors” that reflect crowd faces during ballads and pyrotechnic fireworks synced to “Blown Away.” Setlists will mix staples like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Undo It” with deep cuts from her gospel-leaning 2023 album Denim & Rhinestones, plus debuts from the new record – think empowerment anthems with a global twist, co-written with heavy-hitters like Lori McKenna. Opener slots? All-female firepower: expect rising stars like Megan Moroney and Hailey Whitters rotating, keeping the girl-power vibe from her Play On Tour days.

And those “insiders” teasing celebrity guests? Buckle up. Sources close to the production tell Fox News Digital that surprise collabs are baked in – think Underwood trading verses with Adele on a soulful cover at Wembley (the two bonded over vocal coaches post-surgeries), or a full-circle moment with Kelly Clarkson dueting “Since U Been Gone” in Chicago. Lainey Wilson, fresh off their CMA Awards team-up, is eyed for multi-night harmonies on “Save Me,” while overseas, a K-pop crossover with Blackpink’s Rosé in Seoul could shatter streaming records. Even whispers of a one-off with her Cry Pretty Tour alum, Pistol Annies, for outlaw twang in Nashville. “Carrie’s curating moments, not just sets,” one insider spilled. “It’s her way of reflecting on the sisterhood that’s carried her career.”

Fans are already in meltdown mode. The presale – unlocked Thursday for Storytellers Fan Club members – crashed Ticketmaster twice, with general onsale hitting Friday at 10 a.m. local. X erupted with #UnderwoodWorldTour trending at No. 1 globally: “Carrie going international after Vegas? Queen energy,” one user posted, amassing 45K likes. Another Aussie diehard typed, “Sydney dates? Booking flights from Perth NOW – this is my Super Bowl.” Resale sites are flashing $300 for nosebleeds already, with VIP packages (meet-and-greets, soundcheck access) pushing $1,500. For international jaunts, Live Nation’s bundling travel deals – think O2 tickets with Eurostar vouchers – but Brexit holdovers mean UK fans are griping about £20 “service fees” that sting like a bad breakup ballad.

Underwood’s evolution mirrors country’s own glow-up. From her 2005 American Idol crown – where she edged out Bo Bice with a voice that could shatter glass – to 20 No. 1s and 85 million records sold, she’s the bridge between rhinestone cowboys and streaming queens. Her 2022 fall from a staircase, fracturing her wrist and face, could’ve sidelined her; instead, she channeled it into “Hate My Heart,” a raw gut-punch that topped charts. Now, post-motherhood and mid-career, “Reflections” feels like a victory lap with wanderlust. “I’ve sung for America, but the world’s been calling,” she posted on Instagram, the clip racking 2 million views in hours. It’s a far cry from her early days headlining state fairs; this is Underwood as global ambassador, packing arenas from the Opry to the Outback.

Critics are salivating. Rolling Stone called it “the tour country needs – unapologetic, unbreakable, and utterly Underwood.” Billboard pegged her as “poised for her biggest gross ever,” eyeing $150 million with those overseas legs. Even skeptics who knocked her Vegas run as “too polished” are coming around: “If she pulls off a Sydney fireworks finale on ‘Something in the Water,’ it’s iconic,” one Variety scribe tweeted.

Of course, no mega-tour’s without hurdles. Underwood’s juggling tour prep with a potential Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nod (ballots drop December) and Fisher’s NHL comeback whispers. Travel logistics for a 40-date sprint? Jet lag’s the real villain, but her team’s plotting private charters and cryo-sessions to keep that voice pristine. And with collabs in play, scheduling divas like Adele could spark tabloid frenzy – but hey, that’s rock-star drama.

As November’s chill settles over Music City, Underwood’s message rings clear: after years of roots-deep living, she’s blooming worldwide. “Reflections” isn’t just a tour; it’s a mirror to her unbreakable spirit – bigger stages, bolder risks, brighter lights. Grab those tickets, pack your cowboy hat, and get ready for the surprises. Because when Carrie steps out, she doesn’t just perform – she owns the damn world.