Watch Carrie Underwood Cover Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Linkin Park at Velocity Festival

At the Velocity Festival in Iowa, Carrie Underwood delivered an unexpected and energetic performance that amazed her audience on Saturday, September 5. The country star wowed the crowd with a series of nu-metal covers, starting with Collective Soul's "Shine," followed by Papa Roach's "Scars" and Linkin Park's "One Step Closer." The final act of her set was a standout moment, as she transformed into Limp Bizkit's frontman Fred Durst by donning a backward red baseball cap while performing the hit song "Break Stuff."

Clips of her performance quickly went viral online, eliciting varied reactions from fans. Some appreciated the nod to the late-1990s rock genre, while others criticized the selection due to the song's explicit lyrics, which Underwood creatively addressed by having the audience fill in the blanks. The 2026 Velocity Festival, a three-day event, marked Underwood's final headlining performance at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville.

She was part of a diverse lineup that included Default, Maggie Rose, Danny Worsnop, Shinedown, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creed, and closed out the weekend with Nate Smith and Filter. This eclectic mix of artists aligns with the festival's established reputation for blending rock and metal sounds, a tradition that began with Tim McGraw and Nickelback's headlining act in the festival's inaugural run.

Underwood's penchant for incorporating rock and metal into her repertoire is nothing new; she has previously shared the stage with heavyweights like Guns N’ Roses and Papa Roach. Earlier this year, during the May 11 finale of American Idol, Underwood joined forces with Mötley Crüe to perform "Home Sweet Home" and "Kickstart My Heart," receiving a standing ovation from the studio audience.

"Home Sweet Home" holds a special place in Underwood's heart, as she recorded her own rendition of the Mötley Crüe ballad in 2009 for the American Idol Season 8 farewell performance.