See: Carrie Underwood responds to her ‘American Idol’ audition from season 4

On Sunday, Carrie Underwood debuts as a referee of “American Idol” during the program’s season 23 premiere. But 21 years ago, the acclaimed country singer was on the other side of the refereeing table.

Underwood shared a video responding to her “American Idol” prize in 2004, a successful test that would put her on the road to winning the fourth season of the TV competition. The audition took place in St. Louis, Missouri when Underwood was 21 years old.

Underwood performed Bonnie Raitt song “I can’t make you love me” in front of the original “American Idol” referee Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. The artist said she chose the song knowing that Cowell was not very found by country music.

“Even one of the performing producers at the time was like” You know Simon Hades Country Music, right? “” She remembered in the reaction video.

To her surprise, Cowell interrupted her audition – and immediately paid her a compliment and said that Underwood’s performance was “very good.”

“I said to someone the other day, I’m surprised that we haven’t found a good country singer yet in this competition,” Cowell said. “I think you’re very good. I think you should be good at what you are doing too. “

Underwood said in the video that Cowell “deserves a lot of credit” to keep an open mind under her audition.

“He saw a country artist and the value that country music has,” she said.

Jackson also complimented Underwood’s performance and gave her feedback about honoring her emotionality and scene presence.

“I’m still working on it,” she said in the reaction video.

Underwood received a unanimous “yes” from the judges and left St. Louis with a sought after ticket to Hollywood.

“I have no idea how the 21-year-old Carrie was able to gather enough guts to go into a space and audition in front of Simon, Paula and Randy and the world,” she said.

“I guess the good gentleman gave me strength,” she added. “It’s fate and we all have one.”