Carrie Underwood Celebrates Major Career Milestone With Adorable Throwback Photo

It might be difficult for Carrie Underwood fans to believe, but it has officially been two decades since they were first introduced to the country music star.

Underwood, 41, shared a throwback photo of the moment that changed her life and career on Instagram on Sunday, August 11. As she noted in her caption for the image, she is now preparing to return to the show that propelled her career forward a full 20 years after she first auditioned for the panel of American Idol judges on August 11, 2004.

“? 8/11/2004 ? 20 years ago I auditioned for the judges of @americanidol, and today I am now one of those judges searching for someone who wants to BE AN IDOL! It all starts with an audition…will we #CUonIDOL? ??????,” her caption said.

The first photo included in Underwood’s three-part Instagram carousel showed her wearing a pink T-shirt and light-wash jeans as she stood in front of the singing competition show's logo. She wore a bib on the front of her shirt identifying her contestant number and held her hands out on either side of her body as if to ask, “Well, what did you think?”

The second photo in the series showed Underwood wearing the same outfit as she held up a yellow piece of paper on which her contestant number had been written in black ink. She had a phone pressed to her ear as she flashed a smile at the camera.

The final photo showed a more recent image of Underwood holding a microphone. Beside her appeared a list of upcoming American Idol audition dates and cities.

Earlier this month, American Idol announced that the eight-time Grammy Award winner will be joining its roster of judges for its upcoming 23rd season. Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will also be returning as judges.

Next: Luke Bryan Sends a Bold Message to Carrie Underwood Before She Joins 'American Idol'