Carrie Underwood balances Grammy-winning stardom with full-time motherhood, raising two young sons while navigating the demands of touring and the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages.
At a Glance
- Underwood and husband Mike Fisher share sons Isaiah, 10, and Jacob, 7
- She suffered three miscarriages before Jacob’s birth, calling him her “miracle baby”
- The singer now structures tours to maximize time at home with her children
- Why it matters: Shows how even superstars prioritize family over fame
Underwood’s journey into motherhood began in 2015 with the birth of her first son, Isaiah Michael Fisher, in Tennessee on February 27. She announced his arrival on Instagram with a photo of his tiny hand, writing: “Tiny hands and tiny feet…God has blessed us with an amazing gift!”
The family expanded four years later when Jacob Bryan Fisher was born on January 21, 2019. Underwood marked the occasion with a photo gallery showing the family of four smiling with their newborn. “Jacob Bryan Fisher entered the world in the wee hours of the morning on Monday…his mom, dad and big brother couldn’t be happier,” she captioned the post.
The road to Jacob’s birth was marked by profound struggle. Underwood experienced three miscarriages before successfully carrying her second child to term. She opened up about the emotional toll, telling News Of Los Angeles: “Of course, you wonder if it’s you, what am I doing wrong, or what have I done wrong. I remember having conversations with [husband Mike Fisher] trying to make sense of it all.”
The miscarriages led to a spiritual reckoning. “But the miscarriages made me get real with God and say, ‘Okay, I’m kind of giving up a little bit. If this isn’t meant to happen, then I need to accept that and know that someday I’ll understand why,'” she recalled.
Jacob’s arrival transformed the painful journey into joy. Underwood frequently calls him her “miracle baby” and celebrated his second birthday with an emotional tribute: “Jacob, we longed for you. We prayed for you. We walked a long, hard road in order to one day hold you.”
Balancing career and family has required constant adjustment. Before Jacob’s birth, Underwood told News Of Los Angeles Now about her initial fears: “I remember when we first found out we were gonna have him [Isaiah], it [was] like, ‘How are we gonna do this? Our lives are so crazy as it is.'”
The COVID-19 pandemic provided unexpected family time she hadn’t experienced in over 15 years of touring. “I’ve never been in one place for this long in the past 15-plus years of my career,” she shared with the Today show. “So it’s been really great to just really get to know them and watch them grow – especially Jake. It’s such a critical time in his life and I’m never gonna get it back.”
When Underwood returned to touring in 2022 with her Denim & Rhinestones Tour, she implemented new strategies to stay connected with her children. “They’ll be out to visit. This tour, I’m going home a lot more than I ever have before. If there’s a way to get me home, even if it’s just for the day,” she told Today.
The boys have made their presence known on tour. Underwood shared a video on Instagram showing Isaiah waving and blowing kisses during a performance while Jacob slept in their father’s arms. “My sweet boys came to see their mommy’s first show! Jakey caught a few songs, at least, before he drifted off to dream land…” she wrote.
Isaiah has grown into an outgoing child who earned the nickname “The Mayor of Catering” from tour crew members. “He’s such a people guy,” Underwood noted, adding he was “living the dream” on the road.
The 10-year-old made his musical debut at age 5, singing “Little Drummer Boy” with his mother on her Christmas album My Gift. “It was so great. When we recorded, I was able to be in the booth with him and encourage him,” Underwood told News Of Los Angeles. “I got to listen to his vocals [get] put together and then listening to myself with him. I was laughing, and I was crying.”
Isaiah embraced his recording success enthusiastically. “He did such a great job, and listening back, I think he’s just so proud of himself,” Underwood said. “He went to school and he’s like, ‘Hey, my song’s out! Wanna hear my song?’ And they were listening to it in his class.”
Following his father’s athletic footsteps, Isaiah made his baseball debut in September 2021. Underwood admitted: “I got more nervous watching him than I used to get when I watched his daddy play hockey!”
For his 7th birthday in 2022, Isaiah chose a Star Wars party theme. Underwood celebrated his character development in an Instagram post: “My firstborn turned 7 today. How is that even possible? It has been so much fun to see this little dude grow! He has the biggest heart and the brightest smile. His love for Jesus is strong and pure.”
She highlighted his selfless nature: “He’s the kind of kid that would rather raise money for the kids at @danitaschildren than get gifts for himself! What 7-year-old does that?!?!”
The age gap between the brothers – four years – wasn’t part of the original plan. “We initially in our lives kind of wanted our kids a little closer in age,” Underwood told News Of Los Angeles. “That didn’t happen because God has a different plan sometimes.”
Despite the gap, the brothers have developed a close bond. Jacob, now 7, “loves to play and sing and follow his big brother around,” according to Underwood’s birthday tribute marking his second birthday.
Isaiah is beginning to understand his mother’s fame isn’t typical. “I feel like, Isaiah, who’s seven and a half, he’s becoming more aware that it’s not normal,” Underwood told Today in October 2022. “He’ll go to school and someone will be like, ‘I saw your mom on TV last night.'”
For Halloween, Isaiah chose an elaborate costume – dressing as an elderly man complete with a full-head mask featuring white hair, bushy eyebrows, wrinkles and a mustache, paired with a suit jacket and striped pants.
Through the challenges of miscarriage, the joy of miracle babies, and the complexity of raising children while maintaining a demanding career, Underwood has consistently prioritized her role as mother above all else. Her story illustrates how even global superstars remake their lives around bedtime stories, baseball games and birthday parties.
Key Takeaways
- Underwood endured three miscarriages before Jacob’s birth
- She structures touring to maximize time at home with her boys
- Isaiah made his recording debut at age 5 on his mother’s Christmas album
- The singer calls Jacob her “miracle baby” after years of trying
