Hillary Scott, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist of Lady A, has revealed a surprising chapter from her early Nashville journey: she nearly recorded the now-iconic song Jesus, Take the Wheel, later made famous by Carrie Underwood.
According to Scott, the song was pitched to her during her early development deal in Nashville-years before Underwood recorded it. Scott immediately connected with the track and strongly considered recording it herself, citing it as one of her favorite songs she had ever been offered.
At the time, however, Scott ultimately did not release any music from that development deal, leaving the song unrecorded. Shortly thereafter, Underwood-fresh off her American Idol victory-recorded "Jesus, Take the Wheel" as the lead single from her debut album Some Hearts.
The song went on to become a career-defining breakthrough for Underwood, reaching No. 1 on the country charts, earning multiple GRAMMY Awards, and becoming one of the most recognizable faith-forward songs in modern country music.
Reflecting on the moment years later, Scott acknowledged the significance of timing and purpose in an artist's journey, noting that the song ultimately landed exactly where it was meant to be.
Today, both artists are celebrated for their distinct contributions to country and faith-adjacent music-Scott through her work with Lady A and solo projects, and Underwood through a catalog that continues to bridge mainstream country success with spiritual themes.
The story serves as a reminder of how pivotal songs can travel unexpected paths before finding their definitive voice.
