Carrie Underwood joined Papa Roach for an epic surprise performance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking the collaborators’ first time sharing the stage together.
Carrie Underwood And Papa Roach Perform Two High-energy Duets
The country superstar and award-winning rock band first teamed up for the live debut performance of their buzzed-about collaboration, “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” written by Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix alongside Nick Furlong Colin Brittain, Kris Bonn and Tobin Esperance. The performance featured a shower of sparks and earned a roaring ovation.
“It’s not like me to worry/ But when I see you fading in the dark/ I’ll leave a light on for you/ Through the long nights, I will be right/ There for you if you drift too far/ I’ll leave a light on for you, you, you,” Underwood, an avid rock fan, and Shaddix delivered the emotional lyrics in a powerful duet.
“Tonight is a very special night. It’s the first night that we ever performed that [song] together live. Thank you so much, Carrie. And we would like to do something special right now, we didn’t tell you until you got up here…” Shaddix said after their performance. “We just found out that song that we did together just went gold. So, we got a plaque right here representing the gold. Carrie was so gracious as she said yes to be part of this. All the money that we raised together with this song. Every bit of it has been donated to charity, so thank you, Carrie.”
Then, moments after that performance, the energy skyrocketed as Carrie Underwood and Papa Roach amped things up with a rowdy rendition of “Last Resort.” The high-octane moment had the crowd singing and headbanging along as Underwood, 42, and Shaddix, 48, belted out the lyrics to the chart-topping anthem, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
“Cut my life into pieces, this is my last resort/ Suffocation, no breathing/ Don’t give a f–k if I cut my arm bleeding/ This is my last resort,” the pair of superstars sang as pyro exploded around them.
Performance Full Of “Pure Adrenaline” For “Such A Great Cause”
Carrie Underwood and Jacoby Shaddix opened up about their first live performance together in a statement with PEOPLE.
“This collaboration has meant so much to me. Getting to perform ‘Leave a Light on’ live with Jacoby for the first time was incredibly special. And then jumping into ‘Last Resort?’ That was just pure adrenaline. I was so incredibly excited to rock out on stage with the guys,” Underwood told the outlet, while Shaddix added, “What a night it was in Vegas. To finally do ‘Leave a Light on’ live with Carrie Underwood was so rad, especially after all the work we both have been doing to raise money and awareness for the American foundation for suicide prevention. I am so grateful to be able to bring two worlds together for such a great cause.”
Supporting Those Affected By Suicide With “Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)”
In 2024, Carrie Underwood joined Papa Roach for “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” a collaborative track that Underwood and the rock group released in partnership with the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The hitmakers also teamed up with 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States and Canada to raise awareness. The song was originally released as a solo track on Papa Roach’s 2022 album, Ego Trip.
“We were humbled that Carrie was open to our mission, and hearing the power of Carrie’s voice in that recording session we were blown away” Shaddix previously shared in a statement at the time of the track’s release. “Not only is her vocal ability unequaled, but the impact of her voice brings a new meaning to our cause and will help people all over the globe. It’s an honor to have a ‘Rock Star’ bring life to this track with us.”
At the time, Underwood added, “I’m such a huge fan of Jacoby and Papa Roach and was honored to be invited to record ‘Leave A Light On’ with them. It’s a beautiful song, and the message behind it and the band’s mission to shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness has never been more important.”
Papa Roach On Tour, Carrie Underwood Wrapping Las Vegas Residency
Papa Roach are currently in the midst of their headlining trek, Rise Of The Roach Tour, which kicked off earlier this year and features support from Rise Against and Underoath. Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood is wrapping up the final leg of her impressive Las Vegas residency, dubbed REFLECTION, at Resorts World Theatre.
