Carrie Underwood Cares for Sick Rooster Amid Bee Swarm Forcing Her Off Tennessee Farm
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Country music superstar Carrie Underwood is no stranger to the unpredictable rhythms of farm life, but few expected her latest challenge to involve a sick rooster, a swarm of bees, and an emergency evacuation from her beloved property.
Late last week, Underwood was spending a quiet morning at her family’s farm just outside of Franklin, Tennessee, when things took a strange and chaotic turn. What began as a routine feeding of the animals ended with the singer being forced to leave her own barnyard—not due to weather or injury, but because of an unexpected massive bee swarm.
“It came out of nowhere,” a farmhand reported. “We’ve seen hives around, but this was something else—thousands of them, moving fast and angry. We had to get everyone out.”
The bees descended on the lower pasture where several of Underwood’s chickens, goats, and miniature horses are kept. But amidst the chaos, one animal was in distress long before the bees arrived—a rooster named Charles, whom Carrie had nursed back from injury just a few months prior.
“Charles had been sick for a few days,” Underwood explained in an Instagram post. “He was weak, not eating, and I had a vet lined up to come check on him. Then the bees hit.”
With farm staff yelling for evacuation and animals scattering in confusion, Carrie reportedly ignored warnings and rushed back toward the coop, cradling the weakened rooster in her arms. One staff member described the moment as “wild but so her.”
“She’s not the type to leave anything behind—not even a chicken,” said longtime family friend and neighbor Janice Rowell. “That rooster has more love than some people get.”
The singer, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, reportedly shielded the bird with her jacket as she ran through the pasture to her truck, suffering multiple bee stings in the process. A local vet was later able to confirm that Charles, while dehydrated and vulnerable, was not in immediate danger.
“She carried him the whole way,” said the vet. “And then sat on the tailgate of her truck with him until he calmed down. I’ve treated dogs and horses with celebrities, but never a rooster.”
Carrie’s fans have long known her love for animals and farm life. Her social media often features images of chickens, dogs, horses, and garden-grown vegetables. But the story of Charles the rooster has now struck a special chord.
Within hours of her original Instagram story—which included a photo of Charles wrapped in a towel on her lap—hashtags like #CarrieAndCharles and #FarmQueenCarrie began trending.
One fan wrote:
“She could be performing for millions, but she’s out there saving a rooster from bees.
If that’s not the most Carrie Underwood thing ever, I don’t know what is.”
Another commented:
“Carrie Underwood protecting a chicken with her own body is the energy we all need this year.”
Beyond the lighthearted nature of the incident, animal behaviorists noted that bee swarms—particularly aggressive ones—can become a real threat to livestock during sudden temperature shifts in the South.
“The timing was unusual,” said Dr. Lyle Owens, a Tennessee-based apiarist. “It’s likely that a disrupted hive migrated and swarmed in panic. Unfortunately, it happened to land right near Carrie’s barn.”
Carrie’s publicist confirmed that she received a few stings but is otherwise healthy. She remains at home and has resumed normal farm routines, “with a bit more caution near the hives.”
Charles, meanwhile, is resting in an insulated coop on the far side of the property and recovering well. Carrie updated fans two days after the incident, writing:
“He’s still not 100%, but he’s eating again. And yes, I told him I love him. More than once.”
While some might scoff at a Grammy-winning artist risking stings for a chicken, fans and fellow country stars rallied behind the story.
Miranda Lambert posted:
“Only Carrie. This is why we love her.”
Luke Bryan joked,
“I’d risk it for my hens too. Respect.”
Carrie herself offered a bit of humor, posting a follow-up with her arm bandaged and Charles pecking at grapes nearby.
“Lesson learned: Bees don’t care who you are. But Charles does.”
In a world where celebrity headlines often involve red carpets and record deals, Carrie Underwood reminded everyone what real heart looks like—covered in hay, bee-stung, and holding a sick rooster close.
Because sometimes, the most powerful performances don’t happen on stage…
They happen in a field, with wings, feathers, and the quiet rhythm of love.
