Whose 2018 hit song has the lyric "You can't turn off the flood when the dam breaks"?

Carrie Underwood’s 2018 hit song “Cry Pretty” contains the lyric “You can’t turn off the flood when the dam breaks.” The line uses a broken dam as a metaphor for emotions that can no longer be contained.

Released on April 11, 2018, “Cry Pretty” was the lead single and title track from Underwood’s sixth studio album. She co-wrote it with Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna, and co-produced the album with David Garcia. The song’s central idea is that sadness cannot always be hidden behind makeup, composure, or a cheerful public image.

The track marked Underwood’s return to major public performances after her 2017 accident. She debuted it live at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 15, 2018, and later performed it on American Idol and at the CMT Music Awards.

A common mix-up is confusing “Cry Pretty” with “The Champion,” another 2018 Underwood release that featured Ludacris and was associated with Super Bowl LII. “Cry Pretty” performed strongly on the charts, reaching No. 9 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and No. 5 on Hot Country Songs.