American Idol 2025: Carrie Underwood first look photo with judges panel
American Idol 2025 judges auditions kicked off this week in New York City, and now fans have a first look at the new judges panel featuring American Idol season 4 winner and country music star, Carrie Underwood. In a new on-set photo, the newbie judge stands alongside veteran panelists Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as well as host Ryan Seacrest.
Carrie took the place of pop star Katy Perry, who departed after last season to concentrate on her music career. It’s the first panel shakeup in the 8 season run of the show on Disney/ABC.
During the new season, Carrie arrives 20 years after auditioning for the American Idol. The show, which aired on FOX at the time, crowned her the winner in May 2005.
Carrie believes she can judge beyond country and be critical yet kind
While having two country singers on the panel (Luke is also a country star) may seem like overkill, Carrie told SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour in Las Vegas on Aug. 23 “Hopefully, when I listen to people come and audition I can have any lens I need to put on in terms of what music I’m thinking.” she continued, “”I feel like I’ve been so blessed to obviously be so rooted in country music, but I’ve been able to be a part of many other genres or music as well,” she added. “I mean, I’ve got a song with Papa Roach right now. It’s a lot of fun.”
Carrie’s love of rock music, specifically heavy metal, is well known, as she has shared stages with iconic singers such as Axl Rose from Guns N Roses.
As far as the kind of judge she’ll be, Carrie believes she can critique constructively, but in a kind way. “I think I can be honest and constructive but still kind,” Carrie shared with the podcast. “And I think that’s the whole point, ’cause people are coming in and, you know, it’s dreams. And you’re a part of somebody’s story from that moment on. So I think it’s important to be honest, but I think it’s also very important to be kind, so hopefully I can marry all of those together and be a good judge.”
American Idol season 23 premieres on ABC midseason 2025.
