American Idol 2025: Carrie Underwood’s first promo as judge debuted during the CMA Awards. Watch her full circle moment
During last week’s CMA Awards broadcast on ABC, the first American Idol 2025 promo aired. The 30 second spot features new judge, Carrie Underwood and in it, she joins veterans Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the panel at the 20th anniversary of winning season 4.
The clip opens with Carrie singing “going to Hollywood!” after earning her coveted golden ticket at auditions. Next, the clip shows host Ryan Seacrest declaring a tearful Carrie as the winner. This, while “After 20 years” scrolls across the screen. It’s hard to believe, but Carrie won the show in the spring of 2005!
“Carrie comes home,” is the tagline. Fast forward to today, as Carrie tells a young hopeful in a cowboy hat, wiping away tears, “You’re what this show is for,” she says. After shots of a few more singers, the words “Idol’s next chapter begins” appear.
“Who are your inspirations?” Carrie asks one singer. “I’m looking at her right here,” she says.
American Idol season 23 begins on Sunday March 9 on ABC! It will also stream next day on Hulu. Watch the new promo below.
Carrie has a hard time saying no to American Idol hopefuls
At the CMA’s Luke Bryan weighed in on the job Carrie is doing as a judge, “It’s going great,” Luke told Extra. “Carrie and I had always been, you know, in the business together, but we never spent much time together, so to sit behind the desk and watch her really learn how to transition out of, like, being the winner of ‘American Idol’ and a superstar to, like, being the judge at the table… she’s doing good.”
Luke joked, “The main thing is as long as she don’t pick up any of my habits. I don’t want to influence her in any way.”
He shared with E News, “The thing about it is Carrie has to kind of learn in real time. You kind of have to learn how to be a judge. It’s not like you can go to American Idol Judging School.” But he noted the experience the rest of the panel does not have, “She went to American Idol Be A Contestant School.”
“She’s awesome with the kids,” Luke continued. “She has the best soul and heart. She’s doing a great job and really settling into the judging table.”
However, saying no is hard for Carrie, “When she has to say ‘No’ she’s like, ‘I dont wanna tell them no,’” Luke explained. “But it’s kind of a part [of the job]. It’s hard when you got a kid that’s young and they haven’t found who they are musically.”
“Whenever anyone is saying ‘I can sing another one. I have this song and this song,’” Carrie told Extra in October, “it’s worse because it’s still a ‘No.’”
