American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood to join Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie on judges panel
American Idol has reportedly tapped season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, to take Katy Perry’s place on the judges panel. She’ll join current judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
TMZ reports that the country superstar and her team are in the final stages of signing a contract with Disney/ABC to join the long running competitive singing show.
According to other sources, ABC will announce the news on Thursday (August 1). Carrie is also set to perform on Good Morning America on Friday. When she booked that gig, I wondered why as she isn’t promoting new music at the moment. Now it all makes sense! Carrie also emceed the CMA Awards for ABC 2008 and 2019.
UPDATE: ABC made the official announcement Thursday morning. From the press release:
Carrie will join current judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judges panel! The release notes that the singer’s return coincides with the 20th anniversary of her iconic win.
“This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on ‘Idol’ and launched her successful multi-GRAMMY Award-winning career. As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television,” said Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group in a press statement. “This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”
“Carrie Underwood is the first ‘American Idol’ alum ever to join the judging panel. Her global superstar status as the most successful ‘Idol’ winner to date makes her a perfect fit for the show. She embodies the true spirit of ‘Idol’ as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story. Our future hopefuls will have the chance to receive advice from someone who has walked in their exact footsteps every step of the way. Carrie has always been a strong supporter of ‘Idol,’ and I’m thrilled for her to be reunited with our ‘Idol’ Family,” said Megan Wolflick, showrunner and executive producer of “American Idol.”
Season 8 auditions kick off Monday August 12 with the return of “Idol Across America”
Season eight auditions will kick off Monday, Aug. 12, with the return of “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar, taking place across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Those auditioning will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents face-to-face with an “American Idol” producer, from anywhere in America, across any official audition date for a chance to proceed to the judge auditions. Contenders will also be allowed to audition during open call dates, and auditions will be open worldwide to all those eligible. Go to AmericanIdol.com/auditions for more information.
Carrie previously balked at the idea of “judging” fellow contestants
It’s worth noting that while Carrie has returned to American Idol to mentor the contestants–most recently in 2018 and 2022–she never seemed fully comfortable critiquing contestants. On season 20 for instance, she was originally set to pick songs for the contestants, but then changed her mind mid-week, allowing the contestants to choose their own songs. She has stated in interviews that she couldn’t imagine being harsh as a judge.
Will Carrie continue singing the Sunday Night Football theme for NBC?
Also, will Carrie continue singing the Sunday Night Football song for NBC? It’s not as if there is any conflict–American Idol begins after NFL football season is over.
While season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson went on to become a pop superstar, she eventually hitched her wagon to NBC. Besides helming a popular daytime talk show, she also spent several season as a coach on The Voice, Carrie never appeared on the rival show other than appearing with coach John Legend to perform their Christmas duet, “Hallelujah.” Carrie seemingly stayed loyal to American Idol beyond reasonable expectations. If NBC offered her a fat contract, who could blame her for not turning it down? Nobody can convince me that Voice producers didn’t try to bring her on as a Battle Advisor or Mega Mentor. She never even appeared on the show to promote her own music!
Bringing Carrie onto the American Idol fold means TWO country music coaches will sit on the judges panel. American Idol has had the most success with Country winners, so it makes sense to have both Carrie and Luke Bryan representing the genre. However, the lack of pop representation post Katy Perry, will be missed.
Carrie Underwood won American Idol season 4 in 2005. Judge Simon Cowell predicted she’d be the biggest star the show would ever produce, and considering popularity and record sales in the United States, he nailed that one.
Katy Perry departed American Idol after seven seasons to promote her next musical era.
