Summary
American IdoljudgesLuke Bryan and Lionel Richie are thrilled that country music superstar Carrie Underwood will be joining them on the judging panel after Katy Perry’s exit, and Carrie will make the perfect judge for the reality singing competition series. Carrie is returning home toAmerican Idoltwenty years after she won season 4. During her run on the show, she blew everyone away with her phenomenal performances, including the standout “Alone” by Heart, after which judge Simon Cowell predicted that, not only would she win the show, but she’d sell more records than any other previous winner.
After winningAmerican Idolseason 4, Carrie skyrocketed to superstardom. As Simon foresaw,Carrie has become one ofAmerican Idol’sgreatest success stories, with 85 million records sold worldwide, 28 #1 singles, 8 Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards. As Carrie prepares to return toAmerican Idolfor season 23as a judge alongside Luke and Lionel, here’s what they’re saying about her, and why she’ll be ideal for the show.

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Luke Bryan Thinks Carrie Underwood Will Need A “Therapist”
The Country Music Star Jokes That Carrie Will Have To Put Up With Him & Lionel
American Idoljudge Luke had some funny advice for Carrie when asked about her joining the show. In an interview with Seattle radio host Gabe Mercer, shared viaPeople,Luke said that Carrie should"up her therapist.“He joked,“If she has a therapist, she’s probably going to have to double to deal with me and Lionel.“Luke continued the joke by saying that he’d pay for Carrie’s therapy himself. He said,“Maybe I should credit her. Do therapists do gift cards where I can call her therapist and gift her a voucher?”
Luke was just kidding, but he, Katy, and Lionel did have some zany moments together throughout theirAmerican Idolrun as judges.Katy was able to keep up with Luke, and their antics were hilarious. It’s a good thing that Carrie has a funny personality as well, as evidenced by her comedic banter with Brad Paisley when they hosted the CMA Awards together. She’ll fit right in with Luke and his silly personality.Carrie is quick-witted and very smart, and she’ll definitely give Luke a run for his money on the show.

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Lionel Richie Shared His Thoughts About Carrie Joining The Judging Panel
Lionel Thinks Carrie Understands American Idol “Better Than Anyone”
Lionel also shared his thoughts about Carrie coming on board as anAmerican Idolseason 23 judge. In an interview withFOX News, he explained that Carrie would be a different judge than Katy because"everyone is different than Katy.“Lionel emphasized that he doesn’t want Carrie to try to be like Katybecause everyone brings something different to the judging panel. He said,“There’s only one Katy… let me just make that statement clear. I want Carrie to come in and find her person out there, her person. I’m very happy they got Carrie, because… we want someone who is going to bring their light to the table.”
It’s certainly true thatthere’s only one Katy. When she first announced herAmerican Idolexit, it seemed impossible that she could be replaced, but Carrie was the best person to take on the role. While she and Katy are both amazing singers and performers, they’re very different.Katy is known for her outrageous antics, while Carrie is more reserved and shy.

However, both Katy and Carrie are honest, kind, and sincere, and they genuinely care about people. At the same time,Carrie won’t be trying to be a carbon copy of Katy, so fans won’t be constantly comparing them. Carrie will hold her own at the judging table and make the job her own.
Lionel also acknowledged Carrie’s experience withAmerican Idol.He said that she’s"the perfect fit.“Lionel explained,“Carrie understands this better than anyone. She came from here. This is where she started… So, we welcome her… Her addition to this show is going to be amazing.“Lionel added,“She knows exactly what this navigation is all about… She’ll be able to mentor all the way through and even to the point of the winners.”

Carrie will definitely be a fantastic judge because of herAmerican Idoljourney. She’s the firstAmerican Idolalum to be a full-time judge. During her extraordinaryAmerican Idolseason 4 run,Carrie even earned the praise of Simon Cowell, who was the harshest judge in the show’s history. By going through that experience, Carrie learned how to take criticism and apply it to her performances.
As anAmerican Idoljudge, Carrie will remember what it was like to have to listen to critiques from the judges in front of so many people, so it will help her to be a more understanding judge.Carrie’s experience from auditioning for the show to becoming a superstar will help her to guide the newest contestants. Carrie was the best choice for the job.

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Carrie Underwood’s Entering The Lion’s Den
Carrie Is Following In The Footsteps Of Many Memorable American Idol Judges
Not only is Carrie taking Katy’s place at theAmerican Idoljudging table, but she’s also the next judge in a long line of people who’ve left their mark on the show.The originalAmerican Idoljudges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, discovered Carrie. They made the show what it is today, and fans still look back on their legacy.
OtherAmerican Idoljudgeshave included Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, and Harry Connick, Jr.All of these judges had different personalities and some were better at the job than others. Some offered harsh critiques, while others were more gentle. Carrie has a kind personality that will allow her to be a cheerleader for the contestants, while also giving them constructive criticism when necessary.
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Carrie Underwood Will Be An Amazing Judge
Carrie Was The Perfect Choice To Replace Katy
Carrie was the ideal choice to replace Katy PerryforAmerican Idolseason 23. Not only does she have the experience with the show and tremendous success after it, but she’s a genuine person who will bring her own special magic to the judging panel. In addition, she truly lovesAmerican Idol, and has always given it credit for starting her incredible career. In an interview withGood Morning America, (shared via Instagram), she said that the show"feels like home.”
DuringAmerican Idolseason 20, Carrie served as a mentor for the Top 5 contestants, and they sang her songs. She was very sweet to them, and helped guide them in the right direction with her expertise. This was a great preview of how Carrie will be as a judge. She even became emotional when she met eventual winner Noah Thompson.Carrie said thatAmerican Idolwas created for people like her and Noah who didn’t know that they could dream that big.
Carrie added that it was a beautiful thing, and her decision to audition for the show changed her entire life.Even after all of her success, Carrie is still in awe of what the show can do for its contestants, which will make her an enthusiastic judge who truly believes in the show. This is so important when searching for the nextAmerican Idolsuperstar.
In herGood Morning Americainterview, Carrie said that, as a judge, she hopes to offer"insight and help"to the contestants. She added that she can’t lie.Carrie said,“I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully I can be very constructive and encouraging.“She also shared that she wouldn’t be hard on the contestants.
From the silly to the serious, Luke and Lionel’s comments show that they’re both very excited to have the country music superstar join them. Carrie was the perfect choice to replace Katy.As anAmerican Idolwinner, she knows what it takes for contestants to go all the way in the competition, and she can help guide them on that path. In addition, as one of the most successful alums of all time, Carrie also knows how to continue the momentum post-show.Carrie is a gifted singer and an all-around wonderful person.American Idolseason 23 is going to be magical because of her.
American Idol
Cast
American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international “Idol” brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they’d go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America’s next musical idol.