Carrie Underwood Talks ‘American Idol’ Return: ‘Feels Like Home’

In a full-circle second, Carrie Underwood is making her return to “American Idol”—however this time as a decide!

The eight-time Grammy Award winner can be getting into Katy Perry‘s footwear for the upcoming season, bringing her information and recommendation to the judges’ desk. Underwood will be part of Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan for season 23, proving she’s nonetheless a powerhouse after successful the title herself in 2005.

Following ABC’s affirmation of her new function, Carrie Underwood appeared on “Good Morning America,” hinting at a possible problem she may face in her new judging seat.

After a lot hypothesis about her departure, Katy Perry formally confirmed she’s leaving “American Idol” after seven seasons. She shared that whereas her time on the present has been a heartfelt expertise, it’s time for her to maneuver on.

“It’s been an unimaginable journey with [Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest],” Perry informed “Good Morning America” a couple of weeks in the past.

After a number of rumors of who would take over Perry’s spot, ABC confirmed the seat would go to eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer Carrie Underwood. “I went from no person figuring out my identify to tens of thousands and thousands of individuals watching the present,” the artist stated in a video shared by ABC. “I’m pleased with the whole lot that I used to be capable of accomplish on the present and I’m so pleased with the whole lot I’ve achieved since.”

As a part of “Good Morning America”‘s Summer time Live performance Collection, the nation music singer took the stage to carry out a few of her biggest hits, however earlier than grabbing the microphone, she spoke out about her thrilling return to the place all of it began–“American Idol.”

“It seems like residence, there are such a lot of those that even nonetheless work on the present that have been there after I was a contestant,” she informed Lara Spencer and Sam Champion on Friday. “I really feel like being on each side of the coin, I am going to have the ability to provide perception and assist and type of a special viewpoint.”

When requested what kind of decide she thinks she can be, Underwood admitted, “I do have a giant drawback, [well] hopefully it isn’t a problem–I can not lie, I simply can’t, you’ll be able to inform. I really feel like I will be very sincere, however hopefully, I could be very constructive.”

Simply hours after the massive announcement, Ryan Seacrest, the present host of “American Idol,” took to social media to share a welcome residence message.

Seacrest, who was additionally internet hosting the present when Carrie Underwood clinched her win, mirrored on the brand new chapter for Underwood and the upcoming season of the ABC singing competitors present.

“It’s a full-circle second to go from asserting you because the winner of ‘American Idol’ 20 years in the past to now welcoming you to the decide’s desk,” he captioned a throwback photo of the two on stage practically 20 years in the past. “Welcome residence, Carrie Underwood!”

Underwood later responded to Seacrest’s publish, commenting, “Thanks, Ryan! Excited to be coming again residence!”

Following the information, showrunner govt producer Megan Wolflick spoke to Entertainment Tonight the place she revealed why they picked Carrie Underwood to take over Katy Perry’s spot.

After calling her their “queen,” Wolflick expressed. “Properly, it’s 20 years since she auditioned in St. Louis for ‘American Idol,’ and to have the primary ever ‘Idol’ alum on the panel has all the time been one thing that’s been attention-grabbing to me.”

“We have now been looking out, you realize, and clearly speaking to Carrie for a little bit bit right here. It has been a little bit over two months for the reason that [season 22] finale, however these talks have been occurring for some time and we’ve been actually excited to make all of it occur,” Wolflick added.

In 2022, Carrie Underwood mirrored on her journey and acknowledged the function that the singing competitors present performed in shaping her profession.

“I realized quite a bit, I realized an insane quantity,” Underwood stated in an interview, per Us Weekly, on the time. “And a lot of that’s nonetheless utilized right this moment, it nonetheless holds true to what I do now. It was star boot camp and I used to be attempting to soak in as a lot as I presumably might and, clearly, it launched my profession.”

“American Idol” returns to ABC and Hulu in spring 2025.