American Idol has enlisted one of their biggest alums as their new judge. Twenty years after winning season 4 of the reality competition show, Carrie Underwood is stepping into the panel alongside returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. She is replacing singer Katy Perry, who announced her departure from the show in February.
The appointment feels like a full circle moment for the country darling. In 2005, the then 20-year-old Underwood stole the hearts of millions of Americans as the golden-haired girl next door from St. Louis with a golden voice. She’s since parlayed her Idol title into an incredibly successful singing career that counted chart-topping hits like “Jesus, Take The Wheels” and “Inside Your Heaven”. To date, Underwood has 85 million records sold worldwide, 28 No. 1 singles, eight Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards and seven CMA awards.
Megan Wolflick, showrunner of American Idol, cited Underwood’s “global superstar status as the most successful ‘Idol’ winner” for the reason why she’s the perfect fit for the show.
“She embodies the true spirit of ‘Idol’ as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story,” she said. “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.”
Underwood’s tenure will begin in season 23, scheduled for spring 2025 broadcast. Besides Bryan and Richie, Underwood will also be reuniting with longtime host Ryan Seacrest, who announced her crowning moment two decades ago.