Country superstar Carrie Underwood is set to return to the show that launched her career, "American Idol," as a judge for the upcoming season, premiering in spring 2025. Underwood, who won the competition in 2005, will replace Katy Perry on the judging panel, joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
This marks a significant milestone for Underwood, making her the first former contestant to join the judge's panel. Perry announced her departure from the show in February to focus on new music and an upcoming tour.
The announcement was made on "Good Morning America" on August 1, with a video showcasing Underwood's journey from her audition in Checotah, Oklahoma, to her victory. "I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show," Underwood reflected.
Since her win, Underwood has sold 85 million records and achieved 28 No. 1 singles. Her accolades include eight Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 10 People's Choice Awards, and seven CMA Awards. "I'm proud of everything that I was able to accomplish on the show, and I'm so proud of everything that I've accomplished since," she said.
"American Idol" debuted on Fox in June 2002 and ran for 15 seasons before ending in April 2016. ABC revived the series in March 2018 with Perry, Bryan, and Richie as judges. Season 23 will premiere in spring 2025, with Ryan Seacrest returning as host.
"This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America's hearts on Idol and launched her successful multi-Grammy Award-winning career," said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. "As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television."
Underwood, who previously mentored the season 20 semifinals in 2022, expressed her excitement on social media, sharing a throwback photo from her audition. "I can’t believe it has been almost 20 years since auditioning for @AmericanIdol!" she wrote.
Luke Bryan hinted at the possibility of other celebrities like Pink, Miley Cyrus, and Meghan Trainor joining the panel but praised Perry's tenure, acknowledging the challenge of finding a suitable replacement. "They’re just working real hard to find somebody that can really come in and do the job that Katy did," he said.
