The country music star Carrie Underwood is currently serving as a judge on American Idol. She replaced the pop star Katy Perry, who left the show last year after acting as a judge for seven seasons.
Now, Underwood has been left humiliated as it’s been revealed that she was not ABC executives’ first choice to replace Perry. Instead, they reportedly had their eyes on other singers.
Underwood’s Uncertain Future On American Idol
A production insider confirmed to The Sun that Underwood was “not the network’s first pick to be a judge this season.”
“They spoke with a handful of other A-list artists in pop and country before landing on Carrie,” the source continued. “It was not a unanimous decision.”
Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol back in 2005. While some fans have seen her as a “breath of fresh air” on the judging panel, others haven’t been impressed by her judging style.
In fact, the production insider went on to say that Underwood could be “one and done” with being a judge, as ABC executives aren’t sure if they’ll be bringing her back for another season. The source said that while it’s “too early” to know if changes will be made to the American Idol judging panel, the decision will be made “soon.”
“They’ll have more of an idea in the next month or so. Nothing is off the table,” the source said. “At the beginning of filming, everyone thought [Carrie] would be back next year. Now, it’s much more up in the air.”
“Her Idol future is much more uncertain now than it was and I think that feeling is mutual,” the insider added. “She seems miserable being away from her family and in LA this much. I don’t think she wants to have to answer to TV networks and play the ‘Hollywood’ game, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if she’s one and done. But again, no decisions have been made yet from either side.”
Ouch, that has got to sting for Underwood!
Luke Bryan Weighs In
Before it was announced that Underwood would be joining American Idol as a judge, her fellow judge Luke Bryan spoke out to reveal who he thought should replace Perry.
“I’ve said several names. I think Pink has been in the talks, Miley Cyrus has been in the talks, Meghan Trainor has been in the talks,” Bryan told Billboard. “But they’re being tight-lipped about it. I think Disney is just trying to figure out what they want to do. And we’re just kind of sitting back and waiting until they decide.”
Bryan then expressed his doubts that anyone would be able to actually replace Perry as a judge, given how talented she was in that role.
“Katy was really perfect for that job and I think they’re just working real hard to find somebody that can really come in and do the job that Katy did,” he explained.
Related: Luke Bryan Reveals What He Told Katy Perry After Blue Origin Space Flight That ‘Ruined Her Career’
Perry Leaves American Idol – Praises Underwood
Perry left American Idol last year after seven seasons on the show. She reportedly exited the program so that she would have more time to focus on her own music.
“I mean I love Idol so much,” Perry said in February of 2024. “It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”
Earlier this year, Perry spoke out to praise Underwood as her replacement.
“She was born on that show. I think she knows how to steer it,” Perry told People Magazine in January. “She actually truly knows… What it feels like to be in their shoes. We could only metaphorically feel that as judges.”
This season of American Idol is currently down to its final seven contestants. The next episode is set to air on Sunday. Be sure to tune in to see how Underwood is really doing as a judge these days!
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