Award-winning singer Carrie Underwood is returning to American Idol as a judge for the upcoming 25th season, two decades after she won people over at the same show.
For the first time this week, she discussed the new gig on SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour in Las Vegas.
“I feel like I’ve been so blessed to obviously be so rooted in country music, but I’ve been able to be a part of many other genres or music as well. I mean, I’ve got a song with Papa Roach right now. It’s a lot of fun,” she stated.
“I like to think that I am versatile and, hopefully, when I listen to people come and audition, I can have any lens I need to put on in terms of what music I’m thinking,” she added.
She states that her ultimate goal as a judge is to be “honest and constructive, but still kind,” and goes on to say, “I think that’s the whole point because people are coming in and it’s dreams.” From then on, you become a part of someone’s tale.
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After emerging as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol in 2005, Underwood went on to create nine studio albums, win three times as the Academy of Country Music Awards’ performer of the year, and earn eight Grammys.
She will succeed Katy Perry, who served as a judge on the program with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan for seven seasons after its 2018 transfer from Fox to ABC. Perry had already announced her departure from American Idol earlier this year.
