The newest judge on American Idol is someone very familiar to longtime viewers of the music competition.
Carrie Underwood, who won the fourth season of Idol back in 2005, is set to join the show as a judge for its coming 23rd season early next year. She’ll take over the spot vacated by Katy Perry, who departed at the end of last season. Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan are returning along with host Ryan Seacrest.
Underwood’s return to Idol was formally announced Thursday on Good Morning America.
“This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on Idol and launched her successful, multi-Grammy Award-winning career. As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television,” said Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich in a statement. “This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”
Underwood is arguably the most successful Idol winner in the show’s history, having gone on to win eight Grammy Awards and a combined 25 Academy of Country Music (16) and Country Music Association (nine) awards. She’s also had eight albums (plus a greatest hits compilation) top the U.S. country charts; four of them also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
“Carrie Underwood is the first American Idol alum ever to join the judging panel. Her global superstar status as the most successful Idol winner to date makes her a perfect fit for the show,” said executive producer and showrunner Megan Wolflick. “She embodies the true spirit of Idol as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story. 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.”
Perry announced in February that season 22 of American Idol would be her last as a judge, saying that she wanted to return to focusing on her own music. She, Richie and Bryan have made up show’s judging panel for the entirety of its seven-season run on ABC, which revived the show in 2018 — two years after Fox ended Idol’s initial 15-season run.
The 23rd season of American Idol is slated to premiere in early 2025. Live, virtual auditions are set to begin Aug. 12.
Watch the video announcing Underwood joining Idol below.
This story was first published on July 31 at 2:11 p.m.
