Carrie Underwood will be the next singer to sit behind the judges’ table on “American Idol,” filling Katy Perry’s spot after her departure from the show in May. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer — who won season 4 of the singing competition show in 2005 — was announced Thursday as Katy Perry's replacement on “Idol.”
Underwood, who rose to fame after she won the singing competition show in 2005, will return 20 years later as a judge for the upcoming season, set to premiere in spring 2025. She's the first “American Idol” alum to become a judge.
In an emotional video announcing Underwood's new hosting gig, she said “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.”
Underwood has also won eight Grammy Awards and consistently tops the charts with her albums and singles. She will be joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, who each have seven seasons of judging experience under their belts, for the franchise's 23rd season.
“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 Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, in a release from ABC. “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.”
Longtime host Ryan Seacrest, who has been with the show since it premiered, will also return. Seacrest is also taking over Pat Sajak's role as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” this fall.
Auditions for the new season will kick off Aug. 12 with the “Idol Across America” nationwide search for talent and will end in September. The season is set to premiere in the spring and will be available to watch on ABC and Hulu.
“American Idol” premiered in 2002 on Fox and was a hit for the network, but it was canceled in 2016. After two years off the air, the show was revived by ABC and has aired there for seven seasons. Perry was the first of the revival judges to leave the judges' post.
A representative for Underwood did not immediately return requests for comment.
The Grammy-winning country music star will return to the roots of her fame as she joins ABC’s “American Idol” as the latest member of its judging panel, the network announced Thursday morning. When the newest season premieres next year, the “Before He Cheats” musician — who won the singing competition in 2005 — will be on the other side of the mic to help returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan crown a new music sensation.
“I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show,” the eight-time Grammy winner recalled in a social media video revealing her casting. “I’m proud of everything that I was able to accomplish on this show and I’m so proud of everything that I’ve accomplished since.”
The “American Idol” Season 4 winner and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee will take the seat left behind by former judge Katy Perry, who announced her departure in February. The “Woman’s World” singer broke the news on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” noting that she’s turning her focus back to her music.
“I love ‘Idol’ so much,” Perry said at the time. “It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I need to go out and feel that pulse of my own beat.”
Perry joined the series in 2018, serving as a judge for seven seasons alongside Richie and Bryan. But her tenure didn’t always go down smoothly with “American Idol” fans. The “California Gurls” hitmaker faced criticism multiple times for her on-air behavior, including accusations that she “mom-shamed” a contestant. Last year, she also made headlines for her emotional tirade against gun violence in America after a contestant revealed he survived a school shooting.
Long-time host Ryan Seacrest will be back at the helm when “American Idol” returns for Season 23 (its eighth at ABC) next spring. The nationwide search for contestants, dubbed “Idol Across America,” will begin Aug. 12 with auditions in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. “Idol” auditions will come to California, among other states, on Aug. 19 and the show will host multiple open calls from late August to mid-September.
“American Idol” crowned Abi Carter, a 21-year-old singer from Indio, as its latest victor in May.
It’s a full-circle moment for the multi-Grammy winning singer, who auditioned for the show in 2004 and won the judges over when she sang Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Underwood went on to win America over as well, beating runner-up Bo Bice in the 2005 finale.
Ryan Seacrest, who's been hosting "American Idol" for over two decades, congratulated Underwood on the news in an Instagram post on Aug. 1.
"It’s a full-circle moment to go from announcing you as the winner of @americanidol 20 years ago to now welcoming you to the judge’s table," Seacrest penned in his caption alongside two photos of him and Underwood standing on stage. "Welcome home, @carrieunderwood !"
Underwood is the first “American Idol” alum ever to join the panel of judges. However, this isn’t the “Cowboy Casanova” singer’s first time back on the show: She’s previously been a guest mentor and performed during the 2019 finale.
The singer is known for celebrating her “American Idol” anniversaries on her social media. In May, she shared a photo of herself when she got her golden ticket to Hollywood.
“REFLECTION of the week: contestant number #14887 received her golden ticket to Hollywood!” she captioned her Instagram post. “I can’t believe it has been almost 20 years since auditioning for @AmericanIdol!”
Auditions for the upcoming season of “American Idol” are happening in Alabama on Monday, Aug. 12, and then around the United States with the return of “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar.
Perry, who had been a judge since the show relaunched on ABC in 2018 after 15 seasons on Fox, announced in February that she would be departing “American Idol” after Season 22.
Artists like Meghan Trainor, former “Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino and “Idol” alum Jordin Sparks had been contenders for Perry’s replacement before Underwood was officially announced.
