“American Idol” tapped Carrie Underwood as a judge beginning with Season 23, the network announced Thursday.
The country icon will replace longtime judge Katy Perry after she exited the ABC competition show after Season 22. Perry served as a judge on “American Idol” for seven seasons after the show was rebooted by ABC and becomes the first original judge from the revival to exit the show.
Season 23 will serve as a homecoming for Underwood, who won the fourth season of “American Idol” in 2005 on Fox. Since her “Idol” win, she has released several chart-topping singles, including “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats” and “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and has tallied up eight Grammy wins, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 17 American Music Awards and nine Country Music Association Awards.
Underwood will serve as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, who have been with the show since the ABC revival in 2018, which followed its original 15-season run on Fox.
“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,” Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich said 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.”
“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,” showrunner and EP Megan Wolflick said. “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.”
Auditions for the new season will begin on Monday, Aug. 12 with live virtual nationwide search for the next American Idol.
Perry revealed her impending exit in February, just ahead of the show’s 22nd season premiere, during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “This fall, in September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio,” Perry told Kimmel. “So I think this will probably be my last season for ‘Idol.’”
Following Perry’s announcement, all eyes were on which female star could replace Perry. Meghan Trainor threw her hat in the ring to become the next judge, telling Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens Live,” “I’ve done every interview in the world and said it’s my dream job.”
“American Idol” is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television.
