ForAmerican Idolseason 23, Carrie Underwood will take Katy Perry’s seat on the judging panel alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, butthe reality singing competition series should’ve replaced all of the judges for the upcoming season because Carrie symbolizes a new era for the show. Katy, Luke, and Lionel were the originalAmerican Idoljudges when ABC revived the show in 2018 after FOX canceled it in 2016. They worked side-by-side to find the next music superstars for seven years, until Katy decided to leave the show in order to focus more on her own music career.
Now,American Idolseason 23will welcome Carrie to the show as a judge. She wonAmerican Idolseason 4 in 2005, and has since gone on to become a country music superstar and one of the most successful alums of the show. She’s sold 85 million records worldwide and released 28 number one hits, among her many other outstanding accomplishments. Here’s whyCarrie should’ve begun her transition fromAmerican Idolwinner to judge with a whole new judging panel by her side.
Carrie Is An American Idol Winner
Because Carrie is new to theAmerican Idoljudging panel,there will always be a sense that she has to pay her dues. Luke and Lionel have seven seasons of judging under their belts, which could make Carrie feel that she has to take a backseat to them. However, as anAmerican Idolwinner, Carrie has experience that Luke and Lionel never will: she knows exactly what it’s like to be a contestant on the show and how to win. If a whole new judging panel had been introduced forAmerican Idolseason 23, Carrie could’ve been the lead judge because of her history with the show, but now she’s the new kid on the block.
Luke Bryan & Lionel Richie Have Run Their Course
Luke & Lionel Sometimes Appear To Be Going Through The Motions
Although Luke and Lionel clearly love theAmerican Idolcontestants and their roles as mentors for them, they sometimes appear to be going through the motions with their judging. They’re known for overly praising contestants, and not calling them out for being pitchy or giving a lackluster performance. It would’ve been refreshing to see three completely new faces atthe judging table forAmerican Idolseason 23. After 22 seasons,it would’ve breathed new life into the show and made it exciting again. At least Carrie will be there to change things up for season 23.
There Are Now Two Judges From The Country Music Genre
Carrie & Luke Are Both Country Music Superstars
Throughout the years,American Idolfans have complained about country music’s dominance on the show, which has now even spread to the judging table.Carrie and Luke are both country music superstars, which means that there could be an even greater emphasis on the genre moving forward. Lionel is an R&B and soul legend, but Katy was a pop star, and now an expert in that important genre is missing. While Carrie has been considered a country pop artist by some, she’s not a pop star in the truest sense of the word. Choosing a whole new judging panel would’ve created more balance on the judging panel forAmerican Idolseason 23.
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It’s going to be thrilling to seeCarrie take her seat at theAmerican Idolseason 23 judges' table, but perhaps it would’ve been better for her to have two new judges alongside her. She could’ve taken the lead judge role as anAmerican Idolwinner, the show would’ve been new and exciting again, and country music wouldn’t have been the dominant genre on the panel. Despite this,having Carrie as a judge forAmerican Idolseason 23 is going to make it the best season yet.
American Idolseason 23 premieres on Sunday, July 27, 2025, on ABC.
American Idol
Cast
American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international “Idol” brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they’d go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America’s next musical idol.
