Carrie Underwood will be joining the judging panel for the upcoming season of American Idol, and she’s already planning her approach to this exciting new role.
Carrie Underwood Will Be Stepping in Alongside Judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
Six months after former American Idol judge Katy Perry announced her departure from the singing competition, it was revealed that Carrie Underwood would be taking her place. This marks a full-circle moment for Underwood, who won Season 4 of the show in 2005 and has become one of the most successful contestants in its two-decade history.
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As a first-time judge on the show, many are curious about the kind of personality Underwood will bring to the judging panel. Will she be easygoing and supportive, or will she take a tougher, more critical way of judging?
During an Interview on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Underwood Shared Her Vision of How She Plans to Approach Her Role as a Judge.
When asked if she believes she can be “tough” in critiquing auditioning contestants, Underwood shared what she hopes to bring to the table.
“I think I can be honest and constructive, but still kind,” she said. “I think that’s the whole point because people are coming in and it’s [their] dreams, and you’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on. I think it’s important to be honest, but I also think it’s important to be kind.”
And who better to judge auditioners than the 8-time Grammy winner, especially given her experience of being on the receiving end? Underwood certainly has the upper hand in understanding contestants’ journeys this upcoming season.
Her fellow co-judge Lionel Richie has also shared what he hopes Underwood will bring to the show, including one thing he hopes she avoids doing.
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Richie expressed his hope that Underwood doesn’t feel pressured to be someone she’s not.
“I want Carrie to come in and find her person out there, her person,” Richie said. “I’m very happy they got Carrie, because… we want someone who is going to bring their light to the table.”
“She came from here. This is where she started… So, we welcome her… Her addition to this show is going to be amazing,” Richie added.”