Carrie Underwood On What She Will Bring To ‘American Idol’: “I Like To Think That I Am Versatile”

Armando Tinoco
·2 min read

Carrie Underwood is joining the American Idol judging panel, replacing Katy Perry, and she has teased what she will bring.

The country superstar won the singing competition in Season 4 and is returning as a judge beginning Season 25.

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“I feel like I’ve been so blessed to obviously be so rooted in country music, but I’ve been able to be a part of many other genres or music as well,” Underwood said on SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour. “I mean, I’ve got a song with Papa Roach right now. It’s a lot of fun.”

She continued, “I like to think that I am versatile. Hopefully, when I listen to people come and audition, I can have any lens I need to put on in terms of what music I’m thinking.”

Underwood also teased what her judging style will be like saying, “I think I can be honest and constructive but still kind. And I think that’s the whole point, ’cause people are coming in and, you know, it’s dreams. You’re a part of somebody’s story from that moment on. I think it’s important to be honest, but it’s also very important to be kind, so hopefully I can marry all of those together and be a good judge.”

The singer will be a judge alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Perry, Bryan, and Lionel Richie joined American Idol in Season 16 when ABC rebooted the competition. After seven seasons on the panel, Perry announced she was leaving her judging duties to focus on her music career. Perry made her last appearance on the show in May of this year.

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