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The judges slot that Katy Perry left vacant upon her departure from American Idol has been filled with a familiar face. Carrie Underwood, who won the fourth season of the series nearly two decades ago, will join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as a judge on the upcoming season premiering in 2025.
Underwood taking over for Perry marks the first time a former Idol winner has returned in an official capacity as judge. “She embodies the true spirit of ‘Idol’ as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story,” Megan Wolflick, who serves as showrunner and executive producer, shared in a statement. “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.”
The new season — the show’s eighth on ABC and 23rd overall — will also see Ryan Seacrest resume his hosting duties. Seacrest recently took over Wheel of Fortune following the retirement of the game series’ long-time host Pat Sajak. Richie and Bryan, meanwhile, have already been on the judges panel for seven consecutive seasons. Perry worked alongside them for that stretch of time before leaving to focus on her music, which could be going better for her.
There were a few other artists who had their sights set on taking on the American Idol role before it went to Underwood. In June, Meghan Trainor told Watch What Happens Live‘s Andy Cohen, “I have begged for this job … I’ve done every interview in the world and said that that is my dream job.” She had the resume for it, having hosted The Four: Battle for Stardom, The Voice UK, and Australian Idol. But ultimately, Underwood has a deeper history with the show.
“This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades,” Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich shared. “Welcome home, Carrie.”
