{"id":119405,"date":"2025-03-07T21:03:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T21:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lascrucestoday.com\/magic\/2025\/03\/07\/american-idol-returns-with-new-judge-carrie-underwood-i-know-what-theyre-going-through\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T21:03:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T21:03:43","slug":"american-idol-returns-with-new-judge-carrie-underwood-i-know-what-theyre-going-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lascrucestoday.com\/magic\/2025\/03\/07\/american-idol-returns-with-new-judge-carrie-underwood-i-know-what-theyre-going-through\/","title":{"rendered":"‘American Idol’ returns with new judge Carrie Underwood: ‘I know what they’re going through’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Disney\/Gizelle Hernandez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many American Idol<\/em> alumni have appeared on the show over the years as mentors or performers, but when the show returns Sunday night<\/strong><\/a> on ABC, Carrie Underwood<\/strong> will be accomplishing a first: She’s the first Idol<\/em> winner ever to become a judge, which gives her a special insight into how the contestants are feeling.<\/p>\n

“I hope I can bring a different perspective to this show,” Carrie says. “I know what it’s like to be there.”<\/p>\n

As she notes, “I know what they’re going through, and I know what it’s like to be standing up there thinking, like, ‘What song am I supposed to be singing? I don’t know.’ And having judges say, ‘That just wasn’t the right song for you.’ And you’re like, ‘I don’t know what that means!'”<\/p>\n

Host Ryan Seacrest<\/strong>, who crowned Carrie the champ in 2005, tells ABC Audio, “It’s like being at home with Carrie. … She’s been just a natural at being behind that desk. And the contestants are very excited to see her and they’re inspired by her.”<\/p>\n

But fellow judge Luke Bryan<\/strong> tells ABC Audio that Carrie “had a little bit of a learning situation on really saying no to kids because she’s such a sweet, kind soul … it’s tough to sit there and tell some kid no that they can’t go to Hollywood.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For judge Lionel Richie<\/strong>, making it to Hollywood is a win in itself.<\/p>\n

“When we say, ‘You’re going to Hollywood,’ that door opens … mothers are crying. Brothers and sisters are crying,” he says.\u00a0“As I try to tell the kids on the show, forget about winning. … This is a moment when your family can actually say, ‘God, we’re so proud of you.’ And for that brief moment, you’ve won\u00a0American Idol.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n