Carrie Underwood is stepping in as a judge on American Idol, replacing Katy Perry.
Perry, 39, concluded her tenure as a judge on the show in May after seven successful seasons. Now, the 41-year-old country superstar Underwood will join the judging panel alongside Lionel Richie, 75, and Luke Bryan, 48.
Bryan revealed that other notable artists like Pink, Miley Cyrus, and Meghan Trainor were also considered for the role. He told Billboard, "I think Pink has been in the talks, Miley Cyrus has been in the talks, Meghan Trainor has been in the talks."
He also acknowledged Perry's significant impact on the show, stating, "Katy was really perfect for that job, and I think they’re just working real hard to find somebody that can really come in and do the job that Katy did."
Underwood, however, seems like a natural fit. She won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005 and has since become one of the most successful winners in the show's history, earning eight Grammy Awards and having four of her eight albums top the US charts.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Underwood’s Idol victory, making her return to the show even more poignant.
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, expressed his excitement about Underwood joining the panel: “This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on ‘Idol’ and launched her successful multi-GRAMMY Award-winning career. As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television."
“This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”
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