American Idol’s latest addition, Carrie Underwood, has received criticism from audiences and insiders, but her co-stars are advocating for the superstar. Carrie entered the long-running TV show in the Spring of 2025 as a replacement for Katy Perry. Katy had previously held this position for an impressive seven seasons, but the former judge faced scrutiny for her more blunt feedback. While Katy was considered too direct by many critics, Carrie is believed to be too sympathetic for the position.
Carrie’s introduction on American Idol season 23 has been rocky. The country superstar, who was a competitor and winner in 2005, has admitted to struggling when eliminating performers. The other panelists, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, spoke about the new judge and her challenges. While they are more accustomed to making difficult decisions, they seem to believe Carrie is an asset with the potential to improve.
Luke And Lionel Have Talked About Carrie’s Difficulties
Luke And Lionel Know What It’s Like
Carrie, Luke, and Lionel sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to discuss Carrie’s introduction to the singing competition. The seasoned panelists made playful jabs at Carrie’s eliminations during the first few performances. Lionel mimicked her feedback, saying:
“The first contestant? ‘Yes. Go through.’ Second contestant. ‘Yes. Go through.’ Third contestant…Ohhh. And Luke and I would laugh and were like, we go, ‘Well, she’s got to say no.’ She said, ‘Well, she’s so cute. She’s so adorable.’ The answer is no!”
Carrie then defended her viewpoint, suggesting her past as a competitor made rejecting performers difficult. While Luke and Lionel have admitted to sharing these feelings during eliminations, they have had years of practice. Lionel quipped, “It was firm. It was a no,” and the group laughed off the learning curve. These long-running judges are wary of the controversy but still stand by the country superstar.
Luke Has Taken Carrie’s Side
Luke Is Carrie’s Biggest Supporter
Although audiences seem to have turned on the new panelist, Luke has consistently defended Carrie. An insider spoke with The Sun about behind-the-scenes conversations among the crew members. Many believe that Carrie could be hindering the competition, but Luke has advocated for the star.
The insider claimed, “Luke is her biggest fan and always has her back if he hears something said about her or she’s not getting something.” Her country counterpart, having some shared experiences ranging from their Nashville hometown to musical genre, feels protective of Carrie. He seems to be defending her even more than Lionel, as the insider maintained:
“Lionel seems to enjoy Carrie as well, but it’s Luke who really seems to stick up for her the most.”
Will Carrie Last On American Idol?
Carrie Has So Much To Contribute
New additions to long-running franchises, like American Idol, will always invite criticism. Carrie has been unfairly scrutinized because of her star power and empathetic nature. She has just been introduced to an emotionally taxing position with substantial consequences. She’s feeling the pressure, but rather than crumbling, Carrie is evolving and learning. Carrie will only get better with time, and she will, if she hasn’t already, recognize the significance of her co-star’s support.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
Sources: The Sun, The Tonight Show
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
