Carrie Underwood's Milestone Journey: From Contestant to Judge on American Idol
It's been an incredible twenty-year journey for Carrie Underwood as she returns to American Idol as a judge. A new preview video for the upcoming season shows the celebrated singer-songwriter taking a seat at the judges' table. This milestone is particularly significant because it was two decades ago, in 2005, when Underwood auditioned during the show's fourth season. At the time, she was a hopeful artist singing Bonnie Raitt's classic "I Can't Make You Love Me." Now, she's a multi-award-winning artist herself, taking a seat at the same table formerly occupied by Katy Perry.
Joining the Judges' Table
Underwood will officially take her seat alongside fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on March 9 as American Idol premieres its newest season on ABC and streams on Hulu. The full-circle nature of her journey is glimpsed in the preview video, juxtaposing Underwood's first moments as a judge against footage from her original audition back in 2005.
"Twenty years ago I was standing on a stage just like this one," Underwood says in the clip. Richie responds, "And now you're sitting here with us." Luke Bryan contributes, "That's the power of American Idol." The host, Ryan Seacrest, caps the moment by saying, "So, should we save some lives together?" Underwood exclaims enthusiastically in response: "Let's do this."
A Star-Studded Career
Since winning American Idol, Underwood's career has been on fire. She has earned:
- Eight Grammy Awards
- 16 ACM Awards
Beyond music, she's expanded her horizons with ventures like her bestselling book Find Your Path, the fitness app Fit52, and her ongoing Las Vegas residency, Reflection, which will continue through April 2025.
Building Her Empire
Underwood's influence extends to television and radio. She has been front and center in NBC's Sunday Night Football Open for 12 seasons. She launched her SiriusXM channel, Carrie's Country, and later other channels like Carr-dio by Carrie's Country and Savior Sunday Daily, all available on the SiriusXM app. More recently, she appeared on comedian Nate Bargatze's holiday special aired on CBS, again stretching her talent as an entertainer.
An Inspiration to Many
Underwood’s return to American Idol as a judge not only highlights her personal success but also underscores the show's transformative power. Carrie Underwood's journey is a testament to hard work, talent, and perseverance from a hopeful auditioning in front of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson to a global icon inspiring the next generation of talent.
