Carrie Underwood’s main goal on American Idol is to help contestants grow, and she’s not afraid to be a little strict if that’s what it takes.

American Idol is set to return in early 2026 for its 24th season. Recently, it was confirmed that all three judges from last season, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, will be back at the judges’ desk. The show’s host, Ryan Seacrest, will also return.

Underwood is the newest addition to the show, having joined the judges’ lineup in 2025. She replaced longtime judge Katy Perry.

She is the first former contestant in the show’s history to take on the role. The “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer won season 4 in 2005.

 

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Dedicated fans of the singing competition hadn’t seen a new judge in nearly seven years, so everyone was curious to see what Underwood would bring to the table.

It’s safe to say that her first season behind the panel created plenty of mixed opinions. Many fans loved seeing the country superstar come full circle. However, others felt that she was a bit too harsh when she provided feedback to the contestants.

Carrie Underwood Responds To The Criticism Surrounding Her Judging Style

During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Underwood defended her approach to judging contestants.

“Sometimes I get in trouble from people like, ‘How dare she say that it wasn’t perfect?’” she said. “And I’m like, I just want everybody to learn and that’s part of it. And nobody wants to just hear that they’re amazing all the time.”

For Underwood, it all comes down to growth. She explained that constant praise won’t help contestants improve. She added that hearing only good things is “not gonna get you anywhere.”

“We just want everybody to be able to grow and get better” she added, also defending her fellow judge’s constructive criticism, “and be the most awesome version of themselves that they could be.”

It looks like Underwood plans to stick to the same perspective when guiding contestants in the new season.

Season 24 of American Idol will premiere in March 2026, but hopeful artists can already audition in select cities across the country.