Carrie Underwood hasn’t even started her season as a judge on American Idol, and she is already earning praise from one of her fellow judges. Lionel Richie spoke out about Underwood joining him, along with Luke Bryan, for the upcoming season on American Idol, with Underwood taking the space left vacant when Katy Perry exited after last season.
“It makes a lot of sense,” Richie tells E! News. “It’s not someone we have to get used to. And the fact that she has a great story — she came from American Idol. What a great judge. In other words, now we don’t have to explain anymore, ‘We know how you feel.’ As artists, we know how you feel, but we’ve never been in that oval that says ‘American Idol.’ So for her, she’s been there, done that.
“To have her on the show,” he adds, “she can really speak from what they have to go through, what they’re feeling, and on top of that, just be a ham sandwich, like the two of us. Welcome to the ham sandwich squad.”
Richie admits Underwood might have her hands full, especially with working alongside both him and Bryan.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming her,” Richie says. “I hope she has a really great sense of humor, because she’s gotta sit next to Luke and I. All I can say is, ‘Hang on.'”
Richie, who will be enjoying his eighth season as a judge on Idol, is eager to see how quickly Underwood adapts to her new role on the hit reality TV talent show.
“It’s gonna be an amazing show,” the 75-year-old boasts. “Probably for the first five or six shows, to see her face and see how she deals with Uncle Luke sitting next to her, saying anything on his mind. I’m gonna love it, I’m loving it.”
When discussing her return to American Idol, 20 years after she was crowned the Season 4 winner in 2004, Underwood said it was a full-circle moment, to be part of the show that made her famous.
“It feels like home,” Underwood tells Good Morning America. “There are so many people that even still work on the show that were there when I was a contestant. And I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help and kind of offer a different viewpoint.”
One thing both Richie and Bryan will have to adjust to, along with all of the contestants, is Underwood’s inability to say anything but the truth, even if it isn’t want the aspiring singers want to hear.
“I do have a big problem … I can’t lie. I just can’t,” the Oklahoma nativemaintains. “You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully I can be very constructive and encouraging.”
The virtual Idol Across America auditions are happening now. A premiere date for the upcoming season of American Idol has yet to be announced, but will take place in early 2025.