Carrie Underwood found her groove as a judge on season 23 of “American Idol,” but some critics thought she was too harsh. Ahead of her return to the show as a season 24 judge, the “Idol” winner defended her approach to the job.
Carrie Underwood Shares How Much She Cares About ‘American Idol’ Judging Role
During a September 19 interview with Sirius XM’s “The Highway,” Underwood dished on what it was like to be a judge on “American Idol” last season.
She admitted that some people felt she was too tough on the hopefuls, but she assured that her judging style comes from a supportive place.
“I care so much, I really do,” she said of her role on the show. “I try [to give helpful advice]. Sometimes I get in trouble … people are like, ‘How dare she say that wasn’t perfect?'”
The singer continued, “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.”
She added, “Maybe some people do,” noting that giving out constant praise is “not gonna get you anywhere.”
Underwood said that she and the other judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, are “coming at it from a very constructive place.”
She added, “We just want everybody to be able to grow and get better and just be the most awesome version of themselves that they could be.”
Underwood also revealed that it’s been a learning curve for her to share herself authentically on camera. “I’m not great at that, am I?” she said. “In general, I feel like I’m such a private person.”
“I get on stage and I love to sing, it’s one of my favorite things to do. I’m like, ‘Dear Lord, please don’t let me talk,'” Underwood joked.
She admitted, “I’m slightly better than I used to be. But I’ve just never been great at putting down the walls and just feeling like I can be myself.”
Underwood is grateful for having the opportunity to help the show’s hopefuls learn and grow.
“I’m a part of dreams coming true, which is really cool,” she marveled. “Getting to see these hopefuls, these contestants, be in the shoes that I was in, it’s such a cool thing to be a part of.”
Underwood Admits She Was Nervous About Being a Judge
In a March 2025 interview with Katie Neal on the “Superstar Power Hour” podcast, Underwood shared what it was like to be “on the opposite side of the judges’ table” 20 years after she won “Idol.”
The singer admitted that she had some worries. “It’s been really great. I was nervous coming in because it’s a different ballgame, you know,” she said. “And sitting on the other side of the table, more than anything, I want to help all of these people coming through, and help them become better performers and live their dreams.”
She added, “So I want to be constructive and tell them things they can work on, but then you’re like, ‘Am I coming across mean?'”
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