As the cast of “American Idol” prepares for the first live show of season 24, they’re spilling the tea on what happens behind the scenes. On March 24, 2026, judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan appeared on “Good Morning America” and were shown a video submitted by their castmate, host Ryan Seacrest, who asked them to share their pre-show rituals.
The perennial “American Idol” host went first, noting that before each live show, “Mine vary, but generally I’ll have a shot of extra virgin olive oil on a spoon, I’ll play with a Rubik’s cube, and then stretch before I come out.”
“He’s a strange man,” Richie muttered, but it was better than his reaction to Bryan’s answer, which the R&B legend hilariously deemed to be “disgusting.”
Luke Bryan Grosses Out Lionel Richie & Carrie Underwood on GMA
After Seacrest’s answer, Bryan hopped in to share, “I think mine is ranch and carrots, you know, in the little ranch and carrot tray,” presumably provided by the show’s catering crew backstage. He then quipped, “So, if y’all eat that, don’t eat it ’cause I’ve already double dipped.”
As the GMA cast and crew laughed in the background, Richie exclaimed, “Disgusting! That’s disgusting.”
GMA host Lara Spencer chimed in, “I’ve seen him do it, I’ve seen you do it,” and Bryan pretended to be snacking on a carrot as he said, “Bite, dip! Bite, dip!”
With a grossed-out look on her face, Underwood announced, “I don’t think I’ve had the ranch,” and GMA’s Robin Roberts quipped, “You’re not gonna have it now!”
Carrie Underwood & Lionel Richie’s Pre-Show Rituals Are So Wholesome
DisneyRichie and Underwood’s pre-show rituals were much sweeter than their castmates’. Underwood said during their GMA appearance that it takes a long time to get ready between makeup, hair, and wardrobe, so she always brings along her latest crochet project.
“I was crocheting backstage in my dressing room,” she said of their morning appearance. “My hands (have) gotta do something. I’ve learned through ‘Idol.’ I watch myself.”
Worried that might sound too self-absorbed, the country star quipped, “We watch as a family! My boys love it. But I’m like, ‘I fidget,’ so that’s perfect for keeping my hands busy.”
As for Richie’s routine before each show, he admitted, “Well, I’m a caffeine maniac. So what I’ll do is one cup of coffee, go down to the band dressing room, tell about four to five jokes so you’re laughing, completely out of your mind, and take that energy and walk on stage.”
“The crowd catches our energy,” he continued. “By three songs in we’re all ready to go.”
But energy was a bit hard to come by for Richie as the trio made the talk show rounds during the morning of March 24. Bryan said his co-star typically stays up until 4 a.m., quipping that “he’s that kind of morning person.” And Richie agreed, telling them all that their morning show appearances were “the roughest schedule” he has to deal with.
“American Idol” will air live on March 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with the first voting results of the season revealed, as the Top 20 is whittled down to the Top 14 at the top of the episode.
