Carrie Underwood Takes Over as American Idol Judge, Replacing Katy Perry
Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have a new member joining their American Idol judges’ table.
Following Katy Perry‘s exit from the reality competition series, Carrie Underwood will step in as her replacement for season 25, multiple outlets report.
E! News has reached out to ABC and Carrie’s rep for comment.
Carrie—who’s previously appeared as guest mentor on the show—officially joins the team 19 years after winning the competition herself, beating out Bo Bice for the American Idol title during season four in 2005.
In fact, the Oklahoma native—mom to kids Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 5, with husband Mike Fisher—has credited the competition series for changing the trajectory of her life.
“I learned a lot, I learned an insane amount,” she told the Must Watch Show in May 2022. “And so much of that is still applied today, it still holds true to what I do now. It was star boot camp and I was trying to soak in as much as I possibly could and, obviously, it launched my career.”