Carrie Underwood Taking ‘American Idol’ Judge’s Seat After Katy Perry Departure

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The newest judge on American Idol is someone very familiar to longtime viewers of the music competition.

Carrie Underwood, who won the fourth season of Idol back in 2005, is set to join the show as a judge for its coming 23rd season early next year. She’ll take over the spot vacated by Katy Perry, who departed at the end of last season. Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan are expected back.

Underwood’s return to Idol is set to be formally announced Thursday. ABC declined to comment.

Underwood is arguably the most successful Idol winner in the show’s history, having gone on to win eight Grammy Awards and a combined 25 Academy of Country Music (16) and Country Music Association (nine) awards. She’s also had eight albums (plus a greatest hits compilation) top the U.S. country charts; four of them also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Perry announced in February that season 22 of American Idol would be her last as a judge, saying that she wanted to return to focusing on her own music. She, Richie and Bryan have made up show’s judging panel for the entirety of its seven-season run on ABC, which revived the show in 2018 — two years after Fox ended Idol’s initial 15-season run.

The 23rd season of American Idol is slated to premiere in early 2025. Live, virtual auditions are set to begin Aug. 12.

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