Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry As New ‘American Idol’ Judge

Carrie UnderwoodPhoto byFrazer Harrison/Getty Images

It looks like Carrie Underwood is coming home to ''American Idol!'' She will be returning to her roots, where it all began on the ABC hit television series. The former “American Idol” winner will join the show as a judge next year, in the 23rd season, replacing Katy Perry who announced her departure months ago.

The Grammy-winning country superstar has returned to “American Idol” a couple of times in the past as both a mentor, and she also performed on the show’s season finale in 2022. Carrie Underwood became a household name in 2005, when she won the fourth season of “American Idol''. She will now be joining the show as a judge 20 years later. Carrie Underwood will also be the first “American Idol” winner to become a judge of the ABC competition series.

''Underwood will join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, who will both return as judges on the next season of “Idol,” the source added. Perry announced earlier this year that she would be stepping down from “Idol,” after spending seven seasons on the show. She announced her departure on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” saying that “American Idol” has “connected me with the heart of America,” as stated on the CNN website.