American Idol
Page: 3
Though Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan just kicked off their eighth season behind the iconic American Idol judge’s desk, they told Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night (March 5) that newcomer Carrie Underwood is already shaking things up just one week into her tenure.
“She was the number one at the beginning,” Richie said of Underwood, 41, who memorably won the fourth season of the show when she was 21 and said she still has her “14887” contestant sticker from her audition. Asked what it’s like to have an OG Idol on the show, pop icon Richie said their new partner is a “jukebox… she knows every song that the contestants are singing,” joking that Underwood can’t help joining in.
“I go Carrie, ‘they’re competing. It’s not you. You already won,’” Richie joked, as Underwood defended herself by explaining that if a nervous contestant flubs a lyric she is happy to be their human “Teleprompter. I got you. I will help you.”
Trending on Billboard
As for whether contestants still try to “butter up” the panel by covering their songs, Underwood said they’ve all had it happen so far, for good or ill. “They think it’s to compliment us, but some days we’re just praying, ‘Please God, just let them be able to sing it.’ And sometimes they nail it and sometimes it goes south real fast,” Richie admitted.
Replacing fan favorite Katy Perry, Underwood appears to have slipped into the pump-up pal seat with no hiccups. Richie said the country star immediately said yes to the first singer the panel saw, then again for the second one, only to reach a crossroads for singer number three out of nearly 200. “Luke and I were laughing, ‘well, she’s gotta say no,’” Richie recalled. “And she said, ‘well, she’s so cute… she’s so adorable.’ I said, ‘the answer is no!’”
“I care a lot and it’s people’s hopes and dreams,” Underwood said in her defense. “I’m trying to evaluate, ‘is there more in there,’” she added, as Richie flashed some performative exasperation at his co-star’s gentle nature. “There was not any more in that woman’s [inaudible]… it was a firm ‘no,’” Bryan said.
Asked if some of the singers get nervous in front of the superstar panel, Bryan said he’s basically become an amateur psychologist at this point. “I can read a fainter when they’re about to faint… we had one kid and I went behind him and kind of patted him down and he was 157 degrees, his body temperature,” he said.
The trio kicked off their visit with a competitive, trash-dancing showdown in the “Name That Song Challenge,” during which Bryan and Richie faced off against Underwood and Fallon. Racing to guess which instrumental versions of pop songs house band the Roots were playing while adding one instrument at a time, UnderFallon shot out to an early lead when the host quickly guessed Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
Fallon rubbed in his correct guess with a hip-shaking dance and impromptu duet with Underwood, cheekily asking his rivals, “isn’t this the best game ever?” A not-amused Richie rolled his eyes and shot back sarcastically, “this is so much fun,” with Bryan pointing to the other team and saying, “she’s a jukebox and all you do [Fallon] is listen to music!”
The next one was trickier, with Fallon incorrectly guessing the Commodores’ “Brick House,” as the band’s former singer Richie snagged the obvious answer: the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” which set him and Bryan off on their own touchdown dance routine. They all struggled with the third track, with Fallon finally humming out Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” for the win, then fanning himself theatrically.
After Underwood nailed Huey Lewis & the News’ “Power of Love” to Bryan’s chagrin, Richie rocked back with a correct guess on Heart’s “Barracuda,” setting off a friendly twin air guitar solo with Fallon that lead to a celebratory couple’s waltz for the team that correctly guessed the last song. American Idol airs at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday (March 9) on ABC.
Click below to find out who won the guessing game and to hear Underwood, Bryan and Richie talk about the new season of Idol.
As Carrie Underwood‘s career is about to come full-circle, the onetime American Idol hopeful is looking back to where she started.
In a new episode of the reality show’s Icon to Idol series posted to YouTube on Tuesday — just days ahead of the season 23 premiere, on which Underwood will make her debut as a judge — the country star rewatches her 2005 audition and gets emotional. In the old footage, a much younger version of herself sings Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” for the O.G. panel comprised of Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, who unanimously push her through to Hollywood.
“I have no idea how that 21-year-old Carrie was able to muster up enough guts to walk into a room and audition in front of Simon, Paula and Randy, and the world,” Underwood says after the footage ends.
“At my audition, I think I was just trying to hold in all my emotions — literally, hold them into my body,” she continues, revealing that she still has her audition number memorized: “It’s tattooed in my brain. I should actually get a tattoo of that somewhere on my body. Because I will always be 14887.”
Trending on Billboard
A few months after her tryout, Underwood would go on to win the fourth season of Idol and kickstart a long, successful career in country music, complete with four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. She’ll soon experience what it’s like to be on the other side of the Idol auditions process once the next season of the show officially premieres Sunday (March 9), taking over Katy Perry’s vacant spot on the panel next to co-judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
She’ll also be the only judge to know exactly what it’s like to go through the show’s wringer. After rewatching her audition on Idol to Icon, Underwood also looked through the two-decade-old journal she kept while she was a contestant on the show and got choked up.
“I don’t even know if I could tell her what she’s about to experience,” she says in the video, fighting back tears. “Seeing myself, 21 years old, the world ahead of you. Obviously, it’s overwhelming, but you’re gonna do fine, kid. You’re gonna be OK. Just hold on.”
Watch Underwood get emotional after rewatching her Idol audition above.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Backstreet Boys superstar Brian Littrell revealed on the Today show that his 22-year-old son, Baylee, will appear on the upcoming season of American Idol. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “He was just texting me last night, going, ‘Dad, […]
Jelly Roll is stepping into a new Jelly role! The Grammy-nominated country superstar is set to appear on the 23rd season of American Idol, as the show’s first-ever “artist in residence,” according to Variety. Per the publication, Jelly will first appear on the season during the “Hollywood Week” episodes and continue to become “a permanent […]
Katy Perry feels confident in the future of American Idol, even if she’s no longer a part of the show.
The pop star shared how she really feels about Carrie Underwood replacing her as a judge on the long-running competition series, telling People on Thursday (Jan. 30) she thinks her seat is in good hands.
“She was born on that show,” Perry said of the “Before He Cheats” singer. “I think she knows how to steer it.”
The “Woman’s World” singer’s comments come about six months after it was announced that Underwood would be taking over her seat on the judge’s panel, which is also comprised of Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Perry announced her departure a few months prior during a February visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, explaining at the time, “I love the show so much, but I want to go see the world and maybe bring new music.”
Trending on Billboard
To People, Perry emphasized that Underwood is bringing a new perspective to the show that neither of her co-judges can provide. “She actually truly knows … what it feels like to be in [the contestants’] shoes,” the “Firework” artist said. “We could only metaphorically feel that as judges.”
The country star competed on Idol back in 2005, winning the show’s fourth season. In August, Underwood said that the show “feels like home” in an interview with Good Morning America and said, “I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help.”
“I can’t lie. I just can’t,” she added at the time of her judging style. “You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully, you know, I can be very constructive and encouraging.”
Perry’s comments about Underwood come shortly after the country drew a mixed reaction for her choice to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony earlier this month, with the “Jesus, Take The Wheel” artist singing “America the Beautiful” a cappella after technical difficulties messed with her background music. Leading up to the event, Underwood defended her decision to perform, saying in a statement: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.”
She added, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Two decades ago, Carrie Underwood auditioned for American Idol, during the reality music competition’s fourth season in 2005. Now a multi-award winning, multi-faceted singer, songwriter, entertainer, author and actress, Underwood will return to where it all began next year, as a judge on American Idol, where she will replace former Idol judge Katy Perry.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
On March 9, she will join Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie at the judges’ table, when the American Idol season premiere launches on ABC and streams on Hulu.
A new video previewing the upcoming season shows the moment Underwood stepped into the audition room as a judge for the first time, juxtaposing the moment with footage of Underwood’s American Idol audition in 2005. When Underwood auditioned on American Idol, she performed the Bonnie Raitt classic “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and auditioned for then-judges Paul Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Trending on Billboard
“Twenty years ago I was standing on a stage just like this one,” Underwood can be seen saying in the video.
“And now you’re sitting here with us,” Richie replies.
“That’s the power of American Idol,” Bryan adds.
Host Ryan Seacrest then asks, “So, should we save some lives together?”
“Let’s do this,” Underwood replies with a smile.
Since her own win on American Idol, Underwood has earned 16 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits, as well as eight Grammy trophies and 16 ACM Awards. She’s spearheaded her own Reflection: The Las Vegas residency (which continues through April 2025), released the book Find Your Path, launched the fitness app Fit52, and starred in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football for 12 consecutive seasons. She also launched the SiriusXM channel Carrie’s Country, followed by Carr-dio by Carrie’s Country, and Savior Sunday Daily by Carrie’s Country, both of which stream on the SiriusXM app. Underwood recently made a guest appearance on comedian Nate Bargatze’s holiday special, which aired on CBS.
12/20/2024
Modern holiday chestnuts by veterans of the long-running TV talent competition.
12/20/2024
The final ranking of American Idol season 2 might be a little foggy to Kelly Clarkson, but in her defense, it was 20 years ago.
If there’s anyone who won’t ever forget who was first and second place on the 2003 program, however, it’s Clay Aiken, who finished the show as runner-up to Ruben Studdard — something the “This Is the Night” singer had to remind his fellow Idol alum on Monday’s (Dec. 16) The Kelly Clarkson Show.
While reflecting on their days traveling together as American Idol royalty during the competition series’ early days, Clarkson mistakenly said to Aiken, “We toured after you won — the Independent Tour, I think it was called.”
The former politician’s face then comically froze up as he corrected her through stiff lips, “After I came in second.”
Trending on Billboard
Upon realizing her error, the “Stronger” vocalist looked directly into the camera and issued a hilarious apology. “So sorry — Ruben, I totally remembered that!” she said, cracking up. “Look, I’m 42, bro. I forgot.”
Clarkson became the first-ever American Idol victor in 2002, with Studdard winning the following season and Aiken placing in second. The two men went on to stay friends and collaborators, and in 2023, they toured together to celebrate their 20th Idol anniversary. They also competed side-by-side on the 11th season of The Masked Singer earlier this year.
“I’m sure we’ll do stuff again,” Aiken told Clarkson of working with the “Flying Without Wings” musician. “We’re sort of inseparable — I think we’re better together than apart.”
The “Since U Been Gone” artist noted that she would likely be hearing from Studdard following her mixup — “He’s gonna be like, ‘I won, but fine,’” she joked — and Aiken agreed. “He will be calling me, without question,” he said, nodding.
Elsewhere in the show, Aiken performed “Do You Hear What I Hear?” for Clarkson’s audience. The performer is fresh off the release of his new holiday album Christmas Bells Are Ringing, which dropped in November.
See the hilarious moment Clarkson forgot who won American Idol season 2 above.
11/29/2024
The inaugural American Idol winner took the world by storm with her blockbuster sophomore album.
11/29/2024
American Idol alum Triston Harper is living his American dream with wife Paris Reed, who is pregnant with the couple’s first baby together. Hattie M. Sullivan, the mom of the 16-year-old aspiring singer, announced the news in a Facebook post just two days after Harper changed his relationship status on the site to reflect his […]