Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry on ‘American Idol’

Source: Carrie Underwood attends the 2024 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 13, 2024 in New York City. (Joy Malone/Getty Images) 

Carrie Underwood returns home to “American Idol,” this time as a judge, according to CNN. Underwood won “Idol” in the show’s fourth season.

Underwood will be replacing Katy Perry, who spent seven seasons as a judge on the ABC show. While Perry is leaving the show, judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will return for the upcoming season. Perry announced on “Jimmie Kimmel Live” in February that she wouldn’t be returning for the show’s 23rd season.

Underwood is the first former contestant to become a judge on the show.

Source: American Idol winner Carrie Underwood (R) is seen onstage with American Idol contestants at the American Idol Finale: Results Show held at the Kodak Theatre on May 25, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

In 2005, Underwood competed in the show’s fourth season, auditioning in St. Louis. She led contestants in van voting by a large margin weekly en route to winning the show.

She’s gone on to become country music’s most-decorated artist, winning eight Grammy awards, 12 Billboard Music awards, 16 Academy of Country Music awards, 17 American Music awards and nine Country Music Association awards.