American Idol is reportedly bringing in a country music superstar, Carrie Underwood, to replace Katy Perry on the judging panel next season.

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Carrie, who won American Idol's fourth season in 2005 when it previously aired on Fox, will be sitting next to American Idol judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan when American Idol returns with Season 23 in 2025 on ABC, Variety reported.

ABC is expected to make the formal casting announcement on Thursday.

Carrie is arguably the most successful winner American Idol has ever had. In addition to having served several times as a mentor on American Idol, she also performed on the show's season finale in 2022.

The country icon, who had auditioned for Idol by singing "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt, has since released eight albums.

Carrie has won eight Grammy Awards and sold 85 million records worldwide.

American Idol's 23rd season is slated to premiere in early 2025, with virtual auditions beginning August 12, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

ABC has been looking for a replacement Idol judge in the last few months given Katy had announced earlier this year that Season 22 was going to be her last, at least until further notice.

Katy had served as a judge for American Idol's sixteenth season, alongside Luke and Lionel, through Season 22.

Pop star Meghan Trainor recently voiced how being an American Idol judge would be a "dream come true" for her.

"That would be great... I'll support her or whomever all the people over at ABC decide to go with," Luke told E! News when asked about the possibility of Meghan replacing Katy as a judge.

Luke went on to share, "The whole thing about that role is you've got to have personality and you've got to have fun with it every day... [Meghan] doesn't take herself too seriously. She has fun with her music."

Luke revealed, however, that he and Lionel were still "waiting to hear" whom the show was going to pick," adding, "It will be exciting to see who they decide to fill Katy's seat."

When asked which singers or artists he'd love to see that vacant spot on the judging panel, Luke replied, "I know that P!NK, her name was thrown around, and Miley Cyrus and obviously Meghan. So we'll see. [ABC] is being pretty good at being tight-lipped about it."

While Katy is definitely out for next season to focus on her music career, she dished about the possibility of returning to the show as a judge in late May.

"Keep that seat hot. I mean, who knows," Katy teased to Entertainment Tonight. "I loved everything I got to experience and learn."

Katy acknowledged that she'd like to see a "fearless" person join the show as a judge, someone who won't "mince their words."

Katy elaborated, "Maybe someone a little polarizing just like myself. There's a lot of people that's like, 'She's awful! She should go!' And there's a lot of people that are like, 'She speaks her mind! She's authentic!'"

"Whatever, you can't win 'em all," she continued. "I think it's actually better not to win 'em all because that means you actually have a point of view."

Abi Carter, 21, was crowned American Idol's Season 22 winner in late May.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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