When Carrie Underwood walked onto the “American Idol” stage as a contestant years ago, she had no idea she would one day be the one holding the microphone from the judges’ table. Now, her fellow judge Lionel Richie is opening up about the “magical” dynamic of the new trio—and the one major hurdle Carrie had to overcome to find her voice.
Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly during the show’s Taylor Swift night on Monday, April , Richie, , revealed that the hardest part for the “Before He Cheats” singer wasn’t the long filming hours or the critiques—it was the rejection.
“I think for her, the toughest part was saying ‘No.’ It took her about halfway through her first season,” Richie shared. “And I get it, we’re here to not tear them down, but to encourage. But at the same time, not to lie to them. It’s a great balancing act.”
The “Mom” of the Group
While the show has seen its fair share of “scare you to death” judges in the past, Richie says the current panel—which includes country star Luke Bryan—focuses on a more nurturing approach. He describes -year-old Underwood as a “sweetheart” who brings a unique maternal energy to the competition.
“They sometimes need mom, dad and the cousin and the uncle before they need somebody with an authoritative scare,” Richie explained. “Carrie is just a mom with a musical degree. It’s so much fun.”
What Happens When the Cameras Stop?
One of the most relatable moments of Carrie’s transition to the judges’ table was her realization that the judges are just as chatty as the fans at home. Richie recalled a funny moment from Carrie’s first year when the reality of the job finally set in.
“I remember the first year, she kept saying, ‘Oh, my God. This is what it’s like,'” Richie quipped. “And then she said, ‘Did they talk about me like we’re talking about them when the cameras go off?’ And we said, ‘Yeah,’ because we have a little sidelines as far as little opinions before the camera comes back on.”
This peek behind the curtain has sparked a wave of fan responses on X and Instagram, with viewers loving the idea of Richie, Bryan, and Underwood gossiping during commercial breaks.
The Power of “She’s Been Here Before”
As Season heats up, the remaining contestants—Chris Tungseth, Hannah Harper, Braden Rumfelt, Keyla Richardson, and Jordan McCullough—are feeling the pressure. But having a Season winner like Underwood in their corner is a total game-changer.
Richie admitted that Carrie brings a “dynamic that Luke and I don’t know anything about called, ‘She’s been here before.’ She knows the pressure [and] the anxiety.”
The contestants agree. Hannah Harper noted that even when Underwood’s feedback is tough, it comes from a place of experience. “She’s lived it so she can relate to us in that way,” Harper said. “She always has an encouraging word, even if it does push us to be better.”
Keyla Richardson added that receiving a compliment from a “mega famous” superstar who was once in their shoes is a massive confidence boost. “When she gives us compliments… I take it in because she knows how it is. I really respect that.”
With the semi-finals set for Monday, May , and the grand finale on May , the “Idol” family is tighter than ever. While Carrie may have struggled to say “no” at first, Richie says the trio is now a “dynamic” force that makes the “grind” of show business easy.
“I love them,” Richie said of his costars. “Because it’s what we say on camera, and it’s fun listening to what they say off camera.”
