Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry as American Idol Judge

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In the realm of American Idol, few contestants have managed to capture hearts and charts quite like our beloved alums Maddie Poppe, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Gabby Barrett, and Cade Foehner. These talented individuals, each with their unique voices and stories, have navigated the highs and lows of fame, love, and parenthood in ways that are nothing short of extraordinary.

Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have a new member joining their American Idol judges’ table.

According to various sources, Carrie Underwood is set to take over from Katy Perry as a judge on the reality TV show competition for its upcoming season 25.

TopMob News has reached out to ABC and Carrie’s rep for comment.

Carrie, a former guest mentor on the show, is now officially part of the team, a role she takes up 19 years after winning the competition herself. She edged out Bo Bice to claim the title of ‘American Idol’ during season four in 2005.

Indeed, the woman hailing from Oklahoma, mother to sons Isaiah (age 9) and Jacob (age 5), alongside her partner Mike Fisher, has openly acknowledged that the reality show significantly influenced the course of her life’s journey.

She shared with the Must Watch Show in May 2022 that she absorbed an enormous amount of knowledge, and a significant portion of it continues to be relevant to her work today. Essentially, it served as a star’s intense training period, and she was eager to learn everything she could. Needless to say, this experience played a crucial role in kick-starting her career.

Prior to Carrie’s announcement, the Idol team, including Katy, weighed in on her replacement.

She shared with TopMob News in April that when Jelly Roll appeared on the show, he was absolutely unhinged. In fact, she was so swayed by whatever he said that he could have run for president, become her pastor, or even convinced her to return to church – all for him. Essentially, he had the power to sell her anything.

Katy went on saying, “I truly adore him.” She added, “It would be fantastic if any of these men, together with Jelly, appeared on our show. By the way, Jelly, I really appreciate you too!”

Regardless of who steps into the role, she explained, they need to give contestants their honest thoughts.

She also mentioned, “I’m looking for an honest person,” implying someone who isn’t shy about speaking truth, but does so tactfully and respectfully.

During her time on American Idol, Katy faced being subjected to uninvited criticism on social media.

She shared with TopMob that it can sometimes be the case, particularly for women who express opinions or take leadership roles, they may be unfairly labeled as “Bossy” or “B-I-T-C-H”, which is often used to describe someone who is self-assured and follows their instincts.

Curious about where your beloved “American Idol” contestants are now? Let’s see what they’re doing today!

Since appearing on the first season of American Idol in 2002, the mother of River and Remy has made significant strides in her career. A New York resident, she has amassed three Grammy Awards (with her latest album, Chemistry, nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2024 Grammys), achieved three No. 1 hits, served as a judge on NBC’s The Voice, and currently hosts her own successful daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.

As a devoted follower looking back, I recall that the runner-up from season two made a significant double announcement in September 2008. He disclosed the birth of his son named Parker, who came into this world with music producer Jaymes Foster. This joyous event prompted him to step out of the closet, as he reasoned, “I can’t raise a child and teach him to lie or hide things. At the same time, I don’t ever want to create an environment where it’s not acceptable for him to be true to himself, no matter what.”

Following his triumph in season two of “Idol,” Ruben earned a Grammy nomination and put out several hit albums. In 2013, the artist appeared on “The Biggest Loser” and soon garnered a loyal fanbase. Despite being eliminated twice, he gained meaningful insights from the show. His friendship with Clay endured, but it was his wife, Kristin, who entered his life in later years. Together, they welcomed their second child in 2024.

Reflecting on my journey, I can honestly say that each and every step has been a valuable lesson. As the season three champion, I’ve learned that life isn’t always smooth sailing; there are falls, but they’re just opportunities to rise again stronger. This wisdom was something I shared with TopMob News last December.

Despite not winning season three, her musical talents certainly shone through: She received an Oscar in 2006 for “Dreamgirls,” followed by a Grammy in 2017 for the adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical. Additionally, she served as a judge on “The Voice.” Now, as the mother of David (age 14), her latest endeavor is launching her own self-titled talk show.

Starting from her debut on the American Idol stage, Underwood firmly established herself as a pop culture icon. Indeed, she not only emerged victorious in season four but has also reigned supreme as the queen of country music.

Four years after coming close to winning, this individual is now a married father of four – three sons and a daughter. In spite of facing significant health issues back in 2006, the talented Southern rock musician has put out three successful albums since his time on American Idol.

Sporting an impressively large mane and a booming voice that left a lasting impression with his energetic performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (a moment we won’t soon forget from season four), Constantine was ideally suited for the role in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” earning him a Tony nomination.

Following his win in season five, the silver fox’s self-titled album achieved platinum status and he appeared on Broadway in Grease. More recently, he has transitioned from music to television, hosting a program called State-Plate, which emphasizes farm-to-table dining. Despite this shift, he continues to prioritize his initial passion, as he has scheduled tour dates for January 2024.

Prior to the rise of Bieber mania, there existed McPheever, which played a significant role in securing Katharine various singing and acting jobs, including her roles in the Broadway-inspired show ‘Smash’ and the drama series ‘Scorpion’. Married to David Foster since 2019, she is now a mother to their musically-talented son Rennie. In an interview with TopMob News, Katharine expressed her hope that Rennie would emulate his father by becoming proficient in various musical instruments. Although they are not pressuring him at his young age of 2 and a half, she believes he is showing promising signs of following in his dad’s footsteps in music.

Following his stint on “American Idol” during season five, the artist who scored a hit with “Wait for You”, relocated to Angola. There, he collaborated with former “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi to increase awareness about Malaria No More. In addition, Elliott gained attention in 2010 when he survived Chile’s earthquake and tweeted about the event. Musically active to this day, he is a father of three-year-old Camilla, sharing parental duties with Karen Cruz.

Although the country artist came in sixth place during the fifth season of American Idol, she has since appeared in Hallmark’s Christmas in Graceland and received three Daytime Emmy nominations for her show Pickler & Ben. Tragically, her husband Kyle Jacobs took his own life in February 2023. Since then, she has been reminiscing about their time together. In an interview with People published in August, she shared a valuable lesson that her husband taught her: during a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, “do nothing, just be still.” True to his advice, she has chosen to remain calm in the face of adversity.

2007 saw the young winner of season six ignite a flame with her performances. Her Battlefield tour traveled across 35 American cities, and she further expanded her horizons by debuting on Broadway in 2010, playing a role in the musical In the Heights. Since then, she has experienced continued success and good fortune, including giving birth to her first child with husband Dana Isaiah in May of 2018. Over time, she returned to Idol and competed on the 31st season of Dancing With the Stars.

In simple terms, the season seven winner’s popular song “Time of My Life” symbolizes his singing achievements, but it could also refer to his activities beyond the stage. In 2010, he traveled to Ethiopia for the United Nations to aid women empowerment initiatives. He also participated in the Race for Hope in D.C., fundraising for brain cancer research, in memory of his late brother Adam, who passed away from the disease in 2009. The musician, now married to Racheal Stump since 2015, continues to tour and released a new single titled “TABOS” in 2022.

After ending up second behind his fellow David during season seven, the singer undertook a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. Upon his return in 2014, he has consistently continued with his performances. In June 2021, he publicly identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Reflecting on this journey, he said, “It’s been a beautiful experience learning to accept myself,” sharing on Instagram in October that he hopes his life can inspire others to embrace themselves too.

Despite being overshadowed in media attention by his runner-up, Adam Lambert, the season eight champion has quietly achieved success with his self-titled second album. This record was released in November 2009 and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. One of its tracks, “I Need to Know,” was showcased on an episode of The Vampire Diaries.

If we were awarding fame, the debatable second place from the eighth season would be an undisputed champion. Ever since his appearance on the reality show, he’s launched numerous albums, led tours, accumulated countless nominations (including a Grammy recognition), emulated Freddie Mercury as the lead vocalist for Queen, and even acted in Fox’s reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also temporarily judged on Idol, opened the 2019 Oscars with a rendition of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” and has even stepped in as a guest judge on Idol.

Following the conclusion of American Idol’s eighth season, I found myself walking down the aisle with Leyicet Peralta in 2012. Now, we are a family of six, blessed with four beautiful children together.

Known for earning three Grammy nominations, he launched a Christian music album entitled “Jesus People” in the year 2021. In addition to his musical career, he’s also the proprietor of the eyewear brand called Danny Gokey Eyewear.

Following my victory in American Idol’s ninth season and making it to the top 10 finalists’ summer tour in 2010, I embarked on my solo music journey. In 2012, I found love with model-actress Jonna Walsh whom I met during the filming of my debut music video post-Idol. Now, as a thriving singer-songwriter, my tunes regularly grace shows like The Walking Dead.

In season nine, the rocker with a likeness to Janis Joplin, who came second to Lee DeWyze, tied the knot with musician Brian Walker. Her first album, “Farmer’s Daughter”, was released in December 2010. Unfortunately, she lost her record deal when RCA dismantled Arista, J Records, and Jive Records. However, she made her acting debut on ABC’s second season of “Body of Proof”. In May 2013, she parted ways with her husband. Subsequently, she shared with The Boot that her second album titled “All That For This” represented the next phase of her life. Since then, she has released albums such as “Alive” in 2017 and “HitchHiker” in 2022, being a mom of two throughout this journey.

The season 10 winner was the first Idol champ since Ruben to have his first album, Clear as Day, debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He was named New Artist of the Year at the 2011 American Country Awards and sang the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series that same year. In June 2018, the “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes” singer married longtime girlfriend Gabi Dugal. They welcomed son Avery in October 2022. 

As a longtime fan of country music, I have been following the impressive career of Lauren Alaina for quite some time now. From her humble beginnings on American Idol to her triumphant rise in the country music scene, Lauren has consistently shown resilience and talent that is truly inspiring.

The season 10 contestant only finished sixth—and that was partly because the judges used their one save of the season five weeks beforehand—but he was a cult fave. He performed on the Idols Live tour, cut a cover of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with fellow finalist (and rumored flame) Haley Reinhart, and ultimately signed with jazz label Concord.

His self-titled debut album was released in 2012, and was followed by 2018’s I Put A Spell On You and 2019’s Jazz. 

In season 10, Allen was eliminated prior to the live voting rounds, but he has since achieved two straight No. 1 hits with “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To,” which earned him the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year in 2021.

In April 2023, Allen and his wife Alexis announced they were expecting their third child while also announcing the end of their two-year marriage. However, just a month later, Allen was accused of sexual assault and abuse by his former manager in a lawsuit. While he confessed to infidelity and apologized to Alexis for embarrassing her with his affair, he denied the sexual misconduct allegations, claiming that his relationship with his former manager was consensual.

Shortly after the birth of their son, Cohen Ace James, in September, the couple announced they were working on reconciling.

Following my triumphant win in Season 11, I soared to the pinnacle of music charts with my heartwarming hit single, “Home.” This tune not only resonated with audiences worldwide but also served as the anthem for NBC’s coverage of the exhilarating 2012 Summer Olympics. Fast forward to June this year, I unveiled my newest album, Drift Back, to much acclaim.

The season 16 winner hinted to TopMob News before the release of her album “Whirlwind” in 2019, a year following her “Idol” win, that there is a variety of diverse songs on the album. She expressed difficulty choosing one specific sound as she adores them all and finds it challenging to stay within one genre. Interestingly, her latest single from 2023, “SOS I’m In Love,” has a clear perspective. She is also disclosing her romantic relationship with musician Gabe Burdulis after her breakup with season 16 runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson.

After finishing as the first runner-up during season 16, the singer has dedicated himself to creating new music and seizing the benefits that come with being featured on ABC’s series. In an interview with TopMob News, Caleb Lee revealed, “I’ve always had a passion for music and dreamt of becoming an artist. However, my experience in the entertainment industry opened my eyes to so many valuable lessons. I even had the privilege of attending Luke Bryan’s final show for his tour and performing a song alongside him.” His latest album, titled “Southern Galactic,” was released in November.

Following her third-place finish on season 16 of American Idol, the country singer known as “I Hope” dedicated herself to completing her album. She expressed enthusiasm about performing at Stagecoach and touring with Brad Paisley, which she described as the perfect culmination of everything. She shared this excitement with TopMob News, stating, “It’s amazing to go on tour with him.”

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2024-08-01 00:21