Check out a side-by-side clip showcasing Carrie Underwood’s journey from winning American Idol to becoming a judge on the show.
By Website Content Manager
Season 23 of American Idol is set to premiere on March 9, 2025.
Carrie Underwood is experiencing an emotional, full-circle moment.
In an exclusive clip premiering with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the country star reflects on her journey as she arrives at the judges’ table on American Idol — 20 years after winning the show herself.
The clip begins with a 21-year-old Underwood sitting nervously in the waiting room before her audition. The video then transitions to 41-year-old Underwood walking into the audition room as a judge.
In the flashback, Underwood is wearing her audition number, a pink top, and jeans. When asked if she’s nervous, she responds, “a little bit.”
The scene then cuts to an emotional Underwood as she walks into the current audition room and takes her seat at the judges’ table. A flashback follows, showing her joyful reaction upon learning she was “going to Hollywood.”
After taking a moment to herself, Carrie Underwood is joined at the table by fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
“I can’t believe it. Twenty years ago I was standing on a stage just like this one,” says the “Before He Cheats” singer.
“And now you’re sitting here with us,” Richie, 75, responds, while Bryan, 48, adds, “That’s the power of American Idol.”
Host Ryan Seacrest then approaches the table and asks the judges, “So, let’s change some lives together?”
“Let’s do this,” Underwood, who won the fourth season of Idol in 2005, says with a smile.
The video concludes with a sneak peek of this season’s emotional auditions, where a young woman tells Underwood that she’s her “inspiration.”
Season 23 of American Idol will premiere on Sunday, March 9, on ABC.
Carrie Underwood, the “Cowboy Casanova” singer, was announced as Katy Perry’s replacement on the reality singing competition on Good Morning America on August 1.
The announcement featured a heartwarming video, showcasing footage of Underwood traveling from her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, to audition for the show two decades ago.
She recalled, “I was at home in our small house when I saw on TV that there were auditions in St. Louis. My mom said, ‘If you want to go, I’ll take you.'”
She continued, “I went from being completely unknown to having millions of people watching the show.”
In August, Bryan offered a humorous piece of advice for the new judge during an interview with Seattle radio host Gabe Mercer.
“She might need to increase her therapist’s sessions,” Bryan joked in a TikTok shared by Mercer. “If she already has one, she’ll likely need extra sessions to handle me and Lionel.”
He added, “Maybe I should send her a thank-you. Do therapists accept gift cards? I could call her therapist and send them a voucher.”