American Idolisn’t the same without Katy Perry, and it seems that retooling the show with Carrie Underwood as a judge may have ruined it. When Katy leftAmerican Idolafter seven seasons to focus on her own career,Carrie seemed like the perfect choice to take her place at the judging table next to Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. She wonAmerican Idolseason 4 in 2005, and she then went on to become a global music superstar.
However, throughoutAmerican Idolseason 23so far, something has felt off, and it might be becauseCarrie is so different from Katy. The vibe of the show has now changed. Although Carrie is doing well as a judge, showcasing her funny personality and giving productive feedback to the contestants, Katy’s absence is greatly felt. Here’s why, even though it seemed like an ideal decision at first, casting Carrie might’ve ruinedAmerican Idol.

Carrie Underwood Isn’t As Edgy As Katy Perry
Katy Brought An Element Of Surprise To Every Episode
One of the best things about Katy was that she was edgy, andshe brought an element of unpredictability to everyAmerican Idolepisode. Her outrageous antics kept everyone laughing and wondering what she’d do next. From Katy and Luke’s impromptu song about queso, to him taping her pants closed when they ripped during Hollywood Week, to her falling out of her chair while dressed as Ariel on Disney Night, she was always full of surprises.
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WhileCarrie has been showing her comedic side onAmerican Idol, such as when she sang heavy metal music with contestant Insite and clog danced with Carsen Webb, she’s still a predictable judge. She does a great job, but there’s no chance that she’s going to participate in a moo-off like Katy did with Luke when they behaved like cows and tried to make each other laugh. Carrie is doing a fine job as anAmerican Idoljudge, but,without Katy, there’s a lack of excitement during the show that sometimes makes it boring to watch.

No New American Idol Contestant Can Ever Compare To Carrie
Carrie Is One Of the Greatest Winners Of All-Time
As theAmerican Idolseason 23 contestants auditioned,many of them sang Carrie’s songs. Although some of them did good jobs with her music, having her sitting right there as they sang was a reminder that no one can ever compare to her.Carrie’s a gifted singer with a phenomenal voice and star quality. It almost seems pointless for a contestant to audition with her song because they’ll never be able to compete with her.
Carrie is also a reminder thatthe ABC era ofAmerican Idolhasn’t produced a superstar from its winners. Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Just Sam, Chayce Beckham, Noah Thompson, Iam Tongi, and Abi Carter are allAmerican Idolwinners, but they haven’t achieved anywhere near the success that Carrie has. Bringing Carrie intoAmerican Idolat this point is a constant reminder that the show is well past its prime, and, while it’s still entertaining, it can never recreate the excitement or superstars that it generated back in its heyday.

American Idol Has Lost Its Way
Its Original Goal Was To Find A Pop Superstar
WhenAmerican Idolfirst premiered, its goal was to find the next pop superstar. In fact, in the U.K., the series was calledPop Idol. During season 1, the show succeeded in creatingone of the greatest pop stars of all-time, Kelly Clarkson. However, since then, there’s been a shift, especially towards the country music genre. With the addition of Carrie to the judging panel,there have been more country stars than ever auditioning for the show.
In an interview withBillboard, Luke shared that Carrie has also had an influence onAmerican Idolbecauseshe’s inspired the singers to perform more gospel music. Carrie released the gospel album,My Savior, in 2021, and has been very vocal about her strong faith over the years. While it’s inspiring to see, it’s a shift inAmerican Idolthat will most likely lead to the show not producing another Top 40 radio superstar. Although this didn’t happen when Katy was a judge either, at least she was a pop star who brought that element to the show.
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American Idolhas changed since Carrie became a judge, and it’s not the same without Katy. Although Carrie seemed like the perfect choice to replace Katy at first, the way that the show has been retooled with her at the judging table is ruining its essence.Carrie has the potential to be a greatAmerican Idoljudge, and, hopefully, the show will improve as season 23 continues.
American Idolairs Sundays and Mondays on ABC.
American Idol
Cast
American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international “Idol” brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they’d go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America’s next musical idol.