American Idolseason 23 was a difficult run, especially for new judgeCarrie Underwood, who I think is likely afraid to return for the next season of the seriesafter heated fan backlash. ThroughoutAmerican Idolseason 23, Carrie faced scrutiny that was both warranted and unwarranted. Viewers struggled to understand how Carrie fit into the judging role, especially after Katy Perry’s big personality left a larger hole than she was able to fill. While Carrie’s a previousAmerican Idolwinner, it seemed that she didn’t anticipate how much would go into judging the competition she once ran away with.
Carrie struggling through her time onAmerican Idolwasn’t her fault alone, but the blame fell on her quickly. While her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have been part of the show since the series reboot in 2018, the long-time judges didn’t appear to help her ease into her new role, and there were reports that the trio didn’t have a great dynamic. Despite knowing that things were going to be rough during the transition,Carrie’s time as a judge played worsethan expected.I’d be afraid to come back, too, if I’d faced the reception Carrie did.
Carrie’s First American Idol Season Wasn’t Ideal
She Faced A Ton Of Backlash
AlthoughIdolused to welcome new judges almost seasonally after its first stretch of seasons, the reboot had the same trio of judges from the start untilKaty’s departure afterAmerican Idolseason 22. Despite the fact that viewers knew Katy was going to be leaving the show, it was a tough blow to longtime fans of the series who had grown to enjoy her quirky, over-the-top style. Katy’s ability to be a fun judge who gave valuable feedback was impressive, andwhen Carrie stepped into the role, it was clear she was going to need to make an impression.
Unfortunately,Carrie’s first season judgingAmerican Idolbecame less of a positive experience than anticipated. As the first former winner to join theAmerican Idoljudge’s panel,Carrieseemed like she would have a different level of knowledge than the others, but she had a hard time figuring out who she was as a judge. Throughout the season,Carrie was scrutinized by viewerswho didn’t enjoy the way she was presenting herself. Others called her out for allegedly micro-aggressive behavior to Lionel and contestants of color, while some simply didn’t enjoy the energy she brought toAmerican Idolseason 23.
Carrie’s Judging Style Never Fully Developed
She Wasn’t Sure How To Critique
While Carrie seemed like she was getting off to the right foot in the first episodes of the season and developing her voice as a judge,it quickly became clear that she didn’t know how to keep herself consistent. In some moments, Carrie felt like she was going to be a tough judge, giving feedback on technical issues with the performances and pointing out small mistakes to the contestants.Carrie appeared to be holding the contestants accountablefor things that the others may have let slide, or at least left out of their public critique onAmerican Idol’slive shows.
In other moments, however, it felt likeCarrie was potentially a bit too softto be a judge. From moments where she overstepped her boundaries to try and give empowering advice to a young mother to other moments where she let her emotions lead her critiques, Carrie seemed like she wasn’t able to give technical criticisms when they needed to be said. With Carrie toeing the line between soft and serious, it was clear throughout the season thatshe didn’t define her voice or who she was as anIdoljudge. Carrie’s voice went undeveloped, and may stay that way.
Carrie’s Shared A Lot Of Ambiguous News About Next Season
She Has Yet To Confirm She’ll Return
AfterAmerican Idolseason 23 came to a close, the backlash over Carrie’s performances was still louder than usual, or at least louder than it had been in past seasons of the series once the winner was crowned. When asked about whether or not she’d be returning toIdol,Carrie didn’t give a clear answer. While it’s possible she doesn’t have a real answer,Carrie’s inconsistencies in her answers were more concerning than the fact that she didn’t provide any solid direction. Carrie didn’t sound like she was interested in returning, which was more of a concern than anything concrete.
While Carrie was open about the fact thatIdolwas a new experience for her, the criticisms she faced throughout the season were harsh. I will admit I’m not entirely certain what kind of critique Carrie has faced in the music industry for her past releases, butI feel certain that the backlash she received appearing onIdolwas a lot worse than the criticism she’s faced as a country artist.WhileCarrie’s music has certainly been criticized, the fact that she was being critiqued on a personal level was likely alarming enough to keep her uncertain about another season.
While I’m not sure if I want to see her back, I thinkCarrie’s likely afraid about the idea of returningtoAmerican Idolfor another season because of how much backlash she faced after her first time on the show in a judging role. Though Carrie had some great moments throughoutAmerican Idolseason 23 and revisited her time as a contestant throughout the season, it doesn’t seem like something she’d want to put herself through again. With the end of the season appearing to be a struggle for Carrie,I don’t think a return is in the cards.
Though I don’t know what the future holds, if I were in Carrie’s position, I wouldn’t want to come back for another run at the judge’s panel, either. Getting blamed for a lot of the issues onAmerican Idolseason 23 couldn’t have been easy, and unless there are substantial changes coming toAmerican Idolseason 24, I don’t think it would be worth it to put herself in the line of fire. Carrie may not have been the bestAmerican Idoljudge there’s ever been, buther unique point of view was worth a try on this season’s panel.
