Carrie Underwood is heading back to "American Idol."
The "Idol" Season 4 winner is expected to join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as a judge on Season 23, nearly 20 years after the country singer launched her music career on the singing competition show.
Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news, which was first reported by TMZ. "Good Morning America" is expected to announce Underwood's hiring on Thursday, and the "Before He Cheats" singer is slated to perform at “GMA's” Summer Concert Series Friday.
Underwood will be the first "Idol" alum to become a judge. She replaces Katy Perry, who bowed out after seven seasons on the judges' panel. Perry announced in February that she was leaving at the end of Season 22 to "go and see the world and maybe bring new music."
Earlier this month, she released her latest single "Woman's World" and an accompanying music video ahead of her upcoming album "143" – the first since "Smile" released in August 2020.
The most recent "American Idol" season concluded in May, with 22-year-old Abi Carter of Indio, California, taking home the win.
Carrie Underwood is one of 'American Idol's' most successful alumni
Underwood, 41, has reigned as one of "Idol's" most successful alumni since it first aired in 2002 on Fox. In 2005, she took home the win when the show still had its original judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
She now boasts eight Grammy wins, having brought home her first win nearly two years after winning "Idol." In 2007, she dominated the best new artist category and earned a trophy for best female vocal country performance for "Jesus, Take the Wheel." She won best country song two years in a row, with "Jesus, take The Wheel" in 2007 and "Before He Cheats" in 2008.
Underwood has released nine records and counts seven headlining tours (and a Las Vegas residency) to date. She's returned to her "Idol" home multiple times over the years, including as a Season 16 mentor.
Another prominent alumna, Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, headed to NBC in 2018 to be a coach on the rival singing show "The Voice." She found a home there from Season 14 through Season 21 and made a return on Season 23 in 2023.
The three-time Grammy winner has also hosted the Daytime Emmy-winning "Kelly Clarkson Show" since 2019.
What Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan want in a new 'American Idol' judge
Speaking with media outlets, including USA TODAY, following the finale taping on May 19, Richie admitted, "This is bittersweet because we're going to lose one of the originators, if you will."
The trio has led the show alongside host Ryan Seacrest since "Idol" moved to ABC in 2018.
He added, "I'm going to miss this group. Katy is going to be missed."
The three judges opened up about the characteristics Perry's replacement must have. "You've got to bring your character," Richie said. "Be who you are. Katy's Katy. It's like singing a Whitney Houston song. Don't try to sing it like Whitney; interpret it."
The next judge has to have "personality," a "quirk" and the ability to "tolerate two crazy brothers like me and Luke," he said.
Richie added, "There's a lot of artists out there that can sing, but to join a very successful team you've gotta be confident of your space. You know who you are and you'll last forever here. … It's got to be somebody that identifies with the young culture."
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Though she had just left the "Idol" set for the final time hours prior, Perry didn't shy away from talking about the person taking her job.
"The qualities I hope for are someone that is honest," she said. "Someone that is constructive with their words. Someone that is leading with their heart – heart-centered and less ego – and isn't afraid to speak their mind and isn't afraid if sometimes that's polarizing, isn't afraid of negative comments, isn't afraid of getting booed just as long as they are speaking their mind and true to themselves.”
