American Idol season 23’s newest judge Carrie Underwood has been facing criticism, and even original winner Kelly Clarkson is weighing in on her abilities amid rivalry rumors. Kelly, the winner of American Idol season 1, has been one of the most successful winners in the franchise’s history. While Carrie, who went on after Kelly to win American Idol season 4, has always appeared to be cordial with her in the past, some rumors of a rivalry between the two Idol mega-stars have been brewing over the years. Throughout Carrie’s introduction to the series, Kelly has been quiet about her opinions.
The former American Idol winners have seemed to follow similar enough trajectories that they can connect and understand each other’s experiences.
According to Life & Style, an insider revealed how Kelly really feels about Carrie taking a turn behind the judge’s table during American Idol season 23, replacing Katy Perry. “This whole thing about Kelly being jealous of Carrie or competitive with her couldn’t be further from the truth,” the insider revealed, before sharing that Kelly “loves that she’s come full circle and will be an Idol judge” after winning the competition herself in the past. Kelly’s support comes with the offer to appear on her talk show any time, according to the source, which Carrie was “blown away” by.
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Although the rumors of a feud between Kelly and Carrie have been consistent, it’s clear that the original Idol winner is nothing but supportive of Carrie’s new role as an American Idol season 23 judge. As Carrie has faced backlash and criticism of her new role, it’s been up to other stars to support her in her new endeavor to show the public she’s ready and equipped to be a judge. While Kelly, who coached on The Voice from 2018 to 2023, hasn’t been back to Idol in the same capacity, she does understand Carrie’s current issues.
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Although Carrie and Kelly haven’t necessarily had a close relationship, the former American Idol winners have seemed to follow similar enough trajectories that they can connect and understand each other’s experiences. While some were concerned that Carrie’s performance as an Idol judge may not be up to par with former judge Katy, it’s clear that Kelly isn’t concerned about what Carrie can bring to the show. As a former winner, Carrie will be able to take on the pressures of being a judge with ease. Kelly’s support may not be necessary, but it surely means a lot to Carrie.
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Various people connected with American Idol have come out in recent weeks to throw their support behind Carrie as a judge, most likely to quell all the rumors and speculation, especially after the “Before He Cheats” singer caused controversy in January. A source close to Ryan Seacrest recently said that the Idol host has taken Carrie under his wing. He reportedly feels very protective of her since she got her start on the hit singing competition show. This isn’t surprising since Ryan’s role on American Idol is very much that of a supporter and cheerleader for all the contestants.
Carrie and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have started hitting the talk show circuit to promote American Idol season 23. They’ve been a united front by appearing on multiple talk shows together, which gives fans a chance to see their chemistry together ahead of the premiere on March 9. Kelly has directly spoken out before about Carrie joining Idol, and with her latest comments via an anonymous source, it’s clear that everyone involved, both directly (like Ryan and the judges) and indirectly (like Kelly as a past winner) wants to ensure smooth sailing.
American Idol is heading into uncharted territory, as this will be the first time in the ABC era there’s been a shakeup at the judges’ table. Ratings are down not just for American Idol but for most TV shows across the board, so the 2025 installment might be a make or break year. Carrie could bring more viewers in, considering she’s a superstar who got her start on Idol, or the ratings slide could continue, spurred on more by the singer’s controversy. Until the season gets underway, it’s hard to tell which way it might go.
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As Carrie takes on the newest season of American Idol as a judge, it’s clear that she’s going to be feeling a lot of nostalgia for her time competing on the show. Kelly, who openly felt similarly during her time on The Voice, revealed that the full-circle nature of Carrie’s journey was exciting to see. While it’s clear that Carrie appreciates the support from her peers, hearing that Kelly is happy about her new American Idol gig is likely something that means more to her, given their shared experiences competing on the show and rocketing to stardom afterward.
American Idol season 23 premieres Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC, then streams the following day on Hulu.
Source: Life & Style
American Idol
- Release Date
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March 11, 2018
