Katy Perry’s Rumored ‘American Idol’ Replacement Finally Revealed — And It’s A Former Winner

With Katy Perry set to exit American Idol after seven seasons on the show, her replacement has finally been announced. And it’s none other than lauded country music superstar Carrie Underwood!

Underwood, who launched her own career on Idol after winning Season 4 in 2005, will be joining judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie when the show returns for Season 23 next spring.

The announcement was shared on Good Morning America with a special message from Underwood herself.

“I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show,” she said of her time on the series. “I’m proud of everything that I was able to accomplish on the show and I’m so proud of everything that I’ve accomplished since.”

The decision comes as a surprise considering Bryan recently teased that Pink, Miley Cyrus and Meghan Trainor were possibly in the running for Perry’s spot. But Underwood is a fitting match for the show, as she’s returned several times throughout the years to perform and mentor contestants.

With Underwood’s return, this season marks the first time an Idol winner has served as an official judge on the show.

She also remains one of the show’s most successful singers with eight Grammy wins under her belt and more than 85 million records sold worldwide.

Decider reached out to Underwood’s reps for comment.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by American Idol (@americanidol)

Underwood will be replacing Perry, who announced earlier this year that she was leaving the show to focus on her own music.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol,” she revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live in February. “I mean, I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat, you what I’m saying, Jimmy?”

But Perry’s exit occurred after a particularly tumultuous few seasons in which she faced harsh viewer criticism. After Season 21, reports claimed she was considering leaving the show because she allegedly felt like she had been “thrown under the bus by producers” whom she thought went out of their way to make her look like the “nasty judge.”

That season was particularly controversial for the “Hot N Cold” singer; she was booed by the live audience, accused of mom-shaming a 25-year-old mother of three, and accused of inflicting “psychological warfare” on contestants, all within weeks of each other.

A premiere date for American Idol Season 23 has not yet been announced but it is expected to air in spring 2025. Auditions begin Aug. 12.