Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie standing on stage and looking out to the audience during 'American Idol' Season 23

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‘American Idol’ Fans Can’t Stand Carrie Underwood’s Annoying Judging Habit

'American Idol' fans can't seem to get past one of Carrie Underwood's annoying habits as a judge in season 23. Here's what she's doing to tick fans off.

by Lauren Weiler

Published on April 30, 2025

3 min read

‘American Idol’ Season 23 judge Carrie Underwood annoys fans with 1 habit

Carrie Underwood went on to become one of the most successful American Idol winners. She’s renowned throughout the country music world for her incredible voice and poignant lyrics. Now, she’s taking the reality TV singing competition world by storm as the new judge for American Idol Season 23.

Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told TheWrap that “all roads led to Carrie” when deciding who would replace Katy Perry. “It just made so much sense to put [Carrie] in there, because she was bringing something new to the table that we never had before,” Michaels Wolflick said. “That firsthand experience is something that any other judge who’s ever been on the show can talk for years about what it’s like to stand on the oval, though they don’t know.”

Fans were excited to see Underwood back on the show that gave her monumental fame. However, some viewers aren’t happy with one of Underwood’s habits. Underwood often sings along with the contestants during their songs, and some fans find that her voice can be overpowering.

“I do think Carrie is a good addition …,” one fan wrote on Reddit, “but I can’t stand how she sings along with the songs. I think if I were the contestant, that would throw me off to see her lip syncing right back at me.”

Another fan agreed. “I don’t mind it now during the performances because at least there’s a band,” they commented. “It was annoying during auditions because at times she was singing louder than the contestants.”

Other viewers think the contestants should grow accustomed to watching others sing along to their songs if they want to perform for a living.

“I feel like, if I were a contestant, I would feel better looking out to the crowd and seeing her having fun, singing along, and rocking out to my performance than looking out and seeing the judges looking serious and unmoved,” a fan countered.

Some viewers think Carrie Underwood puts the focus back on the contestants

American Idol viewers had divided opinions on Katy Perry as a judge. Perry wasn’t scared to express herself to the fullest, often making a public spectacle on the show. However, in American Idol Season 23, Carrie Underwood has all of her attention on the contestants, and she allows Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to shine alongside her.

“Carrie gives her full attention to the contestants while Katy was thinking about how to make it about herself,” a fan on Reddit said.

“I agree, and I do love Katy, but I almost feel like with Carrie, we are also seeing more of Luke and Lionel’s personalities this season, too,” another fan noted. “Katy was kind of front and center, and now, it feels like the judges are more evenly spread out.”

Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan seem to enjoy the country singer as an ‘American Idol’ judge

American Idol Season 23 fans were curious to see the dynamic between Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood. Katy Perry commanded the most attention as a judge. While Richie and Bryan loved Perry’s eccentric behavior, they also adore Underwood, even giving her the nickname “Jukebox Carrie” thanks to her ability to know and sing any song.

“It’s amazing what she has up in that little jukebox head of hers,” Richie said. “I have never met anyone like that.”

However, Richie does have one complaint about Underwood. While on Good Morning America, he claimed Underwood is “too nice” to the contestants. “She’s always saying, ‘But he’s so cute,'” he added.

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