“I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully, you know, I can be very constructive and encouraging,” singer and former AmIdol winner says
Even though she ascended the ranks of American Idol during the era of Simon Cowell’s scabrous invective, Carrie Underwood promises to be a big softie when she joins Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judging panel for season 23. When Good Morning America asked on Friday if she had it in her to deliver harsh criticism, she rejoined with a folksy, “Oh, gosh no.” And she added, “Just ask my kids, I feel like I’m not too … .” She was looking offstage and didn’t finish her thought (and her children were unavailable for comment.)
Nearly 20 years after winning Season Four of the competition, Underwood is the first champ to return to the show as a judge in its history. She’s replacing Katy Perry, who exited the show after seven seasons.
The prodigal told Good Morning America her return “feels like home,” especially since she has seen familiar faces from her season still working there. She also said that her experience of winning and subsequently becoming not just an American idol but a global superstar will give her perspective that she hopes to pass on to hopeful contestants. “I feel like being on both sides of the coin I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help and kind of a different [perspective],” she said.
That said, she promised fair assessments of people’s singing talents. “I can’t lie,” Underwood told the TV hosts. “I just can’t. You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully, you know, I can be very constructive and encouraging.”
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That just means that viewers should expect a little less, “That’s a no for me, dawg,” and a whole lot more “Well, bless your heart.”
She also performed “Last Name” on the show.
