The American Idol crew was delighted with Carrie Underwood’s presence, praising her as a “Godsend” after a “chaotic” time with Katy Perry on the judging panel.
According to insiders, her appearance was like a “ray of sunshine,” injecting vital optimism and expertise into the judging panel.
Underwood has been described as a valuable asset to the show, which has finished filming auditions across the country in preparation for its March 9 premiere.
They told The Sun, “Rather than being cliché, it really feels like a breath of fresh air amid turbulent times with certain personalities on screen.”
They continued: “I hate to sound cheesy but it’s honestly been like a ray of sunshine after a rough and tumble few years with some on-camera talent.”
“Quite frankly, everyone on the crew, the suits on set, all the producers – really everyone is really much happier and more comfortable now with Carrie on the judging panel.” .”
The insider added that from the beginning, it was clear that Perry stood out from the rest of the “Idol” team. Her presence seemed to disrupt the harmonious dynamic that the others shared, leaving a feeling of unease in the air.
The insider revealed: “Even with Luke and Lionel, things got better but I never felt right. Carrie is very professional and natural.”
“She’s been close to Luke for many years, knows and loves Ryan, and she’s known many of the producers over the years. She’s very successful and has a good relationship with Lionel.”
The 40-year-old “Teenage Dream” hitmaker decided to leave American Idol in February to focus on her music career.
ABC immediately announced that the country singer would serve as a judge exactly two decades after winning season 4 in 2005.
Following this transition, Perry released her most recent album, “Lifetimes”, a few months later.
During her time on the reality show, the “Fireworks” singer was caught up in a number of controversies, including when she kissed a younger contestant, who later expressed feeling “uncomfortable” about interaction and accusations of “mom shaming” against a female contestant. in auditions.
According to the insider, the general consensus among the showrunners is that “they 100% prefer working with Carrie over Katy.”
“Once audiences see this new season, I think they will feel the same way. Carrie is a combination of Paula and Simon.”
The insider continued: “She leads with Paula’s kindness and is so sweet and indulgent to these contestants but she’s not afraid to give constructive feedback and honestly, it’s like Simon, when she needs it.”
Reflecting back on Underwood’s early days, the insider shared that this season was especially emotional for her, as she began her journey on that very set.
“Because the judges were different from when she was on the show, she wasn’t really impressed until she saw Ryan mingling with the contestants getting ready to audition because it was her, it was Carrie not too long ago and now she’s on the other side of the table.”
“A lot of tears were shed, Carrie was very emotional.”
Tags Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, American Idol