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Katy Perry has something to say about Carrie Underwood replacing her as a judge on American Idol.
“She was born on that show. I think she knows how to steer it,” Perry, 40, told People in an interview published on Thursday, January 30, referring to Underwood’s season 4 win. “She actually truly knows… What it feels like to be in their shoes. We could only metaphorically feel that as judges.”
Underwood will make her debut as a judge on season 23 of American Idol, which premieres on March 9. The “Before He Cheats” artist — who has faced significant backlash for her decision to perform at President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this month — joined judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for the new season of the hit singing competition.
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Despite Perry’s praise, some longtime viewers are boycotting the show following Underwood’s set at Trump’s inauguration — and they wasted no time in sharing their thoughts in the comments section of the trailer for Season 23, with many blatantly stating that despite tuning into every season since 2002, they will no longer watch due to Underwood’s new role. (Others, meanwhile, have stated that they will be watching for the first time solely because of the Grammy winner.)
In the one-minute trailer, Underwood gets visibly emotional while speaking to a contestant. “Even though this was about your son,” she said, while both she and the contestant got teary-eyed, “Every person can fill in that memory.” Another clip shows the “Jesus Take the Wheel” singer wiping away tears while Richie and Bryan give her a hug.
Perry, for her part, exited the show last year after seven seasons as a judge, citing her desire to “make space for other things” in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in April 2024. She went on to release her seventh album, 143, and will head out on a world tour in support of the record starting this April.
Season 23 of American Idol premieres March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.