(Disney/Connie Chornuk) CARRIE UNDERWOOD (Photo by Connie Chornuk/Disney via Getty Images)
Carrie Underwood is making it clear she has no plans to sugarcoat her feedback on American Idol and she’s not losing any sleep over the audience’s reaction to it either.
In a recent episode of the American Idol podcast, host Danielle Fishel sat down with all three judges and brought up the backlash Underwood had received for her candid criticism of contestants. Fishel noted that the 43-year-old singer had praised certain performances while also pointing out weaker moments and had been booed by the studio audience for doing so.
Underwood’s response was short and unapologetic.
“I don’t care,” she quipped.
Her fellow judge Luke Bryan acknowledged how difficult the judging role can be, noting the balance required between honesty and impact. “It’s tough to do as a judge. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself and you don’t want to say something that’s going to tank them in the competition,” Bryan said, adding, “It’s just something that they need to be thinking about if they go forward.”
Underwood then explained the reasoning behind her approach, tracing it back to her own experience as a viewer of the show.
“I can’t lie, I’m a terrible liar,” she said. “As a fan of the show, if there was ever somebody that kind of had an off night and everybody’s like, ‘Oh my God that’s so great.’ I’m sitting at home being like, ‘What? Liars!’ You want them to pay attention to those things going forward.”
She was also quick to acknowledge the talent in the room. “They’re obviously talented or they wouldn’t be here right now,” she added.
The comments follow a particularly charged moment during the season when contestant Mor chose to perform an original song without a backing band. Underwood did not hold back, and when she sensed the boos coming, she leaned into it.
“I feel you guys are gonna boo me,” she told the audience. “It’s coming just bring it on. I love it. Your boos are feeding me.”
She went on to offer her critique, calling the decision to sideline the band a missed opportunity. “In a room like this, for you to bring an original song with that incredible band sitting behind you twiddling their thumbs… I feel like it was just a missed opportunity,” Underwood said, before balancing it with praise. “I love your voice. I love you. But I loved being in an intimate room like that with you and listening to you tell your story. I feel like you took a risk here and it paid off.”
As the audience continued to voice their disapproval, Bryan stepped in to remind them exactly who they were dealing with. “She only won this,” he said, pointing to Underwood’s own 2005 American Idol victory. “She knows.”
