Carrie Underwood reunites with Ryan Seacrest and joins returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie in a newly-shared photo from American Idol on Wednesday morning (October 2).
Underwood won the competition series in 2005. She confirmed over the summer that she would return to American Idol as a judge 20 years later with a nostalgic video that relived her pre-Idol life in Checotah, Oklahoma, and her journey on the show. The Denim & Rhinestones star had since returned to the show as a mentor and as a performer. She’s taking on a role as a judge following Katy Perry’s departure.
“It’s a full-circle moment to go from announcing you as the winner of [American Idol] 20 years ago to now welcoming you to the judge’s table,” Seacrest wrote in a caption on Instagram as he shared throwback photos from Underwood’s original Idol days in 2005. “Welcome home, [Carrie Underwood]!”
“Thank you Ryan!” Underwood commented. “Excited to be coming back home! ❤️”
“It feels like home,” Underwood reiterated during an appearance on Good Morning America, which took place one day after announcing her return as a judge. “There’s so many people that even still work on the show that were there when I was a contestant…and I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help [contestants].”
Underwood joins Bryan and Richie as a judge on the upcoming season, set to premiere in spring 2025.