American Idol season 23 has been a tough draw for new judge Carrie Underwood, as it appears she’s being used as the scapegoat for some major issues the show has had moving through its most recent seasons. Carrie, the winner of American Idol season 4, has been a huge part of the show’s momentum as she’s become more involved in the current season. Though some viewers were nervous about her appearance on American Idol season 23, Carrie has proven that she’s been an asset to building up the contestants’ confidence in the short time she’s been part of the show.
While American Idol’s reboot, which began with American Idol season 16 in 2018, has been a success for ABC, things have been changing over the last few seasons of the series. Though there were a few reports that Katy Perry, who began judging on the reboot when it premiered along with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, would be leaving, it was still a shock when she left the show after American Idol season 22. With Katy leaving, many of the cracks within the rest of the show began to reveal themselves, and Carrie took the fall as the newest judge.
Proving that she’s taken an incredible journey from the time she spent on American Idol until now, Carrie proved that she deserves to be a judge.
Carrie Just Wowed Audiences With An Easter Performance
She’s Pushing American Idol For More Faith-Based Entertainment
Although some American Idol viewers have been hoping that Carrie would keep her faith separate from her role on the show, others have been waiting to see how she incorporates it into her time as a judge. Throughout her career, Carrie has been open about the fact that she’s a devout Christian, sharing her beliefs with her fans and followers. While she may not have been as vocal about her beliefs earlier in her career, as she’s gained more fame and traction, she’s become much more of an open book about her relationship with God and the way she worships.
In the most recent episode of American Idol, Carrie performed a song from her gospel album to celebrate the Easter holiday, as the episode was released on Easter Sunday. Even with some viewers not being Christian or celebrating Easter, the performance was a stunning display of her incredible talent. Singing “How Great Thou Art” on the show, Carrie showed her incredible vocal range in front of a live studio audience and her fellow judges. Proving that she’s taken an incredible journey from the time she spent on American Idol until now, Carrie proved that she deserves to be a judge.
Luke Bryan & Lionel Richie Aren’t Perfect Judges Either
There Are Issues In Their Performances
While Carrie is the newest judge on American Idol, she’s not the only person on the panel who’s been performing at a different standard than expected. Luke and Lionel, who joined American Idol during the first season of the reboot along with Katy, have both been doing their best to adjust to having Carrie on the panel with them, but their performances with contestants haven’t been as strong as they’ve been in the past. While Lionel, one of the most legendary judges to ever be part of American Idol’s judging panel, and Luke have maintained professionalism, things have definitely changed.
Throughout the first stretch of episodes of American Idol season 23, it’s been clear that Luke, who’s typically the most optimistic judge of the bunch, has been a bit more distant with his critiques than he ever has in the past. While Luke hasn’t been giving everything to the contestants on American Idol, Lionel has been a bit softer in his critiques than viewers have come to know his judgments in the past. With both of the pre-existing judges struggling in their own places on the panel this season, Carrie isn’t the only problem American Idol season 23 has faced.
Carrie May Be Too Sensitive
She’s Been Quick To Get Emotional
Although Carrie has been improving as she’s continued judging throughout the season, she’s been getting more emotional about the contestants, their journeys, and the relation she feels to her own time on American Idol. While in the early episodes, Carrie appeared to mostly be getting emotional about specific performances that evoked her more parental side, she’s been showing a lot more of her personality as the season has continued on. Carrie’s ability to move through the season wearing her emotions on her sleeve has been interesting, but it may not be the best way for her to express her thoughts.
Carrie’s sensitivity has been called into question throughout American Idol season 23, and while she’s been doing a good job at maneuvering between her feelings and her ability to be a good judge, there have been moments where her sensitivity has gotten the best of her on the show. As Carrie has continued on in the season, the stakes for the contestants are continuing to rise and the way their performances have been impacting the judges has changed. Carrie’s ability to be sensitive to the contestants has been admirable in some circumstances, but in others, it’s been difficult to watch.
Should Carrie Continue As An American Idol Judge?
She’s Just Getting Started
Although Carrie has definitely faced some issues on the show thus far, American Idol is working out well for her and should be a long-term venture. While Carrie may not have been planning to return to the show for a long run, she’s been able to prove her worth to the long-time series in just a matter of episodes. Though Carrie hasn’t entirely developed her judging style yet and is still working through some of the issues she’s had in her own performance, she’s a great part of the American Idol family just a few episodes into the new season.
With Carrie not really being a major problem on American Idol, the show should be looking at other pieces of the puzzle to resolve the issues its faced in recent seasons. Carrie becoming a judge may have been the key to seeing some of the bigger fractures in the show’s DNA, like the continued casting of Luke and Lionel, or the structure of the show itself. Things may need to be reformatted in future seasons to ensure success. On top of that, Carrie may need to be more of a leader on the American Idol judge’s panel in the future.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
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