“You Been Sandbagging on Us?”: Carrie Underwood Reveals Hidden Talent on ‘American Idol’—and Luke Bryan Can’t Believe His Eyes

Carrie Underwood is back on American Idol 20 years later, this time as a judge. The “Before He Cheats” songbird, 42, signed on to replace Katy Perry, who exited the show in May after seven seasons. While Underwood certainly doesn’t love everything about the other side of the podium, she has managed to have fun here and there. In a clip from the show’s March 16 episode, the multi Grammy-winning artist is having the time of her life learning a brand-new skill.

Watch Carrie Underwood Clog Her Way Across the ‘American Idol’ Stage

After dreaming of competing on American Idol since age 8, Carsen Webb finally made it happen for season 23. Wanting the judges to get a full sense of who he is, the 16-year-old from Granite Falls, North Carolina arrived for his audition armed with clogging shoes and spoons.

“Clogging is a big part of me. I absolutely love it,” the BBQ buffet host said in his audition video. “So, when I go to audition, I’m going to be bringing the judges some clogging shoes and some spoons… I definitely want to turn this into a night at the Sims Country Bar-B-Que, where I can give them a little taste of where I’m from.”

As he walked onstage, Webb announced grandly that he was going to show the judges how to clog. While Luke Bryan couldn’t pass up a good bathroom joke, Carrie Underwood took him up on his offer. And she took to it so well that her fellow judges had trouble believing it was her first time.

“You’ve never done this before? Come on,” said Lionel Richie incredulously. “You been sandbagging on us?” Bryan questioned.

While still swearing she was a newbie, Underwood admitted, “But I have been around so much clogging. Not the toilet, Luke.”

Did Carsen Webb Get a Yes From the Judges?

Carsen Webb delivered a soulful performance of Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control,” injecting loads of sass and personality into the R&B song.

“Listen, I’m going to send you to Hollywood if it’s the last thing I do,” Luke Bryan declared. “Because you’re a special one.”

His fellow judges agreed, although Carrie Underwood had one small note. “You’re 16. That song was a real, just big vocal song,” the season 4 winner said. “Don’t overshoot with, like, song choice, and pick songs that fit your voice and your age.”

She added, “As fun as you are, don’t think of yourself as a gimmick. You’re not. You’ve got some talent. I want people to take you serious.”

Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Grand Ole Opry