Insider Says ‘American Idol’ Is “Growing Increasingly Uneasy Over Backlash Swirling Around Carrie Underwood,” but the Ratings Say Differently

Carrie Underwood seemed like a perfect choice to replace Katy Perry at the American Idol judges’ table. She won the competition in 2005 and has enjoyed immense popularity and success ever since. Perky and personable, Underwood earned a huge following over the years. But there is one wrinkle in this ideal scenario.

Underwood, 42, sang at the 2025 inauguration of President Donald Trump. For more than a year, she has gotten intense pushback from fans with negative opinions of him. While Underwood remains an overly beloved figure in the music scene, some fans don’t appear willing to overlook the moment in U.S. history. Does that make the “Before He Cheats” singer a liability to American Idol? Some alleged behind-the-scenes rumblings hint that is true. And if so, what happens next?

Possible Backstage Uneasiness About Underwood

According to Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice Substack, there could be trouble brewing backstage at American Idol. He claims that sources indicate “that producers are growing increasingly uneasy over backlash swirling around Carrie Underwood and her perceived political alignment.”

Per Shuter, one “insider” reportedly asserts, “Idol is supposed to be feel-good, family-friendly television. The last thing producers want is a judge turning into a political lightning rod.”

A different source reportedly said, “The show needs mass appeal. Politics instantly split the audience, and that’s the opposite of what Idol is built on.”

‘American Idol’ Season 24 Is a Hit

Carrie Underwood has, for the most part, remained mum about the situation. Perhaps she feels the less said, the better. She said in the past that she sidesteps what Shuter calls “political commentary” because, as she put it, “nobody wins.”

With a new season of American Idol just getting underway, having this potentially disruptive backdrop to the proceedings is not what anyone wants. But we will see how it plays out. As of now, the situation feels overblown—at least in terms of viewership. The season 24 premiere of American Idol proved to be a smash hit, garnering its biggest debut audience in four years.

Her Mantel Is Crowded With Honors

Underwood has nabbed just about every major industry award there is. According to her web site, “She has won over 100 major awards including 8 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards…25 CMT Music Awards …17 American Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards.”

That is an impressive haul. But it does not tell the whole story. Underwood’s remarkable versatility, combined with her powerhouse vocals and storytelling skill, have catapulted her to the top. She can sing with tenderness on spiritual ballads like “See You Again,” or offer tough-gal advice with a Louisville Slugger in hand on the aforementioned “Before He Cheats.” Either way, Underwood is always authentic and showstopping.