The “Woman’s World” singer shared what she really thinks about the American Idol winner’s return to the show to take over her vacated spot on the judges’ panel.

“She was born on that show,” Katy told People in an interview published Jan. 30. “I think she knows how to steer it.”

Noting that she and her former costars Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie could only “metaphorically feel” what it’s like to be a contestant, Katy added of Carrie, “She actually truly knows. As artists, we’ve been in some sort of their shoes, but she has lived every single day. So I think she’s going to have a lot to offer anyone that’s willing to listen.”

As for how the “Before He Cheats” singer—who performed “America the Beautiful” during President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony—feels about the new gig? She’s looking forward to bringing her expertise.

“I feel like I’ve been so blessed to obviously be so rooted in country music, but I’ve been able to be a part of many other genres or music as well,” Carrie said on SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour in August. “I like to think that I am versatile and, hopefully, when I listen to people come and audition, I can have any lens I need to put on in terms of what music I’m thinking.”

She also admitted she’ll take a different approach from Simon Cowell’s critical judging style, adding, “I think I can be honest and constructive, but still kind. And I think that’s the whole point, because people are coming in and it’s dreams. You’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on.”

Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry Denise Truscello/Getty Images for SiriusXM/Domine Jerome/ABACA/Shutterstock

And the storytelling component plays a huge part in the singing competition series, according to Carrie’s new panelmate Lionel.

“It’s not someone we have to get used to,” he told E! News in August. “And the fact that she has a great story, she came from American Idol.”

He added, “What a great judge. Now we don’t have to explain anymore, ‘We know how you feel.’ As artists, we know how you feel, but we’ve never been in that oval that says, ‘American Idol.’ She’s been there, done that.”

Read on to see what other American Idol alums are up to these days.

Kelly Clarkson, The Voice Season 14 — Kelly ClarksonThe mom of River and Remy has come a long way since experiencing a moment like this on the inaugural season of *American Idol* in 2002. The New York resident has collected three Grammys, notched three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, starred on NBC’s *The Voice* as a judge and is now hosting her own award-winning daytime talk show, *The Kelly Clarkson Show*.

Clay AikenThe season two runner-up made two big reveals in September 2008—annoucing that the birth of his son **Parker** (with his close friend, music producer **Jaymes Foster**) inspired him to come out. “I can’t raise a kid and teach him how to lie, teach him to hide things,” he reasoned on *Good Morning America*. “And at the same time, I also don’t ever want to raise him in an environment where it’s not OK for him to be exactly who he is, no matter what.”

Since then, the famous red-head switched from music to politics, even making a run for Congress in 2016. After losing in the election, the singer released a documentary about his journey. But he hasn’t totally left music in the rearview, even touring the country with season two champ **Ruben Studdard** in 2023 and 2024.

Ruben Studdard, American Idol — Ruben StuddardAfter winning season two of *Idol*, Ruben went on to score a Grammy nomination and released a handful of successful albums. Then, in 2013, the singer starred as one of the contestants on *The Biggest Loser* and quickly became a fan-favorite. He was eliminated twice, but took away valuable lessons from the show.

And while he and Clay remain tight, he found his forever partner in wife **Kristin**, who welcomed their second child in 2024.

by Taboola