Overview

• Carrie Underwood, now 41, rewatched her 2005 American Idol audition in a video released ahead of her debut as a judge for the show's 23rd season.
• Underwood performed Bonnie Raitt’s 'I Can’t Make You Love Me' during her audition, which was praised by the original judges despite Simon Cowell cutting her off mid-performance.
• She revealed that Cowell’s known dislike for country music influenced her song choice, but he still recognized her talent and encouraged her to stay true to herself.
• The singer reflected on her journey from a nervous 21-year-old contestant to a Grammy-winning artist with 85 million records sold worldwide.
• Underwood will join Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the judging panel when American Idol premieres on Sunday, March 9, 2025, on ABC.