American Idol fans got their first real glimpse of Carrie Underwood as Katy Perry’s replacement during the American Idol audition special that aired on the 2025 TV schedule after the Academy Award winners were announced Sunday night,

While any inauguration day chatter has allegedly been "forbidden" from being spoken about on the American Idol set, that does not mean it will stop Lionel Richie from asking about it.The hit ABC singing competition is just weeks away from its season 23 premiere and along with a set of aspiring pop stars hoping to make it big in the industry comes Carrie Underwood - who knows all too well about what it takes to be a part of the process.