AMERICAN Idol fans have branded Luke Bryan as the favorite judge and demanded that Carrie Underwood get the boot from the show’s panel.
The long-running series returned on Monday with the season’s first round of auditions.
Luke, Carrie, and Lionel Richie resumed their roles as the judges, and Ryan Seacrest as the host, as they welcomed a new class of aspiring singers in Nashville, Tennessee.
The show spent more time filming in Nashville, which was one of several format changes rolled out this season, mainly to accommodate Carrie, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed.
However, many viewers thought the judges’ panel needed a shakeup more than the format, as they raged on social media about the celebrity trio.
Luke’s silly behavior and banter with the contestants and guests, like fellow country singer Brad Paisley, appeared to win over fans at home.
Viewers also appreciated the Knockin’ Boots singer’s honest, constructive feedback to the auditioners, with some going so far as to call him the “only good judge” on the panel.
Season 24 is Luke and Lionel’s ninth year as judges on the singing competition show, after the program was revived on ABC.
Carrie is entering her second year as a judge, over two decades after she won the show in 2005.
Although Carrie has a longstanding relationship with American Idol as a former contestant, many blasted the Before He Cheats singer for her abilities on the other side of the judge’s panel.
Some fans thought Carrie wasn’t being harsh enough with some auditioners, since she said yes to nearly everyone in the premiere episode.
Meanwhile, others believed the few singers she turned away were worthy of the coveted golden ticket into the competition.
This led many to question her position on the show and whether she should be swapped out for another celebrity judge.
“Idk how i feel about Carrie Underwood being the Idol returned judge.. i get it, but why Carrie? #AmericanIdol,” one X user wrote.
“Petition to replace Carrie with Brad this is so funny,” begged another.
“What is wrong with Underwood #AmericanIdol,” wondered a third.
All of American Idol’s Judges
The original trio of judges – Simon, Paula, and Randy, pioneered reality television and shattered ratings records during their run on the singing competition. Here are all of the A-listers who have followed in their footsteps:
Paula Abdul
Seasons 1 – 8 (2002 – 2009)
Simon Cowell
Seasons 1 – 9 (2002 – 2010)
Randy Jackson
Seasons 1 – 12 (2002 – 2013)
Kara DioGuardi
Seasons 8 – 9 (2009 – 2010)
Ellen DeGeneres
Season 9 (2010)
Steven Tyler
Seasons 10 – 11 (2011 – 2012)
Jennifer Lopez
Seasons 10 – 11 (2011 – 2012) & Seasons 13 – 15 (2014 – 2016)
Mariah Carey
Season 12 (2013)
Nicki Minaj
Season 12 (2013)
Keith Urban
Seasons 12 – 15 (2013 – 2016)
Harry Connick Jr.
Seasons 13 – 15 (2014 – 2016)
Katy Perry
Seasons 16 – 22 (2018 – 2024)
Luke Bryan
Seasons 16 – Present (2018 – )
Lionel Richie
Judge: Seasons 16 – Present (2018 – )
Carrie Underwood
Season 23 – Present (2025 – )
“Luke only good judge tonight #AmericanIdol,” stated a fourth.
“IDK what Carrie is thinking,” complained a fifth.
“IKR?! What’s Carrie on?” added a sixth.
A production insider revealed that Carrie nearly quit the show after “struggling” during her first time as a judge last season.
They also noted that production made numerous structural changes to better support Carrie, including axing Hollywood Week to lessen the filming time the cast spent in Los Angeles.
The show also made special accommodations so Carrie could bring her family along for filming in Hawaii, which will be a much longer stint than in previous years.
The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that producers are doing “everything possible” to keep the country star happy and avoid her potentially walking away.
“They couldn’t afford to lose her,” the source explained.
American Idol airs on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.
