Simon Cowell Gushes Over 'Sweet' Carrie Underwood Being a 'Good Choice' as New 'American Idol' Judge
Simon Cowell reacted to Carrie Underwood joining American Idol as the newest judge after replacing Katy Perry.
"I think it's a good choice," Cowell told E! News in an interview. "Carrie, we go back a long way. I remember her audition like it was yesterday. She was so good, she's such a sweet person."
As OK! previously reported, it was revealed the blonde babe, 41, would be going back to the show that put her on the map.
"🌟CARRIE🌟 From #AmericanIdol hopeful, to global icon…to IDOL judge! Home-grown superstar @carrieunderwood will join us for Season 8! ✨ #CUonIDOL," American Idol's Instagram page captioned a montage of Underwood winning back in the day.
The country star, who won American Idol in 2005, revealed how she'll interact with contestants when she sits alongside fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Ritchie next year.
- Carrie Underwood Says Her First Days of Being a Judge on 'American Idol' Are 'Really Great'
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- Kelly Clarkson Believes Carrie Underwood Will 'Do Great' as 'American Idol' Judge After Rumored Tension: 'Awesome Pick'
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“I have a problem,” the singer replied on Friday, August 2, during ABC’s GMA Summer Concert Series. “I can’t lie. I feel like I’ll be very honest but hopefully I’ll also be very constructive and encouraging.”
GMA's Sam Champion suggested she won't be too hard on the contestants, to which she replied: “Oh gosh no. Just ask my kids.”
After the "Teenage Dream" songstress, 39, said she wanted to focus on her own music instead of being part of the show, several names were tossed around, but Underwood was a top contender for the job.
"Well, it is 20 years since she auditioned in St. Louis for American Idol, and to have the first ever Idol alum on the panel has always been something that’s been interesting to me," Idol showrunner and executive producer Megan Wolflick shared with Entertainment Tonight. "She is our queen, she is our icon of American Idol."
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"We have been searching, you know, and obviously talking to Carrie for a little bit here," she explained. "It has been a little over two months since the [Season 22] finale, but these talks have been going on for a while and we've been really excited to make it all happen."