Lionel Richie Names the One Challenge Carrie Underwood Must Conquer as Idol Judge
Lionel Richie says Carrie Underwood’s toughest early lesson on American Idol was mastering the power of no — a switch he says didn’t flip until midway through her first season, he told Us Weekly exclusively during the show’s Taylor Swift night on Monday.
American Idol is down to five, and Lionel Richie just gave a candid little peek at how the judging sausage gets made — especially when it comes to Carrie Underwood figuring out her own style behind that desk.
Carrie had to learn to say no
Richie says Underwood needed a minute in her first season as a judge to get comfortable with shutting the door on hopefuls. Not because she is soft, but because Idol judging is a weird balance: you want to lift people up without selling them a fantasy. His read: contestants are already a bit fragile when they walk in, so the panel has to play family before it plays drill sergeant. And yes, he is a huge fan of Carrie in that mix.
"The toughest part for her was saying 'No.' We are here to encourage without lying — it is a balancing act."
He also called her a sweetheart and pointed out that once she got over that hump, she clicked right into place.
Seeing the show from both sides
Underwood, 43, knows this stage better than almost anyone. She won season 4 back in 2005, then returned as a judge in season 23 alongside Richie and Luke Bryan. During the show’s Taylor Swift night on Monday, April 27, Richie said she kept having lightbulb moments about what it all feels like from the other side of the table. At one point she even asked the guys if people used to talk about her off-camera the way they talk through contestants now. Short answer: yes — they do a little sideline debrief between takes before the cameras roll again.
The trio’s vibe, in Richie's words
Working with Underwood and Bryan, 49, has been "magical" for Richie. In his view, the grind of the business gets easier when you are sitting next to big personalities. He joked that Luke is in his own category, Carrie is basically a mom with a music degree, and together they form what he called a "three-oh... or trio — same thing." Underwood brings something the other two cannot: she has literally been in the hot seat, so she understands the pressure and the anxiety in a way they never will. Richie even admitted he and Luke would never dare compete on Idol themselves. On camera or off, he says, the banter is the fun — especially since with Luke, you never quite know what is going to come out next.
How the finalists see Carrie
From the contestants’ side, Underwood is not just TV-star friendly — she is actually helpful. Jordan McCullough appreciates getting notes from someone who has walked their exact path. Chris Tungseth calls her funny and sweet, adding that she is mega famous but still feels like a real person. Hannah Harper says Carrie knows the terrain, so even when feedback nudges them out of their comfort zones, it comes with encouragement. Keyla Richardson likes that Carrie remembers what it is like to grow into your voice and your stage presence — which makes her advice land with extra weight.
Where the competition stands
- Top 5: Chris Tungseth, Hannah Harper, Braden Rumfelt, Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough
- Semi-finals: Monday, May 4
- Finale ( Top 3): Sunday, May 11
- American Idol airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET