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Carrie Underwood tears up in an American Idol season 23 promo after a contestant describes being raised by his grandparents. The moment is about his story—not Underwood replacing Katy Perry. Perry’s reported comments about her successor were supportive: she praised Underwood’s firsthand understanding of the contestant experience.
Why does Carrie Underwood cry in the promo?
The clip shows a male contestant explaining that his grandparents raised him from the time he was two. He says his grandmother “put everything she had in me all these years.” Luke Bryan asks Underwood, “You okay over there?” She answers, “I’m not,” and Bryan comforts her with a hug. Reporting on the promo says Lionel Richie also embraces her. E! News and ABC News describe the reaction as part of the audition story.
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The teaser shows the judges telling the contestant, “You’re going to Hollywood!” It does not establish his identity or provide the full audition. At the end, Underwood says the show is for people with talent and a dream who need a chance, a sentiment that echoes the emotional moment without connecting it to the panel change.
What did Katy Perry say about Underwood replacing her?
Perry’s reported remarks were complimentary, not resentful. As quoted by E! from a January 2025 People interview, Perry said Underwood “was born on that show.” She said Underwood truly understands contestants because she has “lived every single day” of that experience, and added that Underwood would have much to offer people willing to listen. E! News reported Perry’s comments as approval of Underwood’s appointment.
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Underwood has described her own intended judging style as honest and constructive while still kind. That is Underwood speaking about her approach; Perry’s remarks are about why she believes Underwood’s contestant experience can help her as a judge.
How did the judging-panel transition happen?
Underwood won American Idol season four in 2005 and returned as a judge for season 23, joining Bryan and Richie after Perry left the panel. The change brought a former contestant’s perspective to the judges’ table; it was not presented by the show’s leadership as a like-for-like replacement.
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In a March 2025 interview with TheWrap, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick said Perry had been a major presence and personality on the show, adding that “you can never replace her” and calling the change “a new era.” Wolflick also described the value of celebrating someone who had experienced the finalist journey firsthand. TheWrap’s interview frames the transition as a shift in perspective, not a contest between the two judges.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did the season 23 promo air?
These are historical rollout details, not a current schedule. ABC reported on February 13, 2025, that season 23 was set to premiere March 9, 2025. The network also announced a special preview after the live Oscars telecast on March 2, with the preview due on Hulu the next day. Those dates do not establish whether episodes or the preview are available on Hulu now. ABC News reported the original schedule.
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