Carrie Underwood‘s return to “American Idol” was speculated to be a triumphant full-circle second for the nation celebrity.
Now requires her exit from the present that made her a star are rising louder. Followers are demanding she step down from her position as choose following a rocky season that led to backlash over her therapy of the present’s first Black male winner in additional than twenty years.
Including to the strain are rumors that the “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer is sad together with her judging wage.
The 42-year-old, who received American Idol in 2005, is reportedly having second ideas about persevering with on the present. Insiders say producers are additionally not sure about her future.
In line with Star Journal, somebody near manufacturing revealed that Underwood instructed present bosses she’s “not one hundred pc certain” about returning subsequent season. Her fundamental considerations are balancing her demanding profession with elevating her sons, Isaiah and Jacob, with husband Mike Fisher.
Different elements might also be at play, together with the backlash following the Might 18 finale, when elementary faculty instructor Jamal Roberts made historical past as the primary Black male winner in over 20 years, incomes a record-breaking 26 million votes.
What ought to have been a celebratory second for the present turned overshadowed by controversy when viewers seen Underwood’s chilly response to Roberts’ victory as she remained seated whereas fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan supplied standing ovations.
The backlash has been swift and unforgiving, with followers flooding social media to specific their disappointment with Underwood’s efficiency as a choose. The criticism extends past her therapy of Roberts to broader considerations about her total strategy to the position. Y! Leisure readers chimed in with their ideas.
“I feel she ought to transfer on. The entire season was centered on Carrie. I favored Katy Perry she, Luke and Lionel introduced extra enjoyable to the present. This season was disappointing. It was a lot gospel each present and never what American Idol is about. we must always hear some nice music with alot extra power. an excessive amount of ballads and gospel,” one reader commented.
One other fan was much more pointed of their evaluation, writing, “Underwood is an effective singer. Not a lot as an American Idol choose. She lacks the charisma and her inexperience at giving sound recommendation to the contestants makes her ineffective as a choose.”
The criticism turned significantly private, with one writing, “Oh please don’t come again. Maintain your youngsters. Be an incredible mother. Don’t really feel any guilt. We received’t both while you’re gone. She at all times had an edge on her even when she was a contestant. The girl has an incredible voice, however, there was at all times: one thing lacking like heat and humanity a disingenuousness I couldn’t determine.”
Nevertheless, not all followers have turned in opposition to the nation star, with some calling for her to persevere regardless of the negativity.
“I feel Carrie ought to proceed as a choose, not as a result of she enjoys it, however to indicate all these haters that she’s can take every little thing they dish out and that she just isn’t a quitter,” a supporter wrote, including, “Truthfully I don’t assume it has something to do with the cash. Come on Carrie don’t give up!”
But the racial undertones of the controversy turned unimaginable to disregard, with one commenter instantly addressing what many perceived as bias.
“She ought to transfer on she by no means wished Jamal Roberts to win. She play pleasant and she or he receives a commission to[o] a lot cash to solely be pleasant to sure individuals transfer on,” a fan wrote.
Followers is not going to let Underwood’s interactions with Roberts all through the season go.
Throughout one significantly uncomfortable second, she criticized the eventual winner for lacking a possibility to “transfer round and entertain” whereas performing Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain Excessive Sufficient,” feedback that many interpreted as reinforcing dangerous stereotypes about Black performers needing to offer bodily leisure past their vocal expertise.
Roberts himself addressed the scenario diplomatically throughout a current interview with “The Morning Hustle Present,” noting the stark distinction in therapy between judges.
Congratulations to the most recent winner of @AmericanIdol !!! I’m so pleased with Jamal Roberts and all he has completed this season and I can’t wait to see what mountains he climbs subsequent! He’s going to do nice issues! ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/L4yJgSNGKK
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) Might 19, 2025
Including insult to damage, monetary tensions could also be contributing her not coming again to the truth present.
KDHL studies Underwood is incomes solely half of the $25 million wage her predecessor Katy Perry commanded, a disparity that doesn’t sit effectively with the “Earlier than He Cheats” singer.
An insider, in keeping with Leisure Now, famous that “there’s speak Carrie needs extra money” and described the expertise as “a bumpy trip” that will not be “definitely worth the ache and not using a good incentive.”
Underwood went silent on social media following the “American Idol” finale backlash, leaving her Instagram untouched for days. Whereas the usually energetic star as soon as credited Joe Rogan for uplifting her to “submit and ghost,” this silence might mirror deeper deliberation, presumably about whether or not to return to the present. She returned to posting on Instagram on June 4 to share images from a efficiency on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
As producers weigh the longer term on “Idol,” her potential departure provides uncertainty to a season already marked by controversy and shifting dynamics.
