Country superstar Carrie Underwood loves her new role as a judge on “American Idol” — except for letting so many talented singers go. After the top 20 was narrowed down to 14 contestants in a live episode on April 21, 2025, Underwood told Extra that she was already feeling “guilt” about sending people home.
But for Luke Bryan, the eliminations came guilt-free. Now in his eighth season as a judge, he let irritated fans know he’s unbothered by criticism of the judging panel’s decisions.
Carrie Underwood Says ‘American Idol’ Judges Reached Decisions They Could All ‘Live With’
Talking to Extra backstage after the April 21 episode, Underwood said, “It’s definitely different being behind the (judges’) desk, but it’s been a lot of fun so far.”
During past episodes, Underwood, Bryan and fellow judge Lionel Richie have had to make some tough decisions, cutting the 162 hopefuls who made it to Hollywood down to the top 24. From there, viewers’ votes determined which singers made it through to the top 20.
In the latest round of eliminations, viewer voting determined 10 of the top 14 contestants, while the judges huddled up to decide the additional four singers they wanted to save and see continue in the competition.
“It was a huge cut tonight,” Underwood said of the six singers who were sent home, “and it was on us, you know what I mean, to save people. But I mean, that’s the problem when you have so much talent, and there really is so much talent.”
“We had our deliberation,” she explained to Extra, “and it was like everybody ended up where it was like, ‘Okay, I can live with this,’ even though there’s certainly gonna be hopefuls that, you know, we’re all gonna miss. And I will see them in my dreams forever. I will carry guilt with me for the rest of my life.”
Underwood knows how scary it is to face the judges’ critiques and viewers’ votes, admitting that 20 years after competing on the show she “often” still has dreams about auditioning again. In her dreams, she said, she knows she won but may need to try out a second time and noted, “No, I don’t wanna do that.”
Luke Bryan Hops on Social Media Trend to Defend His Judging, But ‘American Idol’ Fans Are Still Upset
Bryan, meanwhile, joined a popular social media trend to reveal he was feeling just fine about critiquing some of the contestants’ performances and making tough decisions. The trend features Richie’s hit song with the Commodores, “Easy,” and people sarcastically remark about a task, talent or decision that — “God forbid” — they act on despite others’ judging them for it.
Over a video of Bryan at the judges’ table on April 21, his text noted a common criticism from “Idol” fans — “I thought you weren’t judgmental” — and on the next line, he wrote, “God forbid I do my Idol job.”
In the caption, Bryan added, “Not an easy job but sure glad I get to do it #idol”
Even so, many fans flooded his post with admonishments about the judges’ decisions, including one who wrote, “Well Luke, as much as I love you, I think you failed at your job tonight! Sorry,not sorry”
Another who wished Drew Ryn had made it through wrote, “Luke, I love ya, always have, always will but y’all made a huge mistake letting Drew go tonight… cannot believe it. She’s incredibly talented & deserved a spot tonight.”
Someone else commented, “Even JOSH face was confused that he got picked yo 😂😂😂”
