American Idol is back in action and you know what that means: amazing singers questionable auditions and of course our favorite panel of judges Lionel Richie Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. This season is already bringing the drama the laughs and some seriously insightful moments from the judges' table. Let's dive into what's been going down!
Heartbreak Hotel: American Idol Judges Say "No" to 14-Year-Old Hopeful But Offer a Dose of Reality
This season we saw young Kase Tippens a 14-year-old from Oklahoma step onto the Idol stage with big dreams and a guitar. He performed "Wondering Why" by The Red Clay Strays and while he's got talent the judges decided it wasn't quite his time yet . Luke Bryan put it gently saying it was "beautifully fourteen" hinting his voice needed a bit more seasoning.
Lionel Richie chimed in with the tough news saying "As much as I don’t want to say this your time is not quite now." Ouch that is Idol-speak for "not this year kid." But it wasn't all bad news. Carrie Underwood an Idol winner herself after all stepped in with some comforting words and a story many might not know.
Carrie revealed that way back when at 15 she had a shot with a big record label that didn't pan out. She told Kase that sometimes rejection is actually a good thing. It was like a "no today" but definitely not a "no forever" for Kase. She even got a little emotional saying "Hopefully we can just still help them on their journey it just wasn’t here and now." Bless her heart Carrie really feels for these contestants!
Tough Decisions and Tender Hearts: Why Saying "No" on American Idol is Never Easy for the Judges
After Kase's audition the judges got real about how hard it is to crush someone's Idol dreams especially when they are young and clearly passionate. Luke Bryan admitted "We’re human as judges and artists and to say the word no sometimes gets really really tough." Lionel Richie echoed that saying "We’re talking about someone’s dreams… This is real tough stuff." You can tell they genuinely wrestle with having to deliver bad news even if it is part of the job.
Even though Kase didn't get a golden ticket he took it like a champ. He posted online thanking everyone for the support and saying "This is just the beginning! I have big dreams and big goals and I’m more motivated than ever to chase them down." That's the spirit Kase! And who knows maybe we will see him back on Idol in a few years ready to wow everyone.
Song Sabotage: American Idol Judges Reveal the Audition Songs That Make Them Cringe (Please Avoid!)
Alright Idol hopefuls listen up! The judges have spoken and they are letting you in on a little secret: there are some songs they are just plain tired of hearing. Lionel Richie confessed he has a song that sends shivers down his spine in a bad way. "‘It's a Man's World’ which I've heard for seven years. When they start singing ‘It's a Man's World’ I go ‘Don't do it. It's not gonna work.’" Poor Lionel is having "shakes and hives" just thinking about it!
Luke Bryan is equally done with "Watermelon Sugar". He's "glad that Carrie Underwood… didn’t have to live through the ‘Watermelon Sugar’ high years." Apparently Ryan Seacrest and Lionel Richie are also scarred by the sheer number of "Watermelon Sugar" auditions they have endured. "Perfectly great song but we were just like watermelon sugar high" Bryan joked singing a bit of the tune with a groan. So future Idol contestants maybe skip the Harry Styles for now unless you have a REALLY unique take.
Songs to Seriously Consider Avoiding (according to the judges):
- "It's a Man's World"
- "Watermelon Sugar"
Of course rules are meant to be broken and Lionel did admit that twice this season someone actually managed to make "It's a Man's World" their own. But unless you are absolutely confident you can bring a fresh spin to these overdone audition tracks maybe play it safe and pick something else.
Fresh Sounds on the Horizon: Chappell Roan and Tate McRae Influence New Idol Hopefuls
It is not all about songs to avoid though. Ryan Seacrest pointed out that there are some newer artists influencing this year's audition song choices. He's noticed contestants saying they are inspired by Chappell Roan and Tate McRae. Apparently we can expect to hear more songs from these artists this season which is a welcome change of pace for the judges.
Judge-Swap Karaoke? American Idol Panel Imagines Auditioning With Each Other's Hits (Hilarious!)
In a fun twist Entertainment Weekly asked the judges which of each other's songs they would use if they were auditioning for Idol. Carrie Underwood being a "country girl" said she'd normally avoid country for an audition BUT she might be "bold" and pick one of Luke Bryan's songs specifically a "Jesus song." Luke immediately knew which one: his new song "Jesus 'Bout My Kids" and was thrilled Carrie sang some lyrics of it recently.
Luke in turn said he would "sail on down the line" referencing Lionel Richie's Commodores classic "Sail On". Lionel ever the diplomat said he'd be torn between Carrie's "Jesus Take the Wheel" and Luke's "Knockin’ Boots". He even joked about trying to find "the ‘Brickhouse’ of today" and somehow ended up picturing himself auditioning with "Knockin’ Boots" much to everyone's amusement. Ryan Seacrest jumped in saying he'd go with Luke's "One Margarita" placing it comically between Doja Cat and Dave Matthews Band in his imaginary audition playlist. The whole thing sounds like a hilarious karaoke night waiting to happen!
Carrie Underwood Returns to Her Roots: Full Circle Moment as Idol Judge 20 Years After Winning
Speaking of Carrie Underwood this season marks a special anniversary for her. It's been 20 years since she herself auditioned for American Idol and won the whole thing. Now she is back but on the other side of the table as a judge. She said it feels like "home" to be back. Carrie even joked about getting tired of saying "when I was on the show" because she has been blessed to be part of Idol in different ways for two decades now from mentor to performer to judge. It is a true full circle moment and pretty inspiring for any aspiring singer watching.
North Carolina Represent! Two Singers Head to Hollywood on American Idol
Shout out to North Carolina! Two singers from NC are heading to Hollywood after their American Idol auditions. Carson Webb from Granite Falls got his golden ticket and Josh King from Charlotte is also set to take the stage. Keep an eye out for these Tar Heel state talents as the Hollywood rounds get started!
American Idol Judges: A Mix of Tough Love Hilarious Moments and Genuine Heart
So there you have it American Idol Season Whatever-It-Is is serving up the usual mix of emotions talent and judge banter we have come to expect. The judges are bringing the tough love when needed but also showing their softer sides especially Carrie Underwood. They have songs they are tired of hearing hilarious imaginary auditions and are even embracing new musical influences. Tune in and get ready for another season of dreams being made and sometimes heartbreakingly deferred on American Idol!