Guess what music lovers? American Idol is back for its 23rd season and it is bringing some serious star power and surprises. This year Carrie Underwood a true Idol success story is taking a seat at the judges' table alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan . Get ready for amazing auditions emotional moments and maybe even a Patti LaBelle cameo thanks to Lionel!
Carrie Underwood Returns to Her Roots: From Contestant 14887 to American Idol Judge - Her Journey Comes Full Circle
Before Carrie Underwood became a global superstar selling millions of records and winning Grammys she was just a hopeful singer auditioning for American Idol season 4. Can you believe it was season FOUR? Time flies! Now she is back but this time as a judge. In a recent video from ABC Carrie looked back at her own audition for Simon Cowell Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson and it is pretty awesome.
She sang "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt and even though she sounded incredible Simon actually stopped her mid-song! Talk about nerve-wracking. But don't worry it was not a bad thing. Simon in his classic blunt way said "Okay that was very good." Phew! He even admitted he was surprised they hadn't found a good country singer yet on Idol and thought Carrie was "very good." Imagine hearing that from Simon Cowell himself!
Carrie remembers being told Simon was not a country music fan so she was extra nervous. She even picked "I Can't Make You Love Me" thinking it was a song that would show her voice while still being something she was comfortable with. She is super grateful Simon gave her a chance and recognized her potential even if country wasn't his usual thing. Talk about a full circle moment going from nervous contestant to confident judge years later.
Lionel Richie's Epic Move: Calling Patti LaBelle During a Contestant's Audition - Talk About a Dream Come True!
Lionel Richie is already making waves as a judge and he pulled off an amazing surprise for one contestant. Kolbi Jordan a 26-year-old from Oklahoma revealed that her favorite singer was the legendary Patti LaBelle. Lionel being Lionel took things to another level. Right after Kolbi sang he actually called Patti LaBelle on the phone!
Can you imagine auditioning for American Idol and suddenly Lionel Richie is handing you the phone and Patti LaBelle is on the other line? Kolbi was understandably "flustered" as they say. Patti gave Kolbi some encouraging words saying "Love you Kolbi and good luck." How cool is that? Lionel mentioned his dream is to see them both perform together. After the call all three judges gave Kolbi a "yes" sending her to Hollywood.
Later on the judges surprised Kolbi again this time with a "platinum ticket"! They invited her to perform at a Tennessee Titans football game in Nashville and then gave her the ticket which lets her skip the first round of Hollywood Week giving her a real advantage. Lionel said he knew Kolbi was special as soon as she mentioned Patti LaBelle as her favorite singer. What a start to season 23!
Luke Bryan's Idol "Trick" He Shared with Carrie: Turns Out Judges Can Actually Tell Contestants What to Sing!
Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood are already having fun as judges and Luke even revealed a little "trick" he shared with Carrie about the auditions. Apparently early in the tapings Carrie didn't realize that judges can actually tell contestants what to sing! Luke was like "Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ sing this" just to test out their voices and Carrie was surprised saying "We can do that?"
Luke explained that this trick is useful when you see something special in a contestant that the other judges might not be picking up on right away. It lets you "take ownership" of that contestant and really help guide them. He mentioned Carrie has already started using this trick this season. Luke and Lionel have done it in past years too. It is all about feeling a connection with someone and trying to help them navigate the competition. It sounds like the judges are really invested in finding some amazing talent this year and having a good time doing it.
Abi Carter's Advice for American Idol Hopefuls: Don't Focus on the Competition Just Enjoy the Ride
Former American Idol winner Abi Carter who won pretty recently has some advice for anyone thinking about auditioning. She said the whole experience can be "surreal" and "overwhelming for sure." She encourages future contestants to not focus too much on the competition aspect.
Abi's tip is to think of American Idol as "an opportunity to share your art with the world and to expand as an artist" instead of just a contest. She admitted she didn't expect to win when she auditioned and maybe that actually helped her. She went in thinking "I'll do it because I'll never forgive myself if I don't take an opportunity like this in my lifetime" and focused on having fun and being herself.
Her advice is to just "be in the moment" and enjoy the incredible experience that American Idol offers. It sounds like taking the pressure off yourself and just embracing the journey is key to doing well and having a good time on the show.
Key Things to Watch for in American Idol Season 23:
- Carrie Underwood as Judge: See how Carrie brings her Idol experience to the judges' table.
- Lionel Richie's Surprises: Keep an eye out for more heartwarming moments like the Patti LaBelle call.
- Luke Bryan's Judging Tricks: Watch for Luke to use his contestant-guiding audition techniques.
- Amazing Talent: Get ready to discover new voices and incredible stories from contestants all over the country.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: Expect tears laughter and plenty of inspiring moments as dreams are pursued.
Get Your Popcorn Ready: American Idol Season 23 Promises Surprises Heart and Incredible Talent
American Idol Season 23 is officially here and it sounds like it is going to be an amazing ride. With Carrie Underwood joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as judges expect a season full of talent surprises and heartwarming moments. From Patti LaBelle phone calls to secret audition tricks and advice from past winners this season is packed with everything we love about Idol. Tune in and get ready to discover the next big music star!