Country music superstar and American Idol judge Carrie Underwood experienced several boos from the live audience in the program’s “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover” episode. The 42-year-old, who originally won season four of the competition in 2005 and joined the judging panel in 2025, remained composed.
“Boo me. I don’t care @American Idol,” Underwood wrote on X, in a post that has been watched almost 1 million times.
The Moment of Truth: Original Song Critique
Before the audience responded, Underwood expected the backlash:“You guys are gonna boo me. You’re gonna boo me. It’s coming. Bring it on. I love it! Your boos are feeding me.”
She later stated on X:
“Singing original music is SUCH a gamble at this stage in the competition. Don’t. Waste. The. Band. Mor’s voice and previous audition kept him in. I wanna hear his original music after he’s a big star!”
Underwood also faced jeers after telling another contestant they hadn’t selected the right track, quipping:
“They just like to boo me.”
Audience Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Underwood’s encounters with boos were not isolated.Previously , on February 18, she posted:“Spoiler alert…I get booed A LOT from our Hollywood Week audience,”
a post watched 1.8 million times. Social media users had combined reactions.
One commented: “And it’s still not loud enough,”
and Another said:
“They should’ve threw tomatoes at you.”
Others supported her honesty and professionalism, admiring her straightforward approach.
Handling the Live Booing
During the live episode, Underwood experienced repeated boos while critiquing performances. Bryan defended her in an especially intense situation:“She only won this. She knows.”
Undeterred, Underwood reminded the viewers:
“They are not included in the discussions” of the judging procedure.
Political Backdrop
Some viewers connected the backlash to Underwood’s performance at President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, where she sang America the Beautiful acapella. At the time, she cited:“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.”
Substituting Katy Perry: New Judging Panel
Underwood joined the judging panel in 2025, substituting Katy Perry, who had served seven seasons. She currently examines contestants along with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, offering a unique viewpoint as a former winner. Reflecting on her fresh role, she stated:“I mean it feels like home…being on both sides of the coin, I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help.”
FAQs:
Q1. Who is Carrie Underwood?Carrie Underwood is a country music star and winner of season four of American Idol in 2005. She later joined the judging panel in 2025.
Q2. Why was Carrie Underwood booed on American Idol?
She received boos during “Hollywood Week” for giving candid feedback to contestants. Audience reactions were particularly strong after she critiqued original songs.
