Fans were overjoyed by the news that Carrie Underwood was stepping in as judge for “American Idol,” replacing Katy Perry for season 23. It was a full-circle moment for Underwood, who won season 4 of the beloved reality TV show.

Now in her sophomore year as a judge, the “Before He Cheats” singer has learned a thing or two from seasoned judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. In a recent interview, Richie opened up about the toughest hurdle Underwood faced in her first year, especially given her unique perspective as a former contestant standing in the same shoes as those she now critiques.

Lionel Richie Breaks Down Carrie Underwood’s Biggest Challenge on ‘American Idol’ as a First-Time Judge

During “American Idol” season 24’s Taylor Swift Night on April 27, judge Lionel Richie opened up to Us Weekly about Carrie Underwood’s transition to the panel, reflecting on her first season as a judge.

It came as no surprise that Richie admitted the songstress’s biggest challenge was learning to say no during auditions. It was especially difficult given Underwood’s experience as a former contestant who once stood in front of celebrity judges (including the tough Simon Cowell), singing for her own shot at a golden ticket.

“I think for her, the toughest part was saying ‘No.’ It took her about halfway through her first season,” Richie began.

“And I get it, we’re here to not tear them down, but to encourage. But at the same time, not to lie to them. It’s a great balancing act,” he said.

Richie shared that thankfully, Underwood “got past that,” finding the right balance of being kind and firm with contestants.

Underwood Reflects on Her First Season in the Judges’ Chair

During her debut season on “American Idol” season 23, Underwood did admit that she struggled with saying no to contestants, sharing in an interview with Extra that she was a “people pleaser.”

However, she told Billboard in April 2025 that she took the role as judge “seriously,” knowing that she held the power to completely change a person’s life.

“I’m just so happy to be here. It’s definitely different, but it’s difficult. I mean, when we’re discussing contestants, ‘Are they going to make the top 24?’ It’s a show, but it’s people’s lives and I’m like, ‘I was on these [contestant] boards 20 years ago and they were moving my picture around trying to see what board I was going to fit into,’ so I take it really seriously,’” she shared.

However, over time, Underwood grew more comfortable in her role as a judge, so much so that she later admitted to SiriusXM’s The Highway in September 2025 that she began receiving criticism from viewers, with some saying things like, “How dare she say that it wasn’t perfect?”

“And I’m like, I just want everybody to learn and that’s part of it. And nobody wants to just hear that they’re amazing all the time,” Underwood said.