Fans of American Idol are calling for Carrie Underwood to be fired and replaced by Keke Palmer following growing backlash throughout the current season. The country star, 43, has faced criticism from viewers who accuse her of being overly harsh and mocking toward contestants.

The conversation gained momentum after Palmer, 32, made a guest appearance as a temporary judge. Her energetic and engaging presence quickly stood out, with many fans praising her performance on the panel. In a Reddit thread dedicated to the show, one viewer wrote, “I’d take Keke Palmer over Carrie as a judge any day of the week. That was pure entertainment,” while another added, “She’s so fun and energetic, I love it.”

Others echoed the sentiment, urging the network to consider making a permanent change. “I’d much prefer Keke as a replacement. She’s a joy,” one fan commented. Another praised Palmer as “an absolute ray of sunshine,” adding that she is underrated as a singer despite her strong vocals. Some even speculated that her appearance may have been a “test run” for a larger role on the show.

Still, not all viewers were focused solely on the potential switch. Some expressed broader frustration with the judging panel, with one fan noting they don’t like any of the judges and feel they are not allowed to be truly critical. Another suggested that despite the backlash, producers may keep Underwood due to strong ratings and show changes reportedly influenced by her, such as themed episodes and a Nashville-focused direction.

Behind the scenes, Underwood is also said to be unhappy. Reports claim she has been “frustrated” with how producers have portrayed her this season, particularly by highlighting moments when she was loudly booed by the audience. A source said she felt it was disrespectful to lean into those moments for ratings, even though she understands the intention.

Despite this, Underwood is not backing down. Insiders say the criticism has pushed her to be even more outspoken and direct in her feedback. Tensions became especially clear during Hollywood Week when she strongly critiqued 22-year-old contestant Mor after an original performance. Anticipating the crowd’s reaction, she told the audience, “I feel like you guys are gonna boo me… just bring it on! I love it! Your boos are feeding me!” Moments later, the audience erupted, and the clip quickly went viral.

Fans were divided over whether her comments were honest or unnecessarily harsh. Underwood later addressed the situation online, writing, “Spoiler alert… I get booed A LOT from our Hollywood Week audience.” Although the episode was filmed months earlier, producers chose to keep the booing in the final edit.

In another moment, she questioned why co-judge Luke Bryan did not receive the same negative reaction after delivering similarly tough critiques. “Why don’t they boo you?” she asked in a clip shared by both Bryan and the official American Idol account.

Sources say Underwood has changed significantly from her first season as a judge. Initially more reserved, she has returned this year more confident, determined, and unafraid to share strong opinions. While some viewers have labeled her the “villain” of the season, she reportedly doesn’t see herself that way. Instead, she believes she is genuinely trying to help contestants grow, even if her approach is not always well received.

Underwood first rose to fame on American Idol two decades ago and is now in her second season as a judge alongside Bryan and Lionel Richie. Despite the controversy, the show has made several adjustments to accommodate her, suggesting she may remain a key part of the panel—for now.