Life’s coming to a full circle for Carrie Underwood as she comes back to the show that made her star. Carrie will be replacing Katy Perry as the judge of American Idol, a music reality show that she won 20 years ago.
An official announcement was made on Thursday morning.
“This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on ‘Idol’ and launched her successful multi-GRAMMY Award-winning career. As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular television shows,” President of Disney Television Group, Craig Erwich, said in a press release. “This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”
The singer had won the fourth season of the popular singing competition show in 2005.
“I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show,” she said in a video revealing her new job. “I’m proud of everything I was able to accomplish on the show, and I’m so proud of everything I’ve accomplished since.”
Auditions for the new season will begin on August 12.
Underwood currently lives in Nashville with her husband, former NHL center, Mike Fisher, and their two sons, Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 5. American Idol records their live shows from Los Angeles. It’s unclear right now if Underwood will move her entire family to LA to shoot for the show.
Katy Perry had announced in February earlier this year that she had decided to move on from the show. The singer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and said she would be leaving American Idol after seven seasons with the show.
“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for ‘Idol,’” Perry announced at the time.
“I mean, I love ‘Idol’ so much… It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat,” she said and winked at the host.