<p id=”par-1_63″>ABC’s <em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/american-idol/?swcfpc=1″>American Idol</a></em> returns with season 23, and fans are excited to see <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/carrie-underwood/?swcfpc=1″>Carrie Underwood</a> take over <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/american-idol-katy-perry-alludes-planning-return-judge.html/”>Katy Perry’s judging role</a>. Underwood is set to sit beside returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Unfortunately, the country star’s decision to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/carrie-underwoods-american-idol-judging-gig-not-jeopardy-inauguration-source-claims.html/”>perform at the second inauguration of Donald Trump</a> might impact how her fellow judges feel about her. Here’s what a source shared. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-american-idol-season-23-judge-lionel-richie-doesn-t-see-eye-to-eye-with-carrie-underwood”>‘American Idol’ Season 23 judge Lionel Richie doesn’t see ‘eye to eye’ with Carrie Underwood</h2>
<p id=”par-2_63″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/carrie-underwoods-inner-circle-worries-american-idol-season-23-premiere-looms-source-says.html/?swcfpc=1″><em>American Idol </em>Season 23</a> welcomes <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/american-idol-carrie-underwood-big-problem-being-judge.html/”>Carrie Underwood as a judge</a>. The former winner of <em>American Idol</em> Season 4 is known as one of the most successful singers to come from the reality singing competition. She currently dominates the country music world with eight Grammy Awards, nine CMA Awards, 16 ACM Awards, 17 American Music Awards, 25 CMT Awards, and 29 BMI Awards. </p>
<p id=”par-3_38″>Underwood’s choice to perform at the second inauguration of Donald Trump was heavily criticized due to the president’s polarizing nature. A source told <a href=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14314477/carrie-underwood-american-idol-crisis-donald-trump-inauguration.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>DailyMail.com</a> that future <em>American Idol</em> contestants might feel uncomfortable with Underwood on the panel. </p>
<p id=”par-4_60″>“Idol contestants come from a wide range of diverse backgrounds, and so do the people who work on the show,” the insider shared. “There are concerns that her apparent political stance might make some contestants feel uncomfortable. There’s also worry that backlash could impact viewership. Her apparent support for Trump doesn’t align with the show’s values of inclusivity and diversity.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_14″>The insider added that fellow judge Lionel Richie might take issue with Underwood’s choices.</p>
<p id=”par-6_31″>“Lionel Richie, who is very liberal, may not see eye to eye with Carrie’s views which could create some tension,” the source added. “He has never and will never support Trump.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_20″>Another insider told <a href=”https://www.the-sun.com/tv/13293542/american-idol-not-happy-carrie-underwood-perform-inauguration-boycott/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The U.S. Sun</a> that host Ryan Seacrest and Luke Bryan “won’t be happy” along with Richie. </p>
<p id=”par-8_38″>“Ryan, Luke, and Lionel won’t be happy either because they will inevitably also get asked about it in some interview at some point, and that’s not a topic they want to be sucked into,” the insider continued. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-lionel-richie-once-called-donald-trump-his-friend”>Lionel Richie once called Donald Trump his ‘friend’ </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Carrie-Underwood-American-Idol.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Ryan Seacrest from ‘American Idol’ standing next to each other and smiling” class=”wp-image-3765967″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Ryan Seacrest at the ‘American Idol’ press line in 2024 | Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-9_44″>It’s unclear where <em>American Idol</em> Season 23 judge Lionel Richie stands with Donald Trump in 2025. While he’s known for his liberal ideals, he once told <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155667860076509″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>CNN</a> that he considered Trump as his friend. In 2016, he shared his feelings about Trump’s election win.</p>
<p id=”par-10_50″>“I actually know him — so, he’s a friend of mine,” Richie said. “I just wish him good luck. It’s definitely controversial. We’ll see what he’s going to do. It’s one thing to talk about a campaign, it’s another thing — you got four years to do what you said.”</p>
<p id=”par-11_35″>Richie also had advice for Trump at the time. “Do everything the opposite of what you said you were going to do,” he laughed. “I wouldn’t want the job. I like singing my songs better.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-did-carrie-underwood-perform-at-the-inauguration-for-money”>Did Carrie Underwood perform at the inauguration for money?</h2>
<p id=”par-12_62″>Carrie Underwood once stated she has no interest in addressing politics in the public eye. “I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins,” she told <a href=”https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/26/carrie-underwood-interview-glastonbury” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Guardian</a> in 2019. “It’s crazy. Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_52″>So, was Underwood swayed to perform at the inauguration for the money? According to <a href=”https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/carrie-underwood-money-paid-trump-inauguration-performance-2019971″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Newsweek</a>, artists typically don’t receive a paycheck for performing at inaugurations, though their travel expenses and lodgings are likely covered. Underwood considered the performance as an honor to her country despite the backlash she likely expected to receive.</p>
<p id=”par-14_10″><em>American Idol</em> Season 23 premieres on ABC on March 9, 2025.</p>
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