Carrie Underwood addresses being booed on American Idol. Hear her unfazed response and why she stands by her judging decisions on the official podcast.
- April 12, 2026
AceShowbiz - On the April 8 episode of the official American Idol podcast, judges Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan appeared alongside co-judge Lionel Richie to discuss key moments from season 24. One notable topic was the incident in March when Underwood was booed by fans during the show.
The boos came during Hollywood Week in Music City - Part 2, when Underwood questioned a contestant’s decision to perform an original song. Following that episode, she posted on X, "Boo me. I don’t care," reflecting her refusal to be fazed by the negative audience reaction.
During the podcast, Underwood reiterated her stance, telling host Danielle Fishel, "I don't care. I can't lie, I'm a terrible liar. As a fan of the show, if there was ever somebody that kind of had an off night and everybody's like, 'Oh, my God that's so great,' I'm sitting at home being like, 'What? Liars!'"
Despite her relaxed attitude about the boos, Luke Bryan stepped in to defend his fellow judge. He acknowledged the challenges judges face on the show, saying, "It’s tough to do as a judge. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself, and you don’t want to say something that’s going to tank them in the competition. It’s just something that they need to be thinking about if they go forward."
In the moment when the audience started booing, Bryan had already spoken up, reminding the crowd that Underwood is highly qualified to judge, having won the show's fourth season. He said, "She only won this. She knows."
Currently, American Idol season 24 has narrowed down to 11 finalists. The next episode is scheduled to air on Monday, April 13, at 8 p.m. on ABC, with availability for streaming on Hulu the following day.
The podcast episode featuring discussion of the booing incident provides insight into the dynamic between the judges and their approach to criticism on the show.
