The judges of American Idol—Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan—are promoting the season 24 premiere, the show’s ninth on ABC, set to air next week. Underwood has been turning heads with her stylish looks, though not without sparking controversy.
For her appearance on Good Morning America, the country singer wore a soft purple satin pantsuit paired with a color-block necktie, classic pumps, and her signature honey-blonde hair styled in voluminous waves. See the outfit here!
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Carrie Underwood Makes Appearance On GMA
During the live interview, Bryan shared that contestants will perform a mix of songs, including faith-based tracks. “We’re going to sing a Lionel [Richie] song, ‘Jesus Is Love,’” he said.
“Many of these kids come from gospel backgrounds … we all kind of honed our skills in front of the church,” Bryan continued. “So when we give them the opportunity to do faith-based night, they really embrace it.”
Carrie added, “They’re are songs of faith, so it could be something inspiring. It’s still a mixed bag.”
The mom of two shared clips of the interview on her Instagram, but some fans voiced strong backlash due to her past political associations, particularly her performance at Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.
“Sorry GMA… but we have canceled MAGA Carrie. I was a huge fan until…” one user commented. Others wrote, “Don’t watch anymore,” and, “The entire time I watch American Idol, it’s tainted by Carrie and Luke being Trump supporters.” Another questioned, “Why are MAGA pushers invited on talk shows?” with one simply adding, “MAGA Carrie.”
The season kicks off next week, and while Underwood continues to make style statements, the divide among viewers shows that her past actions remain a point of discussion.
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Joy Behar Skips Carrie Underwood’s The View Appearance
Carrie faced backlash largely for her performance at Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration, which many fans viewed as a political endorsement.
In March 2026, Underwood was booed by the Idol audience during Hollywood Week. Some of the reaction stemmed from her critical feedback of a contestant’s original song, while others linked the hostility to her inauguration performance. Addressing the backlash on X (formerly Twitter), Underwood wrote that the “boos are feeding me.”
During recent promotions, fans also noticed that Joy Behar and Sara Haines were present at the start of The View but were absent from the table when Underwood, along with fellow judges Richie and Bryan, were interviewed.
In early 2025, Behar had publicly criticized Underwood’s choice to perform at Trump’s second inauguration, questioning how someone could “love their country” while supporting the former president.
A spokesperson for The View clarified that Behar’s absence was “nothing to do with politics” and was simply a logistical decision to accommodate multiple guests at the table.
