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Carrie Underwood screamed when she and her fellow American Idol judges fell victim to a prank.
American Idol producers shocked Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie by unexpectedly blaring the start of “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown. The prank has gone viral in a trend on TikTok. The trio of celebrity judges quietly spoke with one another when the producers loudly played the song. Underwood jumped and shrieked, Bryan was censored as he flipped his middle finger to the producers, and Richie got up and paced around the table. The three judges laughed, and Underwood realized, “I think I screamed.” The Idol screen flashed to a slow-motion replay of Underwood’s startled reaction.
Underwood is joining American Idol as a judge for the first time, returning to the competition show 20 years after she won the fourth season in 2005. The country star fills the celebrity judge panel after Katy Perry’s departure from the show. Underwood’s highly-anticipated return also reunites her with longtime host Ryan Seacrest, who crowned the Denim & Rhinestones artist the Idol winner two decades ago. Jelly Roll will also join American Idol this season as the first-ever “artist in residence.”
American Idol viewers caught a preview for the soon-to-premiere season immediately after the Oscars aired on ABC on Sunday evening (March 2). Underwood will host an exclusive digital series, Idol To Icon, reflecting “on my own season while guiding our new hopefuls as a judge!” Idol To Icon will be available on Instagram and YouTube on Tuesday (March 4). American Idol’s two-hour season premiere is set for Sunday (March 9). It will be available the following day on Hulu.