Getting Carrie Underwood to agree to a second season on the “American Idol” judges panel was not a slam dunk for ABC, according to a new report.
On January 26, 2026, the U.S. Sun published an interview with a “production insider” who said the country superstar had three demands during contract negotiations, which led to some big changes on the show.
Carrie Underwood Wanted to Stay Closer to Home, Insider Says
“American Idol” did not hold auditions in cities across the U.S. for season 24, as it has in the past. Rather, they were all filmed at Belmont University in Nashville, not far from where Underwood and Bryan live. In addition, the show’s iconic Hollywood Week will also take place in Nashville.
An October 2025 press release from ABC announced, “For the first time ever, ‘American Idol’ will bring the iconic Hollywood Week round to Nashville. Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover will feature one round only as the hopefuls from all musical genres take the stage for a make-or-break performance, facing the biggest Hollywood Week cut in ‘Idol’ history.”
“There’s been a lot of switch-ups into how they’re making this season,” an insider told the U.S. Sun.
“The Hollywood Week was taken out completely to lessen the amount of time Carrie and the judges filmed in Los Angeles. And because it’s her home base and such a good city for music, they filmed in Nashville.”
Insider Says Carrie Underwood Wanted More Time in Hawaii
According to the U.S. Sun’s source, producers agreed to put “more of an emphasis” on filming in Hawaii, something that’s occurred at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa since ABC took over the show in 2018. Usually, the cast and contestants are there for several days, but Underwood wanted to be there longer and to bring her entire family, the outlet said.
“A big part of why they changed up the format was to accommodate the judges’ wants more, specifically Carrie,” the insider told the U.S. Sun.
For season 24, an “Ohana Round” was added, during which 30 contestants perform for industry insiders, who will narrow the competition down to 20 hopefuls. A January press release from ABC called it “the ultimate focus group,” designed to “blend peer respect, emotional support and professional insight before the competition moves on to America’s Vote.”
Underwood was seen having fun at a premiere party held in Hawaii on January 26 as the season kicked off on ABC. The entire cast was there, along with the “Ohana Round” expert panel, including “Dancing With the Stars” pro Sasha Farber.
The focus on Hawaii might stem from Underwood falling in love with the state and its people during her first-ever concerts there in July 2024.
Carrie Underwood Was Nervous About Being Criticized Heavily
Although ratings have been up and enthusiasm has been high about Underwood joining the judging panel for season 23, the country star also faced lots of criticism during the season, from her performance at President Trump’s inauguration to her appearance. The insider who spoke to the U.S. Sun said that although Underwood publicly brushed off the criticism, it hurt her personally.
“She had a hard time dealing with all the backlash and viewer reaction from last season after all the Trump stuff,” the insider said. “On top of that, there’s people criticizing her appearance every episode – which is something she struggled with. The noise from the fans was so much louder than she was prepared for and that got to her.”
“There were talks she wanted to quit and not come back when the noise got too loud,” the insider continued, adding that it was harder to deal with while “also struggling with being far from her family.”
Producers have done “everything possible,” the insider said, to ensure Underwood feels comfortable and supported because “the couldn’t afford to lose her.” It’s not known how much Underwood is making this season. In August 2024, Life & Style reported that she was being paid $12.5 million for her first season as a judge.
The season 24 premiere of “American Idol” will re-air on Sunday, February 1, at 9 p.m. Eastern time, and the season’s second episode will air on Monday, February 2, at 8 p.m. Eastern time.