Keith Urban has a history with reality television. The Aussie superstar was a judge on American Idol from seasons 12-15, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to sit behind the table, dishing advice to others.
Urban’s fellow country star and friend, Carrie Underwood, has been enlisted to fill an Idol judging spot left open by Katy Perry’s departure from the show, starting in spring 2025, and he has thoughts about her taking the seat.
During a recent chat with Urban in support of his upcoming album (more on that in a minute) on Taste of Country Nights, we asked his opinion on Carrie’s new gig.
“She’s gonna be great,” he says of the impact she’ll have on the long-running singing competition. Underwood won Season 4 of Idol in 2005 and has gone on to sell more than 85 million records an an artist.
“I mean, it’s such an advantage when you’ve been on the other side of the desk, like Carrie has, because she knows what they’re all going through,” Urban adds. “She’s a great call for that position, she’s gonna do excellent.”
Related: The Two Things Keith Urban Requires Backstage at Every Show
Just for giggles, we asked, does he think Underwood would put him through to the next round if he were trying out for Idol? Urban got a kick out of the question, responding with a laugh:
“Probably not. Back in the day, I had a lot of work to do,” he admits. “Shoot, man. I went on a lot of those shows when I was a kid.”
Not all of his reality TV history is a fond memory, either.
“When I was 9 years old, I went on a show called Pot of Gold,” Urban recalls. “Three judges, went out there and sang and was completely crucified, and welcome to showbiz kid.”
Thankfully, those painful critiques of his talent are behind him. Like Underwood, Urban has gone on to become one of the most successful artists in country music history. On Sept. 20, he’ll release his first new album since 2020’s The Speed of Now Part 1, a project called High. It includes one collaboration, with Lainey Wilson.
High is Urban’s 11th studio album and includes twelve songs, a few of which are very personal to him.
Famous Albums Keith Urban Played on Before Fame
But did you know that Urban was an accomplished studio and road musician before he rose to fame as a solo artist.
He even appeared on some famous albums before he was famous himself. Discover Keith Urban’s evolution from studio musician to country star.
Gallery Credit: Nicole Taylor
20 Things Carrie Underwood Has Done Since Winning ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood has been, well, busy since winning Season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Since the confetti fell, the country singer has released nine albums and embarked on seven tours. She’s also tried her hand at acting and launched a handful of businesses.
Over the years she’s become one of the biggest success stories to come out of the show, winning countless awards and amassing a staggering net worth of over $100 million.
Keep scrolling to see 20 things Underwood has done since her time on the reality singing competition.
A Look Back at Carrie Underwood on ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood had a truly unforgettable run on American Idol, and though she’s moved on to become one of country music’s biggest superstars, she’s never forgotten her roots on the show.
Flip through the gallery below to see Underwood’s history on Idol, from her journey to being the Season 4 champion in 2005 to all the times she’s returned to the show.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
12 ‘American Idol’ Stars Who’ve Died
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes