Carrie Underwood may be having second thoughts about returning for another season of American Idol. According to multiple reports, the Grammy-winning singer hasn't committed to rejoining the judges' panel for Season 24, leaving producers at ABC uncertain about her future on the long-running show.
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"She's not sure she wants to do another season," a source told Star. "She's let bosses know she's not 100 percent sure."
The country music powerhouse, who shares two sons -- Isaiah, 10, and Jacob, 6 -- with husband and former NHL star Mike Fisher, has openly discussed the challenges of balancing her career with motherhood.
"You feel guilty about every single thing, every decision you make, everything you do," she recently admitted.
Pay Gap Adding to Doubts?
Though producers reportedly accommodated Underwood's request for more time with her family during tapings, money may also be a sticking point. The insider claims she was paid half of what Katy Perry earned for her judging role, with Perry reportedly pulling in $25 million per season.
"There's talk Carrie wants more money," the source told Star. "It's been a bumpy ride, and she's not sure it's worth the pain without a nice incentive."
Underwood joined the judges' panel in Season 23, returning to the show that launched her career nearly two decades ago. She won American Idol in 2005 and quickly became one of country music's most celebrated and commercially successful artists.
Underwood and Broken Records
Underwood's rise following Idol was meteoric. Her debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," became the first by a country artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut album, Some Hearts, remains the best-selling debut by a solo female country artist and earned her three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.
She followed up with a string of multiplatinum albums that included Carnival Ride (2007), Play On (2009), and Blown Away (2012), each earning critical and commercial acclaim. Hits like "Before He Cheats" and "Cowboy Casanova" cemented her crossover appeal, while 2014's Greatest Hits: Decade #1 and 2015's Storyteller extended her Billboard dominance.
In recent years, she released a Christmas album (My Gift), a gospel record (My Savior), and her latest studio album, Denim & Rhinestones. She has sold over 85 million records worldwide, won eight Grammy Awards, and earned more American Music Awards (17) and Billboard Music Awards (12) than any other female country artist.
