As someone who was once a contestant, Carrie Underwood is no stranger to how it feels to audition for American Idol. She has quite a different view now at the judges' table alongside her co-judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. It's why 42-year-old Underwood got candid about why she called 48-year-old Bryan "grumpy" on the show.
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Carrie Underwood Explains Why She Called 'American Idol' co-judge Luke Bryan "Grumpy"
During a Good Morning America interview in early March, Underwood explained why she considered Bryan a grouch. When asked during a game who was more likely to give a golden ticket, Underwood quickly chose between herself and 75-year-old Richie.
"I accused Luke of being grumpy," Underwood admitted after the question. "I was like, 'You're grumpy, you say no to everybody!'" It makes sense that Underwood would have more sympathy for contestants, as she used to be one. Now, being a judge, she still has a soft heart for auditioning singers yearning for fame.
When asked if he had been tough on contestants this season, Bryan acknowledged Underwood's callout. "When she's calling me grumpy, I may have been a little...a little grumpy there," he admitted.
Richie sided with those claims by explaining how Underwood makes certain decisions on American Idol. "Get Carrie to say, 'We don't want you to be here,'" Richie said, referring to contestants. "And she goes, 'Oh, he's so cute. He's so nice.'" Richie reaffirmed that Underwood had difficulties saying no to contestants.
Carrie Underwood Didn't Know Judges Could Request Songs
Underwood has come a long way since her win in 2005, and she seems to be still learning how to act as a judge. Earlier in the interview, Bryan mentioned something Underwood hadn't even known she had the authority to do as a judge.
"Early in the taings, Carrie didn't know that you could just like, start telling the contestants what to sing," said Bryan. "I was like, 'Sing Happy Birthday, sing this,' and Carrie was like, 'We can do that?'"
Despite the two picking at each other at some points during the interview, Bryan still had nice things to say. "I think she's already done some of that [seeing potential and taking ownership of a contestant] this year, and Lionel and I have done that in years past."
Underwood also chose Bryan as the most likely judge to win a dance-off. It seems there's no bad blood between the two.
