Ryan Seacrest takes Carrie Underwood ‘under his wing’ ahead of her debut as ‘American Idol’ judge

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest has reportedly been working hard to persuade Carrie Underwood to commit to the show, and he is dedicated to making her stint as judge on the show a huge success.

Seacrest has been urging other judges to step up and ensure Underwood, 41, does not face the same outcome as Katy Perry and wants to ensure that no rivalries develop during the upcoming season.

Ryan Seacrest wants everyone on 'American Idol' to make Carrie Underwood 'feel welcome'

'American Idol' Season 23 marks the first time the judges' table has changed since ABC revived the popular singing competition series. Katy Perry will be replaced by Carrie Underwood, who is preparing to sit next to superstars Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

Seacrest, 50, wants everyone on 'American Idol' to welcome the country music star. "He wants to do everything he can to make sure Carrie avoids any pitfalls and stays golden in the fans' eyes," a source told Life & Style magazine.

According to the source, Seacrest has been taking Underwood "under his wing" since he views her as a "close friend" and wants to try to convince her to return for several seasons.

"Ryan has really taken her under his wing, and he’s instructed the other judges to do the same," the insider said.

"He wants them to really make her feel welcome, not just because he considers her a close friend but also because he would love for her to do more than one season," they added.

The source further noted, "He [Seacrest] thinks it’s a huge coup to have one of the show’s biggest success stories front and center at the judges’ table and believes she’ll serve as an inspiration for all the contestants."

Underwood's transition from 'American Idol' contestant to the judge's panel has apparently gone smoothly, and Seacrest is largely responsible for the good vibes.

"She’s quite nervous and wants to do her best job and Ryan’s appointed himself Carrie’s guiding light. She’s his favorite, he gives her most if not all his attention, when she speaks, he’s all ears," a different source told the outlet in October 2024.

Ryan Seacrest wants to make sure Carrie Underwood doesn't face 'the Katy situation'

Ryan Seacrest is apparently doing his best to ensure that everyone gets along well on 'American Idol' and will not tolerate a certain kind of behavior because he doesn't want any rivalries to develop during the upcoming season.

"The best way of doing that is to be supportive and work as a team and ensure there's no rivalry or cattiness; he's made it known that won't be tolerated," the source said.

Moreover, Seacrest constantly shows a great deal of regard and concern for the competitors, including former contestants like Underwood. The insider claimed that the host "loves her warm and bubbly personality and thinks she’s a huge talent".

According to the insider, the 'Idol' host faced some criticism for "the Katy situation", therefore, he wants to make sure Underwood has a smooth transition.

"On a personal level, he’s also determined to avoid anything like the Katy situation happening again. The backlash he got was awful, whatever the judges do affects him," the source revealed.

Following Perry's departure from the show in February 2024, the 'California Girl' singer, 40, was replaced by the 'American Idol' Season 4 winner.

Perry's criticism and comments were reportedly not well received by viewers due to which the atmosphere behind the scenes grew "vicious".

"Certain people didn’t want to work. It was frustrating because Katy is a professional and there’s nothing lazy about her, and she doesn’t like wasting time, especially hers," another source told Life & Style magazine in August 2024.

"She certainly made a fortune, but she’s glad to be gone," they added.

Although Perry didn't have a great exit from 'American Idol,' she embraced Underwood's role with open arms. Perry told People, "She was born on that show. I think she knows how to steer it."

However, Underwood's contentious choice to perform at the recent US presidential inauguration caused a headache that the network does not require at this moment.

Moreover, her timid demeanor in contrast to Perry's eccentric and outgoing personality has contributed to the belief that Underwood might not make an ideal judge.

Season 23 of 'American Idol' will premiere on ABC on March 9, 2025, at 8 PM ET.