Judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan won the American Idol season 23 Judges’ Song Contest, earning them the privilege of saving one of the finalists from elimination, and, when they asked Carrie Underwood for help with their decision, she refused, proving that she’s not cut out for the role. During the Judges’ Song Contest, Lionel, Luke, and Carrie chose one song for each of the Top 8 finalists–Thunderstorm Artis, John Foster, Josh King, Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, Mattie Pruitt, Jamal Roberts, and Gabby Samone–to sing. The contestants had to select their songs without knowing which judge picked them. Whichever judges’ songs were chosen most was declared the winner of the Judges’ Song Contest.

✕Remove Ads

The American Idol season 23 finalists chose three of Luke’s songs, three of Lionel’s, and two of Carrie’s, which meant that the men tied for the win. The bottom two contestants were Josh and Mattie, which meant that Luke and Lionel had to save one of them and send the other one home. When it came time to make the decision, they asked Carrie for help, but she refused, proving that she doesn’t have what it takes to be an American Idol judge.

Why Did Carrie Underwood Refuse To Help Luke Bryan & Lionel Richie With The American Idol Season 23 Judges’ Save?

Carrie Didn’t Want To Make The Difficult Decision Between Mattie & Josh

When it came time for Luke and Lionel to save either Mattie or Josh, Carrie became visibly uncomfortable, and even backed away in her chair from the judges’ table. Luke joked, “Where you going, Carrie?,” as she replied, “I have nothing to do with this,” and put her hands up. Lionel then pleaded, “Carrie, we need you.” Carrie responded, “Nope. No,” and pushed her chair completely away from them. Luke and Lionel then decided to save Mattie, leaving Carrie to clap politely without a smile on her face.

20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now

Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

Earlier in the episode, Carrie realized that it was a blessing in disguise for her to be losing the Judges’ Song Contest. She even commented that she wouldn’t have to save anyone if she lost the contest. Although Carrie joked that she doesn’t lose on American Idol, she seemed relieved when the burden of saving a contestant shifted to winners Lionel and Luke. She didn’t want to have to make the difficult decision to send one of the finalists home. This meant that, when her fellow judges asked for her help, she refused and forced them to do it without her, removing the burden of guilt from herself.

Carrie Is Worried About Seeming Mean On American Idol

Carrie’s Fear Is Causing Her To Not Do Her Job

Carrie’s discomfort with participating in the Judges’ Save could stem from the fact that she doesn’t want to hurt the contestants’ feelings because she’s such a kind person. In March 2025, Carrie joined Katie Neal on the Superstar Power Hour (shared via Audacy), and she admitted that she was worried that she was coming across as mean on the show. She said, “I was nervous coming in because it’s a different ballgame, you know, and sitting on the other side of the table, more than anything, I want to help all of these people coming through, and help them become better performers and live their dreams.”

Carrie continued by explaining that she has to navigate the fine line between being critical and crushing people’s dreams. “So I want to be constructive and tell them things they can work on, but then you’re like, am I coming across mean? … There’s so much talent. It’s kind of insane how gifted some of these people are.” In addition, Carrie has admitted that she had a hard time saying no to the contestants during the auditions.

With only two weeks until the American Idol season 23 finale, Carrie still isn’t used to having to say no to the finalists. It must’ve been a relief for her that the decisions about who’d be going home are now up to America’s votes and not the judges, but the Judges’ Save forced them to make a choice again.

Carrie opted out of that decision, most likely because of her fear of seeming mean, but this is her job. However, she didn’t want to have to put an end to Mattie or Josh’s dream. This, paired with her hesitancy to provide the contestants with any negative feedback, seems to indicate that she isn’t cut out to be an American Idol judge. She’s simply too nice.

Carrie’s Experience As An American Idol Contestant Might Be Hurting Her

Carrie Remembers How It Felt To Have Her Dreams On The Line

Carrie’s refusal to participate in the Judges’ Save might’ve also been a result of the fact that she won American Idol season 4 in 2005, and, therefore, she knows what it’s like to be a contestant with her dreams on the line during the eliminations. Although she was never in the bottom, and she never had to be saved by the judges, Carrie still remembers what it was like to have to go through the stress of an American Idol elimination as a contestant.

I Saw Miranda Lambert In Concert & My Experience Confirms The Type Of Mentor She’ll Be On American Idol Season 23

American Idol S23 will welcome country music superstar Miranda Lambert as a mentor, and my concert experiences confirm how she’ll perform in the role.

While this seemed like an asset when Carrie was first cast as the newest American Idol judge, it now seems to be hurting her. She identifies too much with the finalists, and, therefore, she can’t separate her emotions from her duties as a judge. This is a problem because, not only did Carrie refuse to participate in the Judges’ Save, but she made Lionel and Luke the bad guys in the process, which was unfair to them. Carrie detached from the situation, forcing them to be the only two judges at that moment.

✕Remove AdsThe American Idol Judges Have Consulted About The Save In The Past

Katy Perry Wanted Lionel & Luke’s Input

Even though Carrie didn’t win the Judges’ Song Contest, and, technically, she didn’t have to participate in the Judges’ Save, traditionally, all three judges have worked together to make the decision. Former judge Katy Perry always prided herself on winning the Judges’ Song Contest, but she asked for Lionel and Luke’s input. During American Idol season 21, Katy declared, “There’s no ‘I’ in team!,” and pulled Luke and Lionel in for a discussion, after which they saved Oliver Steele instead of Marybeth Byrd and Tyson Venegas.

During American Idol season 22, when it came time for Katy to choose between McKenna Faith Breinholt and Kaibrienne, she once again pulled Luke and Lionel toward her in their chairs, and they consulted with each other, deciding to save McKenna. Luke and Lionel didn’t use not winning the Judges’ Song Contest as an excuse to bow out of helping Katy to make the decision, nor did they take their losses too seriously. Instead, the three judges worked together as a team to ease the burden of sending a beloved contestant home. In addition, although Katy cried as she announced the results, she did what she had to do as an American Idol judge.

Although Carrie didn’t win the Judges’ Song Contest, she still should’ve helped Luke and Lionel to decide between Mattie and Josh during the Judges’ Save. By removing herself from the situation, she proved that she doesn’t have what it takes to be an American Idol judge. She’s too worried about hurting the contestants’ feelings to do the job, which might stem from her past experience as a contestant. Carrie is a wonderful person with a kind soul, but being an American Idol might be too much for her.