American Idol: 5 Reasons Carrie Underwood Should Never Have Been Cast (I Think She's Great But The Wrong Judge For The Show)
American Idol star Carrie Underwood is a force to be reckoned with - gorgeous, talented, and sugar-sweet, but maybe her undeniable star power actually detracts from the show's contestants. They are all trying to be what Carrie already is - a singing sensation with loyal fans, plenty of money and a happy family. Carrie's the epitome of the American Dream - she's America's sweetheart! Wholesome and down home, and yet so glamorous, the camera loves her. Carrie's fans adore her. Loaded with charisma and empathy, Carrie takes control of every scene she's in, without meaning to - it's just her destiny to stand out.
Carrie rose to fame on American Idol season 4, winning the competition, but before that, there were signs that she was going to be a famous and influential woman. On the show, 500 million people voted for Carrie. She just won them over, stealing their hearts. At the age of 14, Carrie sang for Capitol Records executives, who were impressed enough to prepare a contract for her. However, there was a management shake-up, so those plans fell through. No matter - fate had much more in store for the stunning blonde from Muskogee, Oklahoma.
5 Carrie's A Sensitive Pisces Woman (Maybe She's Too Soft)
Learn About Carrie's Astrological Natal Chart
Carrie's big heart shines through on the show, and that isn't always a bad thing, but she's never going to deliver harsh critiques the way that Simon Cowell did. She's not that kind of judge or that kind of person. Libra man Simon enjoyed amusing the peanut gallery with his acerbic commentary - he was witty, smart, funny, and unafraid to offend. He had complete faith in his own judgment, and quite a bit of arrogance.
It's a fine line between confidence and arrogance - Simon can accurately assess others, but he wasn't the most compassionate presence on the series.
Carrie's a Pisces, and the world of emotions is her natural domain. She has all the feelings in glorious abundance - she understands your emotions too. If you're standing in front of this intuitive Pisces woman, singing your heart out, she's going to look deep inside you. She's going to care about you and your "story," whether she likes the way that you sing or not. She's very different from Simon, whose approach is more detached and intellectual. In some ways, this could work against Carrie. A judge is someone who should rule with their head rather than their heart.
Libra's ruled by The Scales, as in the "scales of justice." There are so many Libra lawyers and judges, including Judge Judy Sheindlin. So, Simon's judgment was rock-solid - however, people's feelings weren't necessarily his top priority. Carrie can't turn off her empathy, so it may be hard for her to say what needs to be said.
Carrie has an Aquarius Moon, giving her a little more detachment than the typical Pisces has - however, she's still ruled by Neptune - the planet of dreams and wishes. That's why Carrie always has a sort of Disney Princess innocence. The Sun-Moon blend of Pisces and Aquarius is a very idealistic mix. Carrie has a vision for her life, and how people should behave - she tries to be a good person. People with Aquarius moons can really sway the public, and this is probably one of the secrets of Carrie's off-the-charts charisma.
What else is happening in Carrie's natal chart, and how does that impact her experience on American Idol? Well, she was born with the rising sign, Leo. The ascendant sign governs our public image - how people see us. When someone has Leo rising, other people see a true star - a person with untold "X factor" - a natural performer. Leo rising in a birth chart is a sign - a powerful blessing that often signals future fame.
Countless times, Leo rising women have become world-famous - Marilyn Monroe and Tina Turner are examples. Each woman had a major impact on popular culture, just like Carrie does.
Carrie's other placements don't change the fact that she's a Pisces woman - they just add a little light and shadow. To a Pisces, what people are feeling and what is true, far beneath the surface, will always matter the most - a lot more than superficial things. So, Carrie's ability to see into the souls of contestants may make her extremely endearing. That being said, it's a double-edged sword. She will care too much, feeling their pain.
4 Carrie's Too Plugged Into Contestants' Emotional Worlds
She May Feel Bad About Ending Their AI Journeys
Carrie believes in the power of dreams, and playing the role of judge means choosing some people over others. In the American Idol season 23 trailer shown above, the contestants' faces are shining. They're just radiant with hope, as though they've been sprinkled with stardust - they're dreaming of being just like the judges - powerhouses in the world of music. However, there will only be one winner, and judges vet the contestants, ensuring that their picks have a shot at the prize.
It's a harsh thing to crush someone's dream. That can hurt a judge as well as a contestant. With someone empathetic like Carrie, that will inevitably take an emotional toll. She will not be able to distance herself emotionally - she'll know how much she's hurting someone when she plays a role in ending their journey. Carrie will think about what that person's life was like before they made it to the American Idol set, how they felt while they competed, and what their life will be like afterward.
So far, Carrie has showcased a lot of caring for the contestants. That's her Piscean superpower, but it's also a possible red flag, as it's her job to assess them on their vocal ability, and that alone. Other factors, such as charisma and willingness to learn (stepping out of one's range or typical repertoire, for example) do matter, but ultimately, it's about the voice.
When Carrie told one contestant, Breanna Nix, not to refer to herself as "just a stay at home mom," it was because Carrie was slipping into that person's skin, feeling their emotions and trying to understand them. Carrie wanted to build Brianna up by assuring her that taking care of a child at home is important. It's a job - it's work, and it's valuable, and all of that is one hundred percent true. However, Carrie's mothering of contestants, while sweet, could be a problem, as she may unwittingly, with the very best intentions, overstep.
3 Carrie Has Too Much Star Quality
No One Can Take Their Eyes Off Her
Carrie is adorable in the American Idol Instagram clip above, where she sees a cute little boy and immediately goes to him for a cuddle. In fact, she puts him right on her lap while she sits with the other judges. This kind of warmth is beautiful to behold, but ultimately, the camera follows Carrie, and her beauty and sweetness just dominate the scene. Like Cinderella in front of a castle, right before the ball, Carrie is trying to make every single moment magical, for herself and everyone around her.
This is what people love - it's Carrie's essence. It's what draws people to her. They feel safe with her, and they are safe. However, all the star power in this woman means that Carrie's often the focus, even at her most unselfish, her most giving... she's just someone that captures the imagination. In a sense, she could overshadow all the contestants - that doesn't mean she isn't a wonderful woman. She seems extremely kind in light of how powerful she is. She wears that power so lightly and gracefully.
2 Carrie Could Overshadow The Judges Too
The Other Judges Also Want Attention
Above, Carrieshines while chatting with Jimmy Fallon (via Fallontonight at Instagram), all decked out in the regalia of a bona fide country-pop queen. All that's missing is a crown and scepter. Carrie's glittery silver dress, Barbie-perfect hair, and sincere smile are enchanting. As she chats with Jimmy, getting so real about her American Idol experience, Lionel Richie and his AI costar Luke Bryan, who sit beside her, actually seem to have less star power.
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Both of these men are hugely successful people. While they probably love Carrie (Lionel sympathetically commented on her nerves recently), just like most people do, they may feel like she's taking over. It's just human nature to want attention. The other judges are used to getting that, but there's something about Carrie. It's so easy for her to connect. When she begins to speak, sharing her feelings, she instantly has the audience in the palm of her hand.
1 Interest In Carrie's Life Is Endless
Fans May Talk About Her More Than The Contestants
Carrie, revered for her All-American beauty, fell on the stairs, and needed plastic surgery to repair the damage to her face. Gorgeous before and after the accident, Carrie's had to deal with speculation about her looks. She was likely traumatized by the accident, and quite possibly, reading what people have to say about her post-accident appearance doesn't help.
It's a big deal for a woman who's very famous and always scrutinized to sustain damage to her face. It's a lot to deal with psychologically, and Carrie has handled all of that with her usual openness and good energy.
The accident happened in 2017. One minute, things were fine, and then, it was all so different. Anyone who's had a serious accident will understand. While chatting on The Bobby Bones Show, Carrie explained what happened:
“I was taking the dogs out to go pee one last time, and I just—I tripped. There was one step, and I didn’t let go of the leashes! Priorities! So that’s why my left hand’s fine. But I went to catch myself and I just missed a step.”
Carrie broke her wrist, and sustained cuts to her face. The stitches on her face left her with visible scars. At first, she didn't think the accident was that big of a deal, but the facial injuries meant that she needed more help from doctors. Also, the stitches were close to her mouth, making it harder to sing.
She needed a lot of stitches - between 40 and 50.
Carrie needed cosmetic procedures. It's quite normal for a person to look a little different after all that. To me, Carrie looks the same, but some fans disagree. Even if she did look different, I wouldn't care - I think she's stunningly beautiful inside and out. I would admire her more for experiencing something awful and overcoming it. Beauty isn't always about perfection. Imperfections can also be beautiful.
Uncaring that Carrie might see their "insights" on her looks, one fan wrote on Carrie's post with Ludacris:
She def looks alot different than she used to.
Of course, Carrie's a strong woman - a wife, a mother, an American Idol legend, and a pop-country superstar. She can handle some negative remarks from "fans." Nonetheless, picking someone apart can hurt them. That being said, Carrie, a confident person, kept all the comments about her looks on her IG.
She didn't stop people from expressing themselves. That's the best thing that she can do. It shows the most self-esteem.
Carrie's accident got a lot of attention, and her backstory might be more memorable than some Idol contestants' stories. The thing is, aside from the voices, the show is really about these stories. Viewers learn about the pasts of contestants, and their stories play a role in terms of how people at home vote. They are one facet of the jewel that is an American Idol contestant. Carrie wants their stories heard, but as previously mentioned, she's so famous that her own story might be what viewers remember.
American Idol season 23 premieres Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC, then streams the following day on Hulu.
Sources: Fallontonight/Instagram, American Idol/Instagram, The Bobby Bones Show, Carrie Underwood/Instagram
American Idol
- Released
- November 7, 2003
