American Idol season 23 welcomed Carrie Underwood as a new judge on the show, and though many were hopeful that she’d be able to fit the role as a former winner, her lackluster debut has producers doing damage control for her performance. As a former American Idol winner, Carrie seemed like she may be able to take on the judge’s panel after the departure of former judge Katy Perry. Despite knowing that her time on the show was a lifetime ago, Carrie appeared to be ready to take on the challenge, coming from a place of genuine understanding and empathy.

While Carrie’s time on American Idol season 23 has been teased out by the series for months, the former winner has been getting panned in her first appearances on the show. After winning American Idol season 4, Carrie became one of the world’s country megastars. As one of the few American Idol winners who have found genuine, groundbreaking success on the show, Carrie was able to leverage her career in order to fulfill herself in various parts of her life. Now, as an Idol judge in her own right, it appears Carrie’s performance has producers scrambling to defend their decision.

Carrie’s layers could be peeled back throughout American Idol season 23.

American Idol Season 23’s Premiere Showed Carrie’s Lack Of Chemistry

The Judges Panel Isn’t Clicking With Carrie

As Carrie’s debut on the American Idol season 23 premiere has grown closer, it’s been clear that she was one of the main draws of tuning in for some viewers. While the show has die-hard fans who will watch no matter who’s at the judge’s table, Carrie was a big draw for some as she’s the first former winner to judge the competition. After watching the first episode, however, many felt underwhelmed by Carrie’s contributions.

With a somewhat boring turnout in the premiere, it was clear that Carrie was new. Her chemistry with her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie wasn’t strong enough to make her feel like a solid part of the judging panel. While Carrie was able to speak well about the performances she saw, she didn’t appear to have strong opinions unless the performance was emotional or moving, and her judging abilities weren’t shown outright in the way many hoped they would be. American Idol viewers were hoping for more from Carrie right off the bat.

Carrie’s Performance Has Producers Scrambling To Defend Her

Producers Are Looking For A Silver Lining

Although Carrie’s performance could improve as American Idol season 23 continues, her time as a judge thus far has been met with criticism, and her decisions have been called into question both within the scope of the show and outside of it. American Idol producers have stepped up to defend Carrie from critics, sharing with US Weekly that viewers will “discover so many layers [of Carrie] throughout the season.” Explaining that it felt like the right choice to bring Carrie in as a judge after Katy’s departure, production shared that her “firsthand experience” was “bringing something new to the table.”

Carrie’s Stardom Hasn’t Made Her American Idol Journey Easy

She’s Faced Criticism From The Jump

Although Carrie has been excited for the idea joining American Idol throughout the last few months, her time on the show has been panned since before she joined the series. Carrie’s megastardom has been something that viewers and critics have called into question, wondering if she may be too big a name to be able to work with the contestants. While Carrie’s star has only grown since her time on American Idol, her counterparts on the judges table are equally, if not more famous. Regardless, some have struggled to accept her as an American Idol judge thus far.

Even with criticism about her potential and the possibility she’d overshadow contestants, American Idol viewers were hopeful to be proven wrong on the series. Carrie’s first episode, however, was met with a mixed bag of reviews from fans and critics, making it clear that it may not have been the best choice to bring her aboard. With Carrie being such a big star, there were expectations about what she would be like as an Idol judge. Carrie’s performance, while making it clear that she was returning to her roots, often felt stiff in the exciting American Idol season 23 premiere.

American Idol Producers Should’ve Tested Carrie Before Offering Her A Spot

She Wasn’t Prepared For The Difficulty

While Carrie’s layers could be peeled back throughout American Idol season 23, it seems likely that producers should’ve chosen to test their new cast member before bringing her into the fold. Though the producers are right that Carrie has experience on the show that no judge has ever had before, the fact that she’s been in the contestants’ shoes could wind up being less of a benefit than they imagine. With Carrie not clicking with her fellow judges and rubbing some American Idol viewers the wrong way, bringing her in as a guest judge may have been a better choice.