American Idol fans eager to see former champion Carrie Underwood return to the show as a judge will get a first look in a special preview. The preview is slated to arrive one week ahead of the Idol premiere in 2025, after the Oscars airs, on March 2.

Underwood, ABC and American Idol shared a screenshot of a Hollywood Reporter news story on Instagram on Thursday (December 5). The Hollywood Reporter notes that it will be a half-hour preview that will offer glimpses of Underwood as a judge and some of the auditions for the upcoming season.

Underwood is returning to the show 20 years after winning the competition in 2005. The powerhouse country star is serving as a judge on American Idol following Katy Perry’s departure, and joins Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. She’ll also reunite with longtime American Idol judge Ryan Seacrest, who crowned Underwood the winner in the show’s fourth season. The pair will also reunite when Underwood headlines Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025. Seacrest is hosting the iconic New Year’s Eve show for his 20th year on Tuesday, December 31, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Relive Underwood’s American Idol journey in photos here.

The Oscars broadcast will kick off at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC on March 2, followed by the American Idol preview. American Idol will premiere on March 9 on ABC, and will be available the following day on Hulu.

Calendar Events