Gabby Barrett Praises Carrie Underwood's Job as an 'American Idol' Judge

One former American Idol contestant has high praise for Carrie Underwood and her current job as a judge on the hit TV show.

Gabby Barrett, who came in third on Season 16 of Idol in 2018, says the "Stronger” singer is doing a phenomenal job for her inaugural year as a judge.

“I don’t know that I could do Idol,” Barrett says in a new interview with ET. “I don’t want to crush people like you have to. You have to learn that fine line of good criticism towards people, and I just feel like, give me 10 years, and it’ll help me, probably. But I think it’s amazing for her. I can’t imagine winning the show and then going back so many years and getting to do that. So cool, and she’s crushing it.”

Barrett was on American Idol for the first season that featured Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as judges, along with Katy Perry. Perry stayed through last year, leaving after Season 22 in 2024.

Maddie Poppe won Season 18 of American Idol, with Caleb Lee Hutchinson coming in second. Barrett's husband, Cade Foehner, was in the Top 7 on the show that year.

Carrie Underwood On 'American Idol'

Underwood famously won Season 4 of American Idol, going on to be one of the most successful Idol contestants of all time. The mother of two joins Bryan and Richie this year, hoping to impart some of what she learned to the aspiring singers.

"It feels like home," Underwood tells Good Morning America. "There are so many people that even still work on the show that were there when I was a contestant. And I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I'll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help and kind of offer a different viewpoint."

Not that it's all been easy for Underwood. She admits she dislikes the early part of the season, when she and her fellow judges determine the fate of the contestants. But overall, the mother of two has been pleasantly surprised by the singers on this season of American Idol.

"I was nervous coming in because it's a different ballgame," Underwood says on Audacy's Superstar Power Hour. "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 ... There's so much talent. It's kind of insane how gifted some of these people are."