Carrie Underwood is reportedly set to return to American Idol but this time as a judge, replacing Katy Perry who is stepping down from the show.
According to TMZ, producers are in the final stages of contract negotiations with Underwood, who won Season 4 of the show in 2005.
Underwood will join longtime judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the panel for Season 25, making her the biggest star to come from the show to return as a judge.
The news comes after Perry's emotional exit from the show in May, where she announced she would be focusing on her music career. She has been a judge on the show since 2018.
The show has been searching for a replacement for Perry for months, with other names such as Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Pink, and Meghan Trainor also in consideration.
ABC renewed American Idol earlier this spring for an eighth season, which will premiere with Underwood as the new judge.
The show has consistently delivered strong ratings for the network since its reboot in 2018 after it ended its run at Fox in 2016.
An official announcement is expected soon, with the new season of American Idol set to premiere later this year on ABC.
