'American Idol' Showrunner Explains Why Carrie Underwood Was Chosen to Replace Katy Perry (Exclusive)

Carrie Underwood is headed to American Idol to take her seat behind the judges' table following the departure of longtime judge Kary Perry -- and Idol showrunner and executive producer Megan Wolflick is opening up about the show's casting choice.

On Thursday, hours after ABC announced the news, ET's Denny Directo spoke with Wolflick who explained why Underwood is the perfect choice and how the "stars aligned" to make the decision even more special.

"Well, it is 20 years since she auditioned in St. Louis for American Idol, and to have the first ever Idol alum on the panel has always been something that’s been interesting to me," Wolflick shared. "She is our queen, she is our icon of American Idol."

Underwood was crowned the champion of American Idol season 4 back in 2005 -- the same year she released her debut solo album Some Hearts, which sold 7.5 million copies and became the best selling album of 2006. In the years since, she's gone on to sell over 85 million records worldwide, with seven albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with 28 Billboard No. 1s under her belt.

"We have been searching, you know, and obviously talking to Carrie for a little bit here," she explained. "It has been a little over 2 months since the [season 22] finale, but these talks have been going on for a while and we've been really excited to make it all happen."

ABC announced on Thursday that the country songstress will be joining returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan -- as well as returning host Ryan Seacrest -- for the forthcoming season 23 of Idol.

In fact, Wolflick explained that the decision is particularly thrilling for Seacrest, who has been the host for every season of the show since its debut.

"Ryan couldn't be more excited, since he has been there every step of the way with Carrie," Wolflick said. "He was like just over the moon about it. And the guys are so excited, too. I mean obviously they both know her, they're excited to work with her."

"It's a new era of the show and every new chapter of American Idol," the longtime showrunner exclaimed. "When we open up that first page, it is just as exciting as closing a chapter, and I cannot wait to embark on this journey with our first Idol alum with the panel."

Perry had been a judge on Idol since it was revived on ABC in 2018 for a 16th season. She announced she was leaving the show after seven seasons back in February while sitting down with Jimmy Kimmel.

In April, Perry spoke with ET on the carpet after a live episode of Idol, and dished on her reason for exiting the hit reality singing competition series.

"I'm just trying to make space for other things," she explained.

"It's not like me ending this show means I'm going to go retire on an island, even though that would be fabulous," Perry added. "I'm gonna go to work."

Perry's sixth studio album, titled 143, will debut on Sept. 20 via Capitol Records. It will mark her first album since 2020's Smile.

Its first single and video, "Woman's World," dropped on July 11. 

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