Luke Bryan said first-time American Idol judge Carrie Underwood has a hard time telling contestants “no.”

Underwood is joining the panel of celebrity judges 20 years after she won the show in 2005. The Denim & Rhinestones hitmaker returns to the show following Katy Perry’s departure. Underwood is judging alongside Bryan and Lionel Richie, and is reuniting with longtime host Ryan Seacrest, who crowned Underwood the winner of the show’s fourth season.

Bryan caught up with E! News ahead of the 58th CMA Awards on Wednesday (November 20) at Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Bryan hosted the show again with Peyton Manning, and this time, they added 2023 Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson to the hosting team. Bryan told E! News on the red carpet that Underwood is learning her role as an Idol judge “in real time,” and she’s “awesome” with the contestants. “She’s doing a great job and really settling into the judging table. …When she has to say ‘No’ she’s like, ‘I don't wanna tell them no.’ But it’s kind of a part [of the job]. it’s hard when you got a kid that’s young and they haven’t found who they are musically.”

Underwood, Bryan, Richie and Seacrest recently announced that the next season of American Idol will debut on March 9. The show will premiere on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu.

Brooke Taylor