March 4, 2026, 1:53 p.m. ET
Carrie Underwood is trying not to be blown away by booing “American Idol” fans.
The Grammy Award-winning songstress, who is also a judge on the singing reality show, was met with jeers from members of the audience several times while giving feedback to contestants during the Hollywood Week round of competition.
The boos were so prevalent that they were even referenced during a segment on the March 2 episode of “American Idol.”
“Professor Carrie’s Hollywood Week lessons have some students turning against her,” host Ryan Seacrest said in a voiceover.
“They just like to boo me,” Underwood said at one point in the clip.
Underwood’s fellow judge, Luke Bryan, even took a stand for her.
“She only won this, she knows,” Bryan said before Underwood quipped at the crowd, “You’re not included in the discussions.”
When Bryan later gave constructive criticism to one contestant, Underwood asked him, “Why don’t they boo you?” before turning to the audience and asking directly, “You’re not gonna boo him?”
Why was Carrie Underwood booed on ‘American Idol’?
Underwood was booed in response to her critical feedback to “American Idol” contestants during Hollywood Week.
“I’m just not sure that was the right song,” Underwood said at one point to the crowd’s disapproval.
Later, after 22-year-old Mor performed an original song for the second round of competition, Underwood prefaced her criticism by addressing the spectators, “You guys are gonna boo me. You guys are gonna boo me. It’s coming, just bring it on. I love it. Your boos are feeding me.”
As the episode aired, Underwood took to X to address the reactions, writing, “Boo me. I don’t care.”
Last month, the singer also warned fans about the reaction in a post on X.
“Spoiler alert…I get booed A LOT from our Hollywood Week audience,” Underwood said.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.