If you’re planning to audition on American Idol while Carrie Underwood is still a judge, you might want to stick with a classic cover—at least for now. The 24th season of the singing competition recently kicked off, with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie returning for their eighth year as judges, and Carrie in her second season as a judge.
During a recent interview, Carrie was asked whether contestants have an advantage if they perform their own original music instead of a cover. Surprisingly, she revealed that she actually prefers contestants to nail a cover first. The reason? Originals make it harder to focus solely on the singer’s voice. Carrie explained:
“It’s kind of hard to listen to a lot of originals because you’re not just judging their voice—you’re also trying to figure out the song. I feel like I’m at a concert where I love the artist, and they’re performing an album that hasn’t come out yet. The best thing is when somebody just nails a song I know and love—it makes me want to vote for them even more.”
She admitted that while it may seem counterintuitive—especially as more hopefuls are writing and performing their own songs—covering a well-known song allows judges to truly hear a contestant’s vocal ability without the distraction of unfamiliar material.
Of course, there are beautiful exceptions, such as 25-year-old contestant Hannah Harper, who performed her original song “String Cheese.” Inspired by her journey through postpartum depression and motherhood, Hannah’s heartfelt lyrics about her son asking her to open a snack moved Carrie to tears. Carrie, a mother of two, deeply related to the song’s sentiment, proving that a powerful story paired with an emotional original can still break the rules.
So, if you’re auditioning for Idol, Carrie’s advice is clear: stick to a strong cover for the first impression—unless your original comes with an inspiring story that can move the judges like Hannah’s did.