Carrie Underwood Says Bring on the Boos and Then Actually Loves Them

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If you thought boos were a bad thing, think again—at least according to Carrie Underwood. The “Cowboy Casanova” singer, who famously won American Idol in 2005, took a fearless approach to Monday night’s tough judging, proving that not all criticism is bad criticism… sometimes it’s deliciously energizing.

During Hollywood Week at Belmont University, Underwood sat alongside fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, ready to whittle down a massive pool of 127 hopefuls to just 30 contestants. And when 22-year-old Mor from Teays Valley, W.Va., performed his original song “How to Love You,” Underwood knew things were about to get spicy.

“I feel like you guys are gonna boo me,” she warned the audience. “And it’s coming, just bring it on! I love it! Your boos are feeding me!”

Boo me. I don’t care. 😂😜🤪@AmericanIdol

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) March 3, 2026

Feed her they did. Underwood’s honest critique—delivered with the kind of sweet-and-sour honesty that only a former Idol winner can pull off—was met with the expected jeers. But true to her word, she soaked it up like a karaoke queen on espresso.

“In a room like this, for you to bring an original song, with that incredible band sitting behind you, like twiddling their thumbs, I feel like it was just a missed opportunity,” she told Mor, to the audience’s disapproving chorus. Then, with a twist only Carrie could deliver, she added: “And I love your voice. I love you! You took a risk, and … it paid off.”

Mor didn’t make it past the cut, joining dozens of hopefuls whose dreams were temporarily paused, but the mood wasn’t all doom and gloom. Underwood herself took to social media with a laugh and a shrug: “Boo me. I don’t care,” she captioned a post alongside multiple laughing emojis.

Fans of the show know Underwood isn’t in the business of handing out participation trophies. “I just want everybody to learn,” she told SiriusXM’s The Highway last fall. And sometimes, that means embracing the boos—and turning them into fuel for the next round.

Next stop for the remaining contestants: Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii, where the new ‘Ohana Round’ promises sun, surf, and even more high-stakes performances. Underwood, Richie, and Bryan will be watching, along with industry experts, fellow contestants, and family members. No pressure, right?

American Idol airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.