Carrie Underwood will be a judge on American Idol when Season 8 on ABC begins next spring. She joins Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and takes over for Katy Perry. 

Underwood won Season 4 of the Fox version of the show, back in 2005.  

“This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on Idol and launched her successful multi-Grammy Award-winning career,“ Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich said. “As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television. This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”

A country singer-songwriter, Underwood has sold more than 85 million records, according to ABC, and recorded 28 No. 1 singles (14 of which she co-wrote).

Season 8 auditions kick off Monday, August 12.  

“Carrie Underwood is the first American Idol alum ever to join the judging panel,” showrunner and executive producer Megan Wolflick said. “Her global superstar status as the most successful Idol winner to date makes her a perfect fit for the show. She embodies the true spirit of Idol as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story. Our future hopefuls will have the chance to receive advice from someone who has walked in their exact footsteps every step of the way. Carrie has always been a strong supporter of Idol, and I’m thrilled for her to be reunited with our Idol Family,”  

American Idol is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment. Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman executive produce for 19 Entertainment.

CBS on Monday (April 11) will air live the CMT Music Awards, which celebrate the best in country music, but the CMT cable network will keep the music playing with a week-long lineup of special awards programming leading up to its own re-airing of the event.

The move of the CMT Music Awards show to CBS and Paramount Plus from CMT is expected to provide more audience exposure for the event as well as for the CMT brand, according to Margaret Comeaux, CMT VP of production, music & events. This year’s award show, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie, will feature performances by Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood and The Judds. Kenny Chesney is set to close the show.

“We get to be in front of hopefully a bigger audience who will experience it and see what we’re doing,” Comeaux told Multichannel News. “We’ve had a great response to our show in years past on CMT, and I think we’re hoping for the same thing on CBS.”

Also: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert to Perform at CMT Music Awards 

Despite not having the live telecast, CMT will look to build viewer momentum for its April 15 extended cut CMT Music Awards rebroadcast -- which will feature additional performances -- with a week-long lineup of CMT Awards-themed programming, Comeaux said. Prior to the live CMT Music Awards event, the network’s first-ever “CMT Music Awards Week” will feature an April 9 Hot 20 Countdown Live special as well as an April 11 Red Carpet special. 

After the live show, the network will air several specials, including CMT Storytellers: Brooks & Dunn (premiering April 13) and CMT Crossroads: Leann Rimes & Friends (April 14). 

Comeaux said she expects the CMT Music Awards to draw additional viewers through CBS, although she would not project viewership numbers. “Our awards show is so focused on the fans, so we view this as their night,” she said. “I'm very enthusiastic about what's gonna happen, and I think the audience is really gonna love it.” ■

Carrie Underwood was the big winner at last night’s (June 10) 2015 CMT Music Awards event, capturing three awards to make her the biggest winner in the show’s history.

Underwood’s Something in the Water  won in the Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year categories, while her Something Bad collaboration with Miranda Lambert won in the Collaborative Video of the Year category.

The three wins gave Underwood a CMT Awards-record 13 wins, according to the network.

The 2015 CMT Awards list of winners include:

Video of the Year: Carrie Underwood, "Something in the Water"

Male Video of the Year: Luke Bryan, "Play It Again"

Female Video of the Year: Carrie Underwood, "Something in the Water"

Group Video of the Year: Lady Antebellum, "Bartender"

Duo Video of the Year: Florida Georgia Line, "Dirt"

Breakthrough Video of the Year: Sam Hunt, "Leave The Night On"

Collaborative Video of the Year: Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, "Something Bad"

CMT Performance of the Year: Bob Seger and Jason Aldean, "Turn the Page" (CMT Crossroads)

Music Choice plans to start the holiday themed music early this year, with three popular channels playing non-stop this week.

This will be the first year MC Sounds of the Seasons, MC Soft Rock and Romances Music Channels will flip to holiday music so soon.

During the holiday season, average audience viewership spikes up to 11%, according to VP of Programming, Damon Williams in a release.

Some artists to be featured on MC Soft Rock include Rod Stewart, Carrie Underwood, James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Bublé. MC Romances will have some Spanish language songs by José Feliciano and Prince Royce, along with English language songs by Harry Connick and Barbara Streisand.

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