Inside Carrie Underwood's return to American Idol as a judge for season 23: 'Our kids go on to be stars' (exclusive)

Carrie Underwood is in the hot seat. 

The American Idol judge gazes into the hopeful eyes of 25-year-old Pat Johnson, a Philadelphia native who has already performed two songs and is standing on the precipice of going to Hollywood after Underwood's fellow judges, country superstar Luke Bryan and four-time Grammy-winner Lionel Richie, delivered a split verdict on his audition. In doing so, the pair have put Underwood in what they call the American Idol vice, with Johnson's future in the competition resting solely on her shoulders.

The sunny New York City audition room falls silent when Underwood asks for a moment to decide, mulling over Johnson's performances before ultimately agreeing to let him through. "I'm going to side with Lionel here," she says, drawing gasps from the two men sitting on opposite sides of her and a wave of joy from Johnson. Still, Underwood’s approval comes with a caveat as she warns the Hollywood-bound rocker: “You better bring it.” 

If there’s anyone who understands the rush that Johnson felt at that exact moment, it’s Underwood. The 41-year-old Oklahoma native once stood on the opposite side of the desk praying for her own big break when she auditioned for season 4 of American Idol in 2005, performing a rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" for then-judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul. Her country roots, soaring vocal range, and ability to cluck like a chicken would lead Underwood to win the title of American Idol, and — 20 years, eight Grammys, and several world tours later — now she returns home to the series that started it all as its newest judge.

Entertainment Weekly joined the Idol crew in season 23's first stop of its country-wide search to tag along with Underwood on one of her first days as a judge — which is way harder than she thought. “It's such a difference when you're sitting at home from your couch watching it. You're like, 'What? That person was great!' Or, 'Oh my gosh, that person was terrible. I can't believe they sent them through!'" Underwood tells EW during a much-needed pizza lunch break with the judges and host Ryan Seacrest. "You think you can talk a lot of smack at home and it's so easy to sit up here in this chair, and it's not. These are people's dreams and feelings and hopes."

Underwood, who joins the series following Katy Perry's departure last season, represents the ultimate American Idol success story, according to showrunner and executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick. "Win or lose, this show will change your life, and Carrie is the ultimate testament to that,” Wolflick says. "I think she's getting confidence in being a judge at the same time that she's giving hopefuls confidence in their journey. So it's actually going to be a beautiful season to watch Carrie and the hopefuls evolve, and that's something we've never had before."

But don't expect to hear a shift in this season's sound just because Underwood and Bryan are both award-winning country singers — in fact, two of the contestants who continue on to the next stages during EW's visit are Johnson and an Adele-crooning pop singer. "Carrie is a country artist; however, first and foremost, she's the American Idol. So that is her title, so to speak," Wolflick adds. "You have Luke, country artist; you have the American Idol; and you have Lionel, living legend."