Carrie Underwood made American Idol history this season, returning not as a contestant but as a judge for the show that launched her career. While her presence on the panel was enough to create buzz, it was an unexpected moment during the auditions that left fellow judge Lionel Richie visibly stunned.
Underwood’s familiarity with nu-metal classics was revealed when an 18-year-old contestant, Insite, performed Korn’s “Freak on a Leash” during the Season 23 premiere. Despite being best known as a country superstar with over 85 million records sold worldwide, Underwood effortlessly mouthed and sang along to the Korn track, surprising everyone. When Insite switched to Drowning Pool’s “Bodies,” Underwood went one step further—getting up and joining him, enthusiastically delivering the count-off before the chorus.
Lionel Richie’s reaction was immediate and full of disbelief. “She knew every word! Who are you?” he exclaimed, genuinely shocked by Underwood’s seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of nu-metal lyrics. He wasn’t alone—Luke Bryan joined in the fun, playfully referring to her as “Jukebox Carrie” and marveling at her ability to sing anything, from George Strait to Korn.
