![Iam Tongi Talks Being Rejected From 'American Idol' Before Winning, New Music + More [EXCLUSIVE]](https://www.everythingnash.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/iam-tongi-cma-Kayla-schoen-150x150.jpg)
Iam Tongi was crowned the Season 21 winner of American Idol in 2023. It’s a far cry from his experience on year prior, when he didn’t even make it past the first round. “They wouldn’t even let me audition,” Tongi tells Everything Nash. “They said, ‘Come back next year.’ And I was like, ‘You say that to everyone, probably.’…
Carrie Underwood is revealing one of the most important pieces of advice she feels like she gave the recent contestants on American Idol. The words of wisdom Underwood imparted came from her own experience of being on American Idol in 2005, when she was crowned the Season 4 winner. “I gave this to the contestants this year,” Underwood tells…
Carrie Underwood is getting emotional looking back at her time on American Idol. The 42-year-old reflected on the show, and how much it transformed her life, as her first season as a judge recently came to an end. “I think about my journey on American Idol all the time, because it’s so grand. It’s so unbelievable. If somebody were…
Carrie Underwood just wrapped up her inaugural season as a judge on American Idol, 20 years after she was crowned the Season 4 winner in 2005. For Underwood, being able to join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as a judge was a full-circle moment, and a way to honor the show where her superstar career began. “I owe my career to…
![Cody Johnson Makes Surprise Appearance on 'American Idol' Finale [WATCH]](https://www.everythingnash.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cody-johnson-carrie-underwood-slater-nalley-150x150.jpg)
Cody Johnson surprised fans, and contestant Slater Nalley, by appearing on the American Idol finale. Carrie Underwood and Nalley were performing her and Johnson’s recent No. 1 hit, “I’m Gonna Love You,” when Johnson emerged on stage to surprise Nalley and finish singing the song with him. Slater made it into the Top 5 of American Idol, with Jamal Roberts…
Carrie Underwood is a big fan of ’90s country, and especially Martina McBride. In a recent installment of Underwood’s Idol to Icon series, Underwood shares a performance of her singing McBride’s “Independence Day” while she was competing on American Idol in 2005, revealing how McBride shaped her own career. “I sang ‘Independence Day’ a few times on the show. In…
![Carrie Underwood Reveals Wild Simon Cowell Prediction That Came True [WATCH]](https://www.everythingnash.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/carrie-underwood-disney-eric-mcandless-2-150x150.jpg)
Simon Cowell might have been known to be acerbic and harsh when he was a judge on American Idol, but he also had uncanny instincts, at least when it came to Carrie Underwood. The Season 4 American Idol winner is sharing an excerpt from her journal while on American Idol, as part of her Idol to Icon series, revealing…
Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake teamed up on American Idol to perform their new duet. The two sang “Hard Fought Hallelujah” as part of the Songs of Faith episode. The duo earned high praise from all of the judges for their performance, especially Carrie Underwood . “I have not met him, but he’s a staple in our house, in…
![Carrie Underwood Performs 'How Great Thou Art' on 'American Idol' [WATCH]](https://www.everythingnash.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/carrie-underwood-disney-eric-mccandless-150x150.jpg)
Carrie Underwood brought the house down with a recent performance. Underwood sang “How Great Thou Art” as part of American Idol‘s Songs of Faith episode. It’s a song that Underwood has been performing in her live shows for years, including as part of her just-ended REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency. Underwood’s performance earned her a standing ovation from everyone…
Carrie Underwood is looking back on her American Idol journey. Underwood was crowned the Season 4 winner in 2005, and is now returning, 20 years later, this time to serve as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. “I was always a singer. It was in me,” Underwood shares as part of the new From Idol to Icon series….
