"They feel more frenzied" — Carrie Underwood says American Idol Season 23 feels tougher than when she competed

Carrie Underwood, who won American Idol Season 4, has noted that this year's competitors face tremendous pressure. She observes that the season’s compressed timeline puts participants into a never-ending cycle of learning and performance, which she herself never encountered as a contestant.

"We’ve had a condensed season. It was a lot longer when I was on the show. So they’re running to catch up the whole time. I would imagine they feel more frenzied than I felt about the whole situation," said Underwood.

The Top 10 performers have quickly progressed through many themed nights, including group medleys, celebrity duets, and genre challenges. In addition to mastering song arrangements, they must swiftly learn choreography, camera blocking, and media responsibilities while maintaining vocal health and stage appearance.

According to Underwood, this rapid approach heightens tension and raises the stakes significantly. With the grand finale airing on May 18, participants must strike a balance between rapid skill growth and the emotional toll of live TV. As voting begins and social media buzzes, the ability to remain calm under such pressure may determine who eventually takes the golden microphone.

Carrie Underwood on season 23 finalists navigating the American Idol stress

As American Idol Season 23 approaches its finale, Carrie Underwood comments on how quickly today’s hopefuls must adapt to the demands of live television. Finalists must master on-camera techniques, media etiquette, and hard choreography while competing in themed rounds such as group numbers, celebrity duets, and genre showcases. Underwood refers to it as “Star Boot Camp,” a crash course in which performers are forced to evolve under constant inspection.

"You learn a lot really fast. You learn how to sing live on TV, how to work with the cameras, how to appeal to the audience, how to deal with criticism, how to do press. You learn all this in a short amount of time, so you just do your best," says American Idol Season 4 winner.

Singers must transition from raw talent to polished performance in a matter of weeks, acquiring everything from vocal control to stage blocking. The strain increases when high-profile guests arrive and production elements intensify.

"There are group numbers and (celebrities) showing up," American Idol judge said. "There's all that stuff to deal with along with the nerves and the stress."

Contestants in a condensed season confront increased challenges, including rapid set changes, instant criticism on social media, and a ticking clock. Underwood feels that this accelerated learning curve evaluates not only vocal prowess, but also mental toughness — distinguishing individuals who can thrive under pressure from those who are overwhelmed by the speed.

The top finalists' ability to manage the current American Idol whirlwind could be the deciding factor, despite their talent and persistence being comparable. As voting lines open, fans will watch which artist survives the boot camp crucible and eventually wins the golden microphone.

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Stay tuned to ABC to watch American Idol Season 23 on May 18, 2025.

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