Carrie Underwood Can’t Help But Sing Along to Josh King’s ‘American Idol’ Audition

With season 23 of American Idol underway, Carrie Underwood is still feeling out the other side of the podium. The “Cry Pretty” songstress became the first-ever Idol alum to serve as a judge when she replaced Katy Perry. Currently, Underwood and fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are deciding who is headed to Hollywood and whose dreams end before they even begin. It’s a weighty task, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun doing it. One recent audition had Underwood singing along and Bryan on his feet dancing.

Josh King Stuns Carrie Underwood On ‘American Idol’

In a preview of Sunday’s (March 16) episode of American Idol, Josh King, a 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, stands in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.

“A lot of people told me to try out for American Idol. I mean, why not?” King told host Ryan Seacrest. “What could go wrong? What’s the worst that could happen?”

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Next, King announced he would sing “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.  “I know it’s kind of overplayed,” he acknowledged, “but it’s my own arrangement of it.”

Sitting behind the piano, King delivers a jazzed-up rendition of the 1939 classic. It’s a bit much for Underwood, who tells him, “My favorite times when you were singing were the times when it was simpler.”

[RELATED: “We’ve Been Waiting for You”: Is Platinum Ticket Winner Filo a Lock To Win ‘American Idol’ Season 23?]

At Bryan’s suggestion, King tries out “My Girl” instead. The reception is markedly better, with Underwood and Richie singing along. Meanwhile, Bryan is up on his feet dancing. “All right, you got groove,” the “Mind of a Country Boy” singer says.

Tune in to ABC Sunday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Eastern to see if King is headed home or to Hollywood.

Jelly Roll Dishes on His Special ‘Idol’ Role

Carrie Underwood isn’t the only one stepping into a new role on this season of American Idol. After appearing last season as a guest mentor, genre-bending star Jelly Roll returns this season as the show’s first-ever “artist in residence.”

During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast, Jelly clarified that he would be mentoring “from 50 to whoever wins this thing.”

he“Dude, there is so much fire,” he said. “There is so many just heart-wrenching stores. There’s so many fun stories and happy stories, so many great voices — never seen a wider range of talent on American Idol.”

Featured image by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for ABA