American Idol judge Carrie Underwood revealed her feelings about returning to the singing competition series for season 24, amid signs that she’s ready to exit the role after just one season. For American Idol season 23, Carrie, who won season 4 and went on to become a global superstar, took Katy Perry’s seat at the judging table alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. However, after the finale, Carrie’s lukewarm responses about returning to the show hinted that she might not come back for another season.

American Idol judge Carrie Underwood revealed her feelings about returning to the singing competition series for season 24, amid signs that she’s ready to exit the role after just one season.

Now Life & Style reports that Carrie wants to return for American Idol season 24, but it’s hard for her to be away from her husband, Mike Fisher, and sons, Isaiah, 10, and Jacob, 6, for extended periods of time. An insider shared, “She’s on the road a lot. She’s missing her kids and Mike, which is very tough. They FaceTime day and night and she flies home every spare moment she gets, but it’s not the same as just being there.”

However, the source also shared that, even though Carrie finds it difficult to spend so much time away from her family, she’s “nowhere near throwing in the towel” on American Idol. The insider shared, “She loves doing the show. Not only is it a huge opportunity and a massive paycheck, it’s also really fun. She loves working with the guys and the whole crew has been so great. Her biggest joy is helping the contestants through a really bewildering experience.”

The source shared that being a judge on American Idol is “emotional” for Carrie, but it’s also “really beautiful because she’s able to connect with so many people and know exactly what they’re going through.”

The insider continued by explaining that the show takes a toll on Carrie, especially because she can’t go home to Mike and their children at night, stating, “At the end of the shoot day, she’s always totally drained from the highs and lows and just goes back to her hotel room to crash. Those nights can be very hard because she just wants to be in Mike’s arms or reading bedtime stories to her kids and instead all she can do is see them through a phone screen.”

What Carrie Underwood Missing Her Family Means For American Idol

Carrie Might Not Want To Return As A Judge

Although Carrie seems to have enjoyed her time as an American Idol season 23 judge, if what this source said is true, and she’s really missing her husband and children that much, then she might not return for season 24. Carrie loves her family more than anything, and, if being a judge on the show means that she has to continue to be away from them for extended periods of time, then there’s a good chance that she won’t be back.

Our Take On Carrie Reportedly Wanting To Stay On American Idol

Carrie Should Come Back For American Idol Season 24

It’s great to hear that Carrie wants to return for American Idol season 24, and that she enjoyed being a judge so much and working with Lionel and Luke. However, she’s been known as America’s Sweetheart since she won season 4 twenty years ago, and she’s not used to facing any backlash in her career. During the auditions, Carrie admitted that she was worried about coming across as mean if she gave any negative feedback to the contestants.

When she debuted as a judge, American Idol fans often criticized Carrie for being boring and not giving enough constructive criticism to the contestants and acting more like a cheerleader for them. When she finally did offer some advice to eventual winner Jamal Roberts during the Top 5 episode, viewers accused her of favoring other contestants, including eventual runner-up John Foster. It seemed that Carrie couldn’t win no matter what she did, and this might’ve taken a toll on her.

I hope that Carrie returns for American Idol season 24 because she has a lot of potential as a judge. I’d love to see her have another chance to grow into the judge that I know that she can be. However, if missing her family is too much for her, then I think that maybe she should stop doing the show so that she can spend more time with them. Whatever Carrie chooses, I wish her all the best, and, as a fan of hers since her American Idol season 4 audition, I’ll always follow her career.