Bryan shares unexpected insights into Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie behind the scenes.

Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

While working closely as American Idol Judges, Luke Bryan reveals that he has learned a few things about Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie that most people wouldn’t know from the outside. He recently revealed some of these surprising and hilarious insights about his fellow judges.

Speaking with Cody Alan for SiriusXM’s Cody’s Crash My Christmas Party on The Highway, Bryan opened up about what it’s like working with the superstar panel. For starters, the country superstar admitted that Richie “loves” to indulge in unhealthy eating.

“To look like Lionel Richie and to eat like Lionel Richie, I’m going to just eat like Lionel Richie. Like In-N-Out, he just crushes it,” he joked.
American Idol 2026; Photo Courtesy Disney
Bryan also shared that the “Stuck on You” singer is particularly fond of the Burger King Whopper. Despite his love for fast-food, Bryan was quick to praise the legend saying, “Lionel is…he’s just like the best. He’s the best human being on the planet.”

Next, he reflected on the amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes of the singing competition show, particularly calling attention to the work ethic of Idol’s longtime host Ryan Seacrest.

“When you look at when we get into the later shows of Idol, like the finales and stuff, I mean, we, as judges on those shows…we don’t have to like know scripts or anything. Well, Ryan has to study these things and study the blocking and the cameras and all that,” Bryan shared. “So, the fact that he has to show up way before us and do all that, I mean, it’s a lot of work what he does. And you just learn that there’s a reason why that he’s in that role is because he knows how to make it happen from day one.”

Then there’s Carrie Underwood, whose dedication and punctuality have clearly made an impression on Bryan. He pointed out how her promptness on set proves just how seriously she takes her role on the show.

“Well, you know, the thing about, you learn about, I know about Carrie Underwood, is like she is the most on-time person you have ever met,” he revealed. “I’m talking about punctual, dialed in, professional. I’m talking about like one minute before like Bill Belichick taught her how to show up on time. And so, I mean, I’m in my dressing room and I’m pretty good, but then I’m like, and you can look on the monitor and see who’s in the chair already. And it’s, let’s say it’s 9:03, and there’s Carrie, ready, looking at her nails…So, just her punctuality.”

The upcoming season will mark Carrie Underwood’s second time serving as a judge on American Idol after joining the crew last year. She joined Bryan and Richie in their search for America’s next singing sensation in 2025 and will reclaim her role on the judging panel when the show returns later this month.

Photo Courtesy of Carrie Underwood
Along with serving as a judge and navigating her own career, she is also a mom of two sons with her husband, Mike Fisher. According to Luke Bryan, this has been something the two of them have bonded over, seeing as how he is a father to two of his own biological sons with his wife Caroline as well as their three niece and nephews whom they adopted and raised after his sister and brother-in-law passed away.

“I’ll tell you, you know, this is our second year that we’ve started together and just getting to know her and her family dynamic. I mean, having two boys, it’s really fun to hear the stories going on around their household,” he added.

Bryan explained that the majority of their filming for the next American Idol run has taken place across Nashville. Back in November they were spotted filming on Belmont University and shortly after, a new twist was announced for the 2026 season. According to Deadline, the show has revealed plans to bring the golden ticket holders to Music City for the first time instead of kicking off the competition in California.

Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan; Photos Courtesy of TikTok
Instead of hosting the traditional “Hollywood Week” in The Golden State, they will be heading to the home of country music to introduce Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover. This exciting shift will occur after the judges select this year’s constants during auditions.

American Idol will premiere Monday, January 26 on ABC and Stream on Hulu. This will mark the singing competition show’s ninth season on ABC and Hulu and 24^th overall.