Carrie Underwood’s Stellar Shade: Jabs at Katy Perry’s Space Adventure After Idol Shake-Up
Don’t worry, I know this is tricky—Carrie Underwood really did tease Katy Perry about her space flight now that she’s the new face on American Idol. During last week’s live taping in Los Angeles, Carrie couldn’t resist a cheeky aside, quipping, “While Katy’s off exploring the cosmos, I’ll just be over here discovering stars right at the Idol table.” That zinger wasn’t pulled from thin air. According to People magazine, Carrie made the remark as soon as her name appeared on the judge’s roster, effectively replacing Katy for Season 22. ET Online confirms Carrie’s line prompted a ripple of laughter from the studio audience, who clearly appreciated a seasoned Idol vet showing up the pop princess who took a suborbital jaunt earlier this year.
Let me break it down for you: Katy Perry reportedly blasted off on a commercial spaceflight in April, courtesy of Virgin Galactic’s Unity 25 mission. She even posted zero-gravity selfies on Instagram—so we know it actually happened. Carrie, who first captured hearts on Idol back in 2005, couldn’t resist pointing out that while Katy was busy floating, she’d be firmly planted behind the judging desk, guiding contestants toward stardom. The Hollywood Reporter notes that this is Carrie’s first season as a full-time judge alongside co-hosts Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
You probably should already get the irony here: Katy Perry stepped away from her Idol seat after four seasons to free up her schedule for “new creative ventures,” per Variety. What follows is Carrie wearing that crown of credibility with a side of shade. In an exclusive scoop for E! Online, a production insider spills the tea that Carrie’s farewell roast was spontaneous—she raised a glass of Champagne and offered, “To reaching new heights—some of us in space, some in prime time TV.”
In case you missed any subplots: Carrie’s Idol tenure kicks off on February 18, while Katy is slated to release her new single, rumoredly titled “Gravity,” next month. That timing only sweetens the shade. Fans on TikTok quickly mashed up clips of Carrie’s quip with footage of Katy floating in her astronaut suit—because of course they did.
See? It’s not rocket science—pun intended. Glad I could clear that up for you. Keep an eye on Idol’s ratings and Katy’s chart climb; this friendly feud is just getting started.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People magazine, ET Online, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
