There is no drama here. Carrie Underwood made sure of that.
After weeks of social media speculation about supposed tension between her and comedian Nikki Glaser on the American Idol judges panel, the eight-time Grammy winner and original Season 4 winner sat down with SiriusXM's Highway Mornings host Cody Alan and cleared the air - simply, directly, and with nothing but kind words.
Glaser joined the judging panel as a guest for Taylor Swift Night, which aired on April 27, and viewers quickly took to social media claiming they spotted visible awkwardness between the two. Comments ranged from fans saying Carrie appeared uncomfortable to calling the interaction cold. The internet ran with it, as the internet does.
Carrie was not fazed. She told Cody Alan she was very used to that kind of commentary, praised Glaser warmly, and said plainly: "I think she did such a great job because it is not an easy thing to come sit behind that desk and try to think of constructive things to say. I feel like she did everything wonderfully. But no, there is no beef. I have no beef."
Alan backed her up on air, saying to his audience: "Do you know Carrie Underwood? She is never going to be a mean person. They want to cause a catfight over the smallest little thing."
Underwood had already shown her support publicly right after the episode, posting on Instagram praising Glaser as beautiful and hilarious. Glaser replied in the comments: "Thank you for being so kind and cool - a true dream sitting next to you." That was the real story from the start.
Glaser's appearance marked the second consecutive week American Idol featured a guest judge, following Jennifer Hudson the week prior.
The timing of all this matters. The American Idol Season 24 three-hour finale airs tomorrow, Monday May 11, at 8 p.m. on ABC - streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Carrie will be front and center, as both judge and performer. Whatever the internet tried to manufacture, she walks into that finale with her head held high and her character fully intact.
That is what 20 years of grace under pressure looks like.
