Kelly Clarkson Said Carrie Underwood Would Be Great ‘Idol’ Judge

Carrie Underwood seemingly surprised everyone when she took on her upcoming role as a judge on American Idol — except for Kelly Clarkson, that is.

The original Idol winner predicted Underwood would be a great fit for the reality singing competition more than a decade ago.

“She would [be the perfect judge],” Clarkson told Us Weekly in 2012, when she was wrapping up a stint as a mentor on Duets.

“Didn’t she major in journalism or something? And she can have that face … that bluff face! She can put that on! She would be good.”

Clarkson won the first season of American Idol in 2002, launching her on a trajectory as one of the most successful singers of her generation. Underwood became the show’s first country winner when she won Season 4 in 2005.

RELATED: Why the Time Is Right for Carrie Underwood to Join American Idol

Clarkson went on to become a coach on Idol‘s biggest competitor, The Voice, but she told Us Weekly that she had no interest in judging other singers.

“[Being a] mentor is more my style,” she said. “And not just mentoring, getting to be a part of the song with them, getting them amped up — from our rehearsals to stage, it’s so exciting being onstage. It’s fun!”

On Aug. 1, ABC announced that Underwood would return to American Idol as a judge, following Katy Perry‘s departure from the show after seven seasons. She’ll join Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the judging panel, and she’ll reunite with Ryan Seacrest, who also hosted the show when she competed in 2005.

Underwood tells GMA that her honesty could be a “big problem” when it comes to critiquing aspiring singers.

“I can’t lie,” she explains. “I just can’t. You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully I can be very constructive and encouraging.”

ABC has not yet announced a premiere date for the next season of American Idol.

Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He’s interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.