how much does carrie underwood make on american idol

Carrie Underwood makes about $12.5 million per season as a judge on American Idol. This salary is roughly half of what her predecessor, Katy Perry, earned, who made $25 million per season. Underwood's pay reflects her long-standing relationship with the show and her "middle-America appeal," which makes her a good cultural fit for the franchise. Other judges like Luke Bryan reportedly make around $12 million, while Lionel Richie earns about $10 million per season