American Idol season 23 judge Carrie Underwood will be a better judge than Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, based on what I experienced when I met her in person. I was thrilled when I heard that Carrie would replace Katy Perry at the judging table alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan for American Idol season 23. As a Katy fan, I worried that the show would never find anyone who could truly take her place as a judge, but, when Carrie was announced, my fears immediately disappeared because I knew that she was the perfect person for the role.

Ahead of the American Idol season 23 premiere, I realized that Carrie is going to sur Luke and Lionel as a judge on the show. The American Idol season 4 winner not only has the experience with the show that no other judge in its history has had, but she also has the best personality. I know that Carrie is going to succeed as a judge because I met her on March 26, 2010, during a meet and greet at her concert in Trenton, New Jersey during her Play On tour.

1 Carrie Underwood Makes Everyone Feel Like A Friend

Carrie Has A Warm & Welcoming Personality

Carrie is going to be an amazing American Idol judge because she makes everyone feel like a friend. Although Lionel and Luke are known for being very nice to the contestants, because I met Carrie, I know that she has a warm personality that will make the contestants feel at home on the American Idol stage. At the point that I met her, I'd been a fan of Carrie for five years, ever since I first saw her during her spectacular audition for the show. I was so nervous because I wondered if she could ever live up to the hero that she'd become in my mind.

When I finally had the chance to speak to Carrie, we made eye , and she was so welcoming. I told her that I was from Staten Island in New York City, and before she became popular, we never really heard country music here on the radio. However, now, because of her, they play it all the time. She replied, "Really?" and then put her arm around me to take a photograph. Rather than end the conversation there, Carrie was genuinely interested in knowing more, and said, "I don't think they even have a country radio station in New York City." I confirmed to her that we didn't.

Again, Carrie could've ended our conversation and rushed to the next fan, but instead she said, "I've never been to Staten Island." I told her that she should come visit our borough, and she said that she would. Then I thanked her and congratulated her on her recent engagement. Carrie gave me a big smile, and said, "Thank you." I walked away from our encounter feeling as though I'd just had a talk with a friend because she was so invested in our conversation. It didn't feel like a meet and greet, but rather as though I'd reunited with an old friend.

I know that Carrie's interest in my hometown and my life will be similar to her interactions with the American Idol contestants. She's so genuine, and she really cares about people. She'll make the contestants feel comfortable, safe, and seen. Participating in meet and greets and judging American Idol are more than just jobs for Carrie. They're opportunities for her to connect with people, which is something that she does best.

2 Carrie Has A Calming Presence

Carrie Brings Peace Wherever She Goes

When I met Carrie, I was so nervous that my heart was pounding as I waited in line. Another fan and I bonded about how we couldn't believe that we felt so anxious. However, when Carrie walked into the room, she had such a calming presence, that all of my nerves simply melted away. She was so down-to-Earth and real, and I was so happy to see that she didn't give off diva vibes in any way. I expected Carrie to be genuine, but she exceeded my expectations.

I can't even imagine how nervous the American Idol contestants must've felt, not only having the chance to meet Carrie like I did, but then having to sing for her as well. I'm sure that she's a hero to many of them, so they must've felt so much pressure. It's hard enough to audition for the show, but to do it in front of one of its most successful alums ever must've been very challenging. I hope that Carrie brought the American Idol hopefuls as much peace as she did to the people who met her along with me at the meet and greet.

While Luke and Lionel do their best to make the contestants feel comfortable, they don't have the same calming aura that Carrie possesses. There's just something about the way that she presents herself in such a centered way that is immediately soothing. I believe that this will be a great asset to her as an American Idol judge because the contestants will thrive in that kind of environment. They'll feel calm, which will allow their talents to shine.

3 Carrie Is Attentive & Respectful

Carrie Makes Everyone Feel Special

One of the things that struck me the most about Carrie was how attentive and respectful she was to every fan. I was especially impressed when a child wanted to speak to her, so she knelt on the floor to get down to her level. She made that child feel like she was the most important person in the world, which is something that made a deep impression on me. I knew that Carrie was kind, but this was a very special moment.

As I waited in line, the woman in front of me told me that her friend had asked her if she could get a second autograph from Carrie for her. She was unsure if Carrie would be able to do it because the rules were very strict that we could only have one autograph each. When the woman asked Carrie if she could sign a second picture, she happily obliged, keeping it a secret from the security guard who was moving the line along. It was so sweet to see her go the extra mile for a fan who wasn't even at the meet and greet.

Another fan had given Carrie a gift of a stuffed pig because she'd recently appeared in a How I Met Your Mother episode that featured a teacup pig. Carrie explained that teacup pigs are really pot-bellied pigs, and they grow big and don't stay so cute and small. She was so attentive to this fan, and really made her feel special. Carrie had a genuine interest in what every fan had to say, which I believe she'll carry over to her role as an American Idol judge. She'll keep the focus on them, rather than stealing the spotlight for herself.

4 Carrie Loves All Different Kinds Of Music

Carrie Is More Than A Country Music Star

During Carrie's meet and greet, music was playing in the background, and she lip-synched and danced to a Bon Jovi song. Carrie loves rock music, which is one of my favorites in addition to country, so I was happy to see that she knew and loved the Bon Jovi song that was playing. Plus, she was in Bon Jovi's home state of New Jersey, so it was an extra treat for fans of the band to see their favorite star singing along to their favorite band.

I knew from American Idol and her incredible career that Carrie's main genre is country music, but she also has the ability to sing many other types of music as well, which is one of the many reasons that she won the show. During the concert, she sang the Christian hymn, "How Great Thou Art," which was so moving that I cried during her performance. Carrie's spirituality really came through during this song, and her voice is truly a gift. Her soaring high notes gave me chills.

During the concert, Carrie also rocked out to Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," proving that she can sing rock music with the best of them. Her older sisters introduced her to hard rock music when she was a little girl. Carrie's extensive love and knowledge of other genres will help her to appreciate the auditions of contestants outside of the country music genre. She's such a well-rounded singer and performer who's sung so many different genres, so it's going to be exciting to see her choose songs for the contestants during the annual Judges' Song Contest. Carrie is truly a music icon.

5 Carrie Is An American Idol Legend

Carrie Was The Perfect Choice To Be A Judge

Carrie has become one of American Idol's greatest success stories, with 85 million records sold worldwide, 28 #1 singles, 8 Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 10 People's Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards. She's a global superstar who's achieved so much success. However, Carrie is still as humble as the day that she walked into the American Idol audition room, which I think is one of her best qualities. I ire how she's stayed true to herself throughout the past twenty years.

Although Luke and Lionel have now been American Idol judges for seven seasons, they'll never have the firsthand experience that Carrie has as a former contestant. She knows exactly what it takes to start at the auditions and make it all the way to being crowned the next American Idol on finale night because she did it herself. This is why Carrie will sur Lionel and Luke as a judge. They simply can never personally know the journey of an American Idol contestant, but Carrie has not only experienced it, but also used it to become one of the biggest music stars of all-time.

Carrie is an American Idol legend, and the show has struck gold by hiring her as a judge on the show. I'm so excited to see a former contestant from the show as a judge, and I think it's about time that the show made this transition. Carrie loves American Idol, and she's always given the show credit for jump-starting her extraordinary career. I know that American Idol is in good hands now that she's at the judging table because she cherishes it, and it's not just another job for her.

I believe that Carrie has that special magic in her that will make her the perfect judge. As I watched Carrie hug her fans at the meet and greet, I knew that she genuinely cared about them. Even though it's been a while since I met Carrie, I believe that she hasn't changed, and that she'll bring that same level of kindness to the American Idol contestants. Carrie is a phenomenal role model, and she'll be the best judge in American Idol history.

American Idol season 23 premieres on Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.