Carrie Underwood surprised fans and late-night audiences alike with a candid revelation about her upcoming schedule: she’s pressing pause on touring for 2026.
The country superstar made the announcement during a joint appearance with fellow American Idol judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Friday, January 23. While the trio bantered about the new season of the singing competition, Underwood’s vegetable garden, and Bryan’s pranking habits, it was the segment on tour plans that delivered the unexpected news.
Both Bryan and Richie enthusiastically shared their upcoming itineraries. Bryan noted, “I’ve just announced the Word On The Street tour this year. That’s coming up,” while Richie added, “I’m announcing next week that I’m about to tour. Tour dates are coming up.”
When host Jimmy Kimmel turned to Underwood for her plans, her response was swift and clear: “No! Nah.” She then gestured to her co-judges and joked, “I’ll go see them.”
Underwood did not elaborate on the reasons behind her decision to take a touring hiatus next year. It is likely, however, that her focus is firmly on her role as a judge on American Idol, now in its 24th season and her second season on the panel. The demanding filming schedule for the hit ABC show is a significant commitment. It’s also early in the year, leaving room for a potential change of plans, though her on-air statement was definitive.
The “Church Bells” singer, 42, does have a handful of standalone concert dates on her 2025 calendar—one in June, two in August, and one in September—but no full-scale tour. Her last major run of shows was the Reflections Las Vegas residency, which concluded in April 2025. Prior to that, she toured extensively in support of her 2022 album, Denim & Rhinestones.
Adding to the clues of a deliberate slowdown, Underwood has not hinted at any new album in the works, though she is known to be constantly creating music.
For now, fans will get their fill of Underwood on the small screen. The new season of American Idol premiered on January 26, where she aims to guide a new generation of singers. “Hopefully I have some wisdom having been in their shoes, that I can impart and help them along in that way,” she said ahead of the premiere.
While Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie hit the road, it appears Carrie Underwood is choosing a different path for 2026, trading tour buses for the Idol judges’ chair and perhaps a well-deserved break from the rigorous road life.
