Carrie Underwood Explains ‘It’ Factor of ‘American Idol’ Winners

Carrie Underwood knows the “it” factor that an “American Idol” hopeful possesses that makes them a potential winner. The “Idol” winner shares what the judges are looking for in season 23 — she should know, since Simon Cowell said she had “it” way back in season 4.

Carrie Underwood Got a ‘Confidence Booster’ From Simon Cowell

In a May 1 “Idol to Icon” video, Underwood revisited her Top 10 performance on “American Idol” season 4.

She watched a clip of the performance and the judges’ comments afterwards. Cowell told her at the time, “I do get a hard time sometimes for being critical, but I think some of the performances I’ve seen tonight, honestly, I’ve seen in karaoke bars across England, America … and yet, you have something different.”

He explained, “And that’s what you look for, which is, that ‘it’ factor. And that’s what it’s all about.”

Underwood noted, “It was definitely a confidence booster hearing Simon say that I did well and my vocals were good, and I had the ‘it’ factor.”

She pointed out how message boards at the time allowed people to be critical of her performance. “When you’re in your early 20s, you’re looking at everything … seeing that, remembering the negative stuff, but then hearing Simon say positive things was like, ‘Okay, maybe I’m doing something right.'”

‘American Idol’ Winners Have an ‘It Factor’

Underwood was asked what the “it” factor is that they’re looking for this season as judges. It wasn’t easy for her to put into words, but she said they know an “American Idol” winner when they see them.

“The ‘it’ factor that I think we are looking for as judges is hard to define,” she shared. “You know, you can have somebody get up on stage that just has an incredible vocal instrument and it’s like ‘What is missing?'”

She continued, “And then later you’re like, ‘What did she sing, what did he sing? Why don’t I remember?'”

“But then there’s other people that might get up there and maybe they didn’t have the best vocals, but there’s something about them that makes you want to listen, makes you want to watch,” Underwood explained.

The country star noted, “And when all those things come together and they have that ‘it’ factor and they have that voice, that’s when the magic can really happen.”

She added, “It’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it.”