Carrie Underwood teased American Idol’s 20th season premiere with a playful jab at Gen Alpha slang, marking her return as a judge.

Carrie Underwood shared a promo on November 20, 2025, for the upcoming season of American Idol, joking about countering the viral Gen Alpha slang term “6-7”—named Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year—by chanting “5-3-0-9,” a nod to Tommy Tutone’s hit “867-5309/Jenny.” The clip highlights her return as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Ryan Seacrest hosting for the show’s 20th anniversary season. Underwood also celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Some Hearts, with a reissued 18-track edition featuring live performances. The new season premieres on January 26, 2026, on ABC and Hulu.