Katy Perry responds to Carrie Underwood replacing her on American Idol

And the storytelling component plays a huge role in the Singing Competition series, according to Carrie’s new panelmate Lionel.

“It’s not someone we have to get used to,” He told E! News In August. “And the fact that she has a great story she came from American Idol”

He added, “What a big judge. Now we don’t have to explain anymore, ‘We know how you are doing.’ As artists, we know how you feel, but we’ve never been to the oval saying, ‘American Idol.’ She has been there, done it.

Read on to see what other American Idol Alums are up to these days.