Carrie Underwood Encourages Contestant to 'Finish Strong' After She Messes Up Performance on “American Idol”

Daniela AvilaTue, March 10, 2026 at 11:25 PM UTC

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Chloe Lauren had a hiccup in her performance on the latest episode of American Idol

Judge Carrie Underwood immediately encouraged her to keep going

Afterward, the country singer complimented her for finishing strong

Carrie Underwood wants contestants on American Idol to finish strong.

When contestant Chloe Lauren took the stage for her latest performance on Monday, March 9, the contestant stumbled over her words — and Underwood encouraged her to keep going.

For the singing competition show's 'Ohana Round, Lauren chose to sing Adele's "Hello." Though she started off strong, by the time she got to the chorus, she didn't quite hit the timing.

"Keep going, keep going," Underwood, 43, said, as the crowd also cheered her on.

Carrie Underwood; Chloe LaurenCredit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty (2)

The country singer, 43, added, "Come on, come on, come on."

Lauren recovered quickly and finished her performance — but she appeared in distress after the song was over.

"You're alright," judge Lionel Richie, 76, said to the contestant as he cheered her on.

Chloe LaurenCredit: American Idol/Youtube

After the cheering died down, Underwood gave Lauren some feedback on her performance — and recovery.

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"You're here because we love your voice. It is not about the little things that can go wrong during the performance," the "Cowboy Casanova" singer said.

She conluded, "It really is how you shove it aside and finish strong. You got back on that horse and took off real quick. Way to finish strong."

In a confessional after the performance, Lauren said, "I think I just got lost in myself a little bit."

Chloe LaurenCredit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

Last week, Underwood faced some heat from the Idol audience after she told a contestant that singing without a backing band was a "missed opportunity."

"I feel you guys are gonna boo me," she said to the audience. "It's coming — just bring it on. I love it. Your boos are feeding me."

As the audience continued to express their disappointment, fellow judge Luke Bryan, 49, jumped in to defend her.

“She only won this," he said, referring to 2005 victory on the singing competition show. "She knows.”

American Idol airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”