A-List star originally set for American Idol until | TV Shows

Before Carrie Underwood stepped into the judge’s chair on American Idol, the producers had their eyes on a very different name.

An A-list pop star was reportedly the top choice to replace Katy Perry, who exited the show after her $25 million-per-season run.

But talks with the unnamed singer quickly fell apart after what insiders described as “ridiculous salary demands.”

“She wanted over $30 million, which was far above what Katy Perry had been making,” a production source told The U.S. Sun.

The network, which airs Idol on ABC, wasn’t willing to go that high—even for a big-name replacement. According to the source: “ABC execs felt that number was excessive and didn’t align with the show’s current budget or direction.”

Some viewers questioned her energy during the season finale, with a few accusing her of seeming “disengaged” when contestant Jamal Roberts was announced as the winner.

Behind the scenes, Underwood is said to be unsure about returning for another season. “She’s on the fence about continuing,” the insider added. “She misses her family and isn’t always comfortable with the Hollywood scene.”

Despite the backstage uncertainty, the finale scored a ratings bump, drawing 6.51 million viewers, the highest numbers the show has seen in two years.

That kind of success may give producers more negotiating power moving forward, but it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to keep Underwood or will have to start the search again.