EXCLUSIVE: “AMERICAN IDOL” RATINGS CRASH — AND INSIDERS BLAME CARRIE UNDERWOOD

Insiders Say If There’s Another Season, She Won’t Be Part of It

There’s trouble in paradise — and it has nothing to do with the view.

As American Idol’s ratings plummet by more than 700,000 viewers, sources close to the show say Carrie Underwood is taking the heat — and her time behind the judges’ table may be over before the finale airs.

“Everyone’s blaming Carrie,” a production insider tells #ShuterScoop. “Lionel [Richie], Luke [Bryan], and even Ryan [Seacrest] have turned on her behind the scenes. They say she’s not connecting with the audience — and the numbers prove it.”

Viewership dropped dramatically during the show’s glitzy Top 24 performance week, despite flying the entire cast and crew to Hawaii’s $4,150-a-night Aulani Disney Resort. Sunday night’s show drew just 4.65 million viewers, down from 5.12 million the previous week. Monday’s episode fell even further, trailing rival The Voice with only 3.87 million viewers.

“They thought Carrie would bring star power,” the source added. “Instead, the audience is tuning out — and execs are panicking.”

Carrie, who won Idol back in 2005 and was brought in to replace Katy Perry, has struggled to click with viewers and fellow judges alike. Insiders say her emotional reactions are being seen as forced, and some are even calling her stint “a failed experiment.”

While no official announcement has been made, whispers inside ABC suggest that another season of Idol is far from guaranteed — and if it does return, it will be without Carrie Underwood.

Meanwhile, The Voice has regained momentum, pulling in 4.13 million viewers on Monday and besting Idol despite a fraction of the beachfront budget.

With luxury suites, celebrity mentors, and tropical sunsets failing to save the ratings, one thing is clear: “American Idol” spent like a blockbuster, but delivered like a rerun — and now everyone’s pointing fingers.