LIONEL HAS NEW IDOL JUDGE CARRIE'S BACK!

GOLDEN-VOICED Carrie Underwood — who sang her way to stardom on American Idol — is returning as a judge and fellow mentor Lionel Richie is cheering her new gig, saying, “It makes a lot of sense.”

“She’s been there, done that,” says the 75-year-old All Night Long singer. “It’s not someone we have to get used to. And the fact is she has a great story — she came from American Idol.”