Miley Cyrus’ ‘greedy’ salary demand shut her out of American Idol gig

After Katy Perry announced her exit from American Idol’s judges panel, producers began a frantic search for her sucessor, and pop star Miley Cyrus was allegedly at the top of their list.
However, the hit ABC singing competition show couldn’t afford her as she demanded a salary that either matched or exceeded Perry’s whopping $25 million.
Instead, Cyrus allegedly sugggested they go with Carrie Underwood instead, and they did, as she’ll be joining the judging panel with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie starting at the premiere of the upcoming Season 23.
Underwood’s return to the show that launched her career has reportedly come with price, a smaller salary than Perry ever received. 
A source told the outlet: “Katy’s enormous salary was an outlier and it was that high because ABC was asking for a lot of her time away from making music and performing, more time than she had ever given something other than her own pop career.”
Perry’s massive salary made her the second-highest paid judge in American Idol history, second only to Simon Cowell.
The source continued that Underwood has “been part of the Idol family since its early days and she has a vested interest in the franchise continuing,” which made it “different” when it came to negotiations.
“She’s also just a natural at using her [past] appearances on the show to promote her own music, something we’re seeing Katy struggle with now that she ‘s back to being a full time pop star,” the source continued.
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“But another one of Carrie’s strengths is her humility, and Carrie did not need to be offered a Katy-sized salary to come back into the franchise.”
The insider added: “Ego is not what drives her and she isn’t a greedy person. And culturally she’s a better fit with the show, the producers and ABC thanks to her middle-America appeal.”
The source concluded that Underwood is a smart choice to take over as judge because she’s well liked.
“Everybody loves her because she’s so authentic and, frankly, normal,” the insider pointed out.
Still, producers wonder what Cyrus would’ve brought to the judges panel if she hadn’t asked for such a high salary.
The insider said: “Miley would have brought a lot of Katy-like sass to American Idol. Carrie is more reserved and will be nicer to the contestants. But Idol still got the big name they sought — and at a price they could swallow.”
However, other reports have said that the show’s bosses allegedly battled to secure Underwood for the judges panel as another rival show sought to do the same.
Their secret years-long fight for the Grammy-winning star’s return to the show that launched her career was unsuccessful due to money, timing and a rival bid, a source claims.
The fight for Underwood took a dramatic turn when rival singing competition show The Voice began to fight for her as well.
Thankfully for producers and fans, her loyalty lay with the show that launched her career.
Underwood apparently can’t wait to “give back” to the show that helped bring her an amazing career and is excited to “cement her legacy.”
An additional insider previously told Life & Style that the gig will be “a huge step up” in her career.
“The bosses are relieved to have a glamorous country star of Carrie’s caliber on board, plus she has the history with the show,” the source shared.
“The big question here is whether she’s got the temperament to handle this pressure as the bosses are banking on her to hit the ground running and deliver big ratings, plus how she reacts to the inevitable online trolling.”