Emphasizing that Carrie was an “awesome pick,” the 42-year-old added, “I think she’s going to do great.” (For more from Kelly, tune into E! News tonight, Sept. 12, at 11 p.m.)

And Kelly isn’t the only one excited for Carrie’s new gig. Former American Idol judge Simon Cowell also expressed his delight about the 41-year-old’s judge duties.

“I think it’s a good choice,” he previously told E! News. “Carrie, we go back a long way. I remember her audition like it was yesterday. She was so good, she’s such a sweet person.” 

And Carrie’s fellow judge Lionel Richie is thrilled she’ll be joining him and Luke Bryan, especially because of her Idol background. 

“What a great judge,” Lionel told E! News in August. “Now we don’t have to explain anymore, ‘We know how you feel.’ As artists, we know how you feel, but we’ve never been in that oval that says, ‘American Idol.’ She’s been there, done that.”