Meanwhile, Idol’s efforts to recapture glory by inviting previous winner Carrie Underwood back into the fold for its 22nd season have spectacularly fallen flat. Despite Underwood teaming up with industry giants like Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, the magic simply pales in comparison to Levine’s powerhouse presence alongside co-hosts John Legend, Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé at The Voice.
The ratings speak volumes: The Voice attracted a whopping 5,237,000 viewers for its March 17 episode, while American Idol limped in with just 4,510,000 on March 16. Even in a rare victory — when it showcased its shiny new judging panel post-Oscars — Idol only managed to pull 5,905,000 viewers, just barely outranking The Voice’s close 5,646,000.