All country roads return home for Carrie Underwood.

And Luke Bryanis there to help the American Idolwinner—who is joining him on the judging panel for the upcoming season of the singing competition series—as she gets used to the new gig.

“The thing about it is Carrie has to kind of learn in real time,” Luke exclusively told E! News at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville Nov. 20. “You kind of have to learn how to be a judge. It’s not like you can go to American Idol Judging School.”

But Luke—who is hosting the CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena alongside Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson—noted Carrie’s unique experience, adding, “She went to American Idol Be A Contestant School.”

And though Carrie—who shares sons Isaiah Michael, 9, and Jacob Bryan, 5, with husband Mike Fisher—is still learning the ropes, her fellow judge thinks she’s been electric sliding into the role so far.

“She’s awesome with the kids,” Luke continued. “She has the best soul and heart. She’s doing a great job and really settling into the judging table.”

But just because Carrie is no stranger to the Idol stage doesn’t mean she finds every part of the job easy.

“When she has to say ‘No’ she’s like, ‘I dont wanna tell them no,’” Luke explained. “But it’s kind of a part [of the job]. It’s hard when you got a kid that’s young and they haven’t found who they are musically.”

And Carrie agreed that the difficult task is not her favorite part of her role as judge.

“Whenever anyone is saying ‘I can sing another one. I have this song and this song,’” Carrie told Extra in October, “it’s worse because it’s still a ‘No.’”

But despite the pain of turning contestants down, she is thrilled to return home.

“Everybody is so nice, it’s very pleasant working conditions here,” she continued. “It’s part of me, it’s part of my history. Hopefully, I can bring that into my advice for the people that are singing in front of us.”

Read on to see more stars that boot scoot boogied down the CMAs red carpet.

–Reporting by Jenny Ciali

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