On March 30, 2025, American Idol season 23 premiered a new episode, showcasing a fresh batch of hopeful singers who took the stage for the final night of auditions. Among the standout performers was Clara Rae, a 22-year-old country artist who captivated both the judges and audience alike with her distinctive interpretation of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,”securing her spot in the highly coveted Hollywood Week.
The esteemed panel, comprising Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, expressed their astonishment at Clara’s rendition, which cleverly bridged the gap between country and pop. Acknowledging her potential, they swiftly cast their votes and unanimously agreed to advance her further in the competition.
During her performance, Luke Bryan suggested Clara forgo her guitar and perform the rest of the song a cappella. Following his advice, Clara delivered the latter part of her audition without instrumental support. This decision garnered mixed reactions from the panel; while many praised her vocal prowess, others had reservations regarding her song choice.
Fans of American Idol also expressed their thoughts on social media platform X, sharing excited and varied responses to Clara’s audition. While numerous comments praised her vocal skills, a few voices critiqued her performance.
“Alright, I like this Clara Rae girl. Awesome voice and vibe,”a fan wrote.
“Love Clara Rae’s voice! Seems like a really sweet girl too,”another fan commented.
“I could hardly understand or hear the words #ClaraRae was singing and she was very off-key. A cute young lady but it would have been a not yet for me!! Thoughts anyone? Wrong song for her in my opinion..”a netizen tweeted.
Despite the mixed reactions, many viewers praised Clara’s talent and expressed hope for her future in the competition.
“@ItsClaraRae – Bring that uniqueness in your voice! And get writing on that very cool lyric for a song! Looking forward to hearing more from you!”a user reacted.
“Sure Clara Rae has a very s*xy tone, but her dynamic control is phenomenal. It’s unfair that a person with this much talent is also that beautiful,”a person commented.
“Clara Rae: TikTok star-turned-Idol. She’s one of the best singers on TikTok,”another fan wrote.
“This is a great performance by clara rae,”one user posted.
Others echoed these sentiments, expressing their admiration for Clara’s performance.
“Clara’s voice fit VERY WELL with Radio Active,”a person reacted.
“So good… and so cool to drop the guitar and sing a cappella was brilliant,”another netizen commented.
Judges’ Feedback on Clara Rae’s Audition
When introducing herself, Clara described her persona as “the girl in the corner of the bar with her acoustic guitar.”Luke Bryan lauded her unique voice, acknowledging her as one of the standout talents he had encountered in Nashville. He encouraged her to stop playing, emphasizing his desire to fully appreciate her vocal range.
“Your voice is like really unique. I mean, from the first note, me and Carrie went, ‘Uh ho, hello!'”he added.
Carrie Underwood chimed in, noting that while Clara’s song choice was unexpected, it was compelling. She celebrated Clara’s ability to make the song her own, deeming it “very cool.”
Lionel Richie supported Luke’s point, explaining that many contestants tend to cover their weaknesses by playing their instruments too loudly. He recognized Clara’s signature rasp, affirming that it adds a unique touch to her sound.
“You have that rasp in that voice of yours. Um, that is your sound and your tone. You have a unique tool there,”he said.
Carrie added her own praise, describing Clara’s voice as “super cool.”When asked about her inspiration for singing, Clara credited her father for encouraging her passion for music. The judges voted in favor of Clara, sending her to the next stage of American Idol, leaving her overwhelmed with emotion.
“‘This is not my real life,’ that’s what I’m thinking right now. I can’t believe this is real,”Clara shared.
American Idol season 23 continues to air new episodes every Sunday at 8 pm ET exclusively on ABC.