American Idol Season 23: A Rising Star Emerges
In a captivating episode of American Idol aired on March 30, 2025, Carrie Underwood boldly declared that she may have discovered the next Taylor Swift. The spotlight was on 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor, who showcased her original composition titled The Used, a song she penned at the age of 14 during the final audition round.
Lionel Richie lauded Zaylie’s songwriting talent for someone so young, while Carrie Underwood highlighted her remarkable vocal abilities, impressed by the seamless transition from soft tones to powerful notes. Zaylie expressed that her song drew inspiration from a personal breakup.
“Not only the breakup part, but the process after and trying to figure out who you are without that person,” Zaylie shared on the show.
Both Carrie and Lionel recognized Zaylie’s songwriting prowess, although Luke Bryan raised some concerns regarding the maturity of her lyrics. Nevertheless, Carrie’s comparison of Zaylie to Taylor Swift showcased her belief in the young artist’s potential. Despite Bryan’s vote against, Zaylie moved forward to Hollywood with yes votes from Carrie and Lionel.
“My thing is, there’s a Taylor Swift-esque quality that she has,” stated Carrie Underwood.
Highlights from the Final Audition Round
The final audition round also saw an impressive total of 21 contestants secured tickets to Hollywood. Among them, 17-year-old Canaan James Hill captured the last platinum ticket of the season. This aspiring singer, who recently graduated early from high school, hopes to make his mark in the music industry.
Canaan, a content creator from Dallas with a strong gospel background, captivated the judges with his rendition of I Need Your Glory by Earnest Pugh. Luke Bryan praised the unique quality of his performance, while Carrie Underwood noted Canaan’s poise, which belied his young age.
“I had to sit back here to listen. That was something so spectacular I can’t even describe what I heard,”commented Lionel Richie.
His performance earned him three affirmative votes from the judges, and Lionel enthusiastically presented him with a platinum ticket, allowing him to bypass the initial Hollywood round. Another standout performer was Ethan Senger, who sang Somebody Like You by Keith Urban, showcasing his musical heritage as the son of two musicians. Lionel recognized Ethan’s potential, while Luke provided constructive criticism that Carrie felt was unwarranted.
The family aspect was notable when Ethan’s mother joined him for an impromptu duet of Falling Slowly, earning another set of yes votes from the judges that secured his advancement to the next round.
ABC also featured the heartfelt audition of 22-year-old Samantha Ray, who performed I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. After her performance, she candidly shared a poignant personal story about her sister’s passing due to a drug overdose, which deeply resonated with the judges.
The emotional gravity of her story, coupled with her performance, led the judges to commend her storytelling abilities. Carrie and Luke echoed their support, helping Samantha progress to the next stage with unanimous positive votes.
Other talented contestants who secured their golden tickets included Malik Bilbrew, Caroline Brett, Cal Buckley, Will Carter, Sarah Day, Kyana Fanene, Gabe James, JMarie, Landynn Kennedy, Kaleo Knight, Santina Madden, Olivier, Clara Rae, Nikki Rodriguez, Lexi Tieffel, Trenton Wright, and Yani, each bringing their uniqueness to this exciting season.
Catch the latest adventures of American Idol, airing Sunday, March 30 at 8 PM ET on ABC.