American Idol returns on March 9, 2025.
The upcoming 23rd season marks the first big change in American Idol since its return to television in 2018. Judge Katy Perry left the show last season and was replaced by Carrie Underwood, who got her start on the show 20 years ago.
Filming for the season is well underway, and Underwood was even quoted saying that the hardest part of the job so far has been saying “no” to hopefuls in October 2024.
One month later, she was spotted with her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and host Ryan Seacrest at a Tennessee Titans football game while they stopped in Nashville for auditions.
American Idol released first teaser with Carrie Underwood.
On November 20, 2024, American Idol released the first clips of the “Before He Cheats” singer sitting behind the iconic judges’ table. The teaser included a clip from her American Idol audition 20 years ago with text that read, “After 20 years…Carrie comes home.”
The show released another teaser, an emotional video of Underwood waiting for her audition then walking through the doors that eventually changed her life, and footage of her doing the same exact thing now. What makes the video all the more special, is that she is wearing the same shade of pink that she wore when she first appeared on the show.
Watch that teaser below.
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Carrie Underwood Appeared On New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Underwood was in Times Square alongside Ryan Seacrest for the iconic New Year’s Eve countdown show New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. She performed a medley of her hits – which included outfit changes! She performed “Church Bells,” “Pink Champagne,” and “Before He Cheats.”
But, before her performance, she and Ryan Seacrest introduced the world to a contestant on Season 23 of American Idol, a singer named Filo.
“Filo! This guy is so good! I cannot wait for you guys to hear him, he’s amazing,” Underwood told the crowd.
“Wow, thank you so much! Man, meeting you already and Ryan and Lionel and Luke, it’s been the experience of a lifetime! I’m speechless right now,” Filo told the new judge.
Seacrest then explained that each season, the judges get a total of three Platinum Tickets, which are given after all the auditions have taken place. The Platinum Ticket will allow these three singers to skip the first round of Hollywood Week.
A producer slyly handed Underwood a Platinum Ticket and they surprised Filo with it, right there on live television!
Filo was even more speechless than before!
“What!” he exclaimed. “What is happening?!”
Seacrest confirmed that Filo really had no idea he would be receiving the Platinum Ticket, and that now he really is someone we should look out for
Season 22’s winner, Abi Carter, was upgraded to a Platinum Ticket, so this means a lot. Could Filo be the next American Idol? Only time will tell! Tune in on March 9th to watch Filo’s journey begin.
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