American Idol 2025 Auditions Recap – We’re Live Blogging the FINAL Audition episode
American Idol season 23 continues tonight (March 30) with the last episode of judges auditions from Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City. Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, joins veterans Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judges panel. Ryan Seacrest hosts. Who will make it through to the Hollywood Round? We’re live blogging here.
American Idol 2025 Contestant Preview: Ones to Watch
American Idol 2025 Spoilers: Top 24 Season 23 Contestant List & Song Picks
American Idol 2025: Full Season 23 Schedule
The show kicks off with a montage of memorable auditions from across the last 4 weeks. “It’s been a really fun ride,” says new coach and season 4 winner Carrie Underwood.
JMarie – 28 – Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
JMarie is from Brooklyn and is proud of her Hattian roots. The singer covers “Before He Cheats” calling the song a Hood Anthem. JMarie gives the song a slow, soulful treatment, featuring runs and a side of swag. She ends the song with a few big raspy notes and a low, comic “He ain’t that dumb.”
Carrie was a little worried about people singing her songs. But not this one. “I forgot about myself singing that song. Effortless.” JMarie explains that she didn’t audition for prior seasons because people told her she wasn’t pretty enough. Lionel declares, “You slayed it.” Luke advises the singer shed the negativity coming from other people. “Great job,” he says. – 3 yeses.
Zaylie Windsor – 18 – The Used (Original)
Indie singer Zaylie performs for the judges, accompanying herself on guitar. She’s a little shouty, but her tone is striking. She wrote her original song at only 14. Zaylie describes the song as a break up song. Luke felt the song sounded very young. He thinks she’s not ready. Carrie compares the teen singer to Taylor Swift and is willing to fight for her and says YES. “I feel like there’s something about her!” Carrie’s argument wins over Lionel – 2 yeses 1 no
Nikki Rodrigues – 17
The next singer is another talented young one. A country singer, with a side of blues. Here comes a teen montage – 3 yeses
Caroline Brett – 17 – House of the Rising Sun
Again, she’s shouty in places and needs to work on her control and phrasing. There’s a time to rein it in! But she puts her whole body into the performance. A passionate teen. Luke calls her instrument “amazing.” – 3 yeses
Kaleo Knight – 16 – And I Am Telling You by Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
ABC previewed this audition over the weekend. The young singer is from the Los Angeles area and has a Hawaiian and Japanese background. The judges are sceptical of her song choice. But the Kaleo goes on to nail the showstopper. Only the biggest voiced and confident singers take on this monster. But Kaleo possesses the chops.
The panel gives Kaleo a standing ovation afterward. “We love ya!” declares Lionel. “You landed the plane very very well,” said Carrie, who was unsure at first. Luke explains that many 16 year olds aren’t ready, and the judges send them away. But not Kaleo. “I love competition when it’s sounding like you,” says Lionel – 3 Yeses
Landynn Kennedy – 20 – I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
Landynn is from a small South Carolina town. He was born in Louisiana where his mother abandoned him and his sisters at a motel. But fortunately, a couple adopted him and his three siblings. Sadly, his birth mother died when he was 13. “My mom loved music,” he shared.
Landynn begins the audition with a piano accompaniment, but performs the song mostly a’cappella. He sings with an appealing raspy, soulful voice and inventive phrasing. It’s an EMOTIONAL turn. He brings his own thing to a familiar and beloved song. That’s no easy feat considering how often the song is covered on these shows.
Lionel says, “God has his hand on you.” Carrie remarks, “You have so much raw talent.” She thinks he’ll be fun to watch grow. Luke adds, “You’re singing from a real place…so much of a story.” He appreciates that the singer is giving his all. – 3 yeses
Gabe James – 23 – Skinny Love by Bon Iver
The singer accompanies himself on the guitar while he jauntily sings along, ending the performance with a guitar flourish. Carrie compares him to Patrick Swayze. Poor Gabe is thoroughly confused. He doesn’t know the epic Swayze 90s hit, “Like the Wind.” Afterward Gabe admits, “I need to look him up” but then realizes who he is when a producer name checks the movie Dirty Dancing. – 3 yeses
Next, is a montage of hopefuls including Lexi Tieffel and somebody nicknamed “carousel.” Carrie used to be called Carrie Underwear in grade school.
Lexi Tieffel – 16 – Girl Crush by Little Big Town.
It’s another shouty teen! No wonder the kids call her “loud mouth Lexi.” But the judges are impressed and they all say yes. – 3 yeses
Ethan Senger – 24 – Somebody Like You by Keith Urban
His father and mother are both musicians. He sings with mom sometimes. “Open your mouth a little bit!” instructs Luke. He suggests Ethan slow it down. And the tempo change does improve the performance. Luke is coaching hard here for some reason. Ethan has it going on when it comes to tone and phrasing, though.
Luke believes he’s got a cool, cool thing going on. Lionel adds, “You’ve got potential.” Carrie is annoyed with Luke because she felt Ethan didn’t need to be stopped for picky instructions. Meanwhile, Ethan’s mother joins him in the audition room and they sing “Falling Slowly” together. It’s pretty. Ethan’s voice cuts through.
Carrie is moved by the mother son vibe. She says yes. Luke and Lionel also say YES. – 3 yeses
Anna Aistova – 28 – The Diva Dance
She sings contemporary Opera for the panel. They all seem very confused. Anna couldn’t have possibly believed she’d get through to Hollywood with that. “I don’t do opera, I do the Opry,” quips Carrie, “I can’t do any of that.” – 3 nosy
Trenton Wright – 23 – Rich Girl by Daryl Hall & John Oates
Trenton, from Helena, Montana, is VERY nervous. A budding pilot, Trenton is currently getting his masters in flight engineering. The singer has never performed in front of an audience before.
Santina also brings a violin to her audition, which she eventually plays. Luke tried to snatch it. But Santina had it hooked on to her arm. Nice try. – 3 yeses
His audition is shaky, just like a person who sings in his bedroom, but nowhere else. He can carry a tune, but Trenton lacks confidence. Luke joins him on stage to help him relax. They sing together a little. Carrie encourages him. C’mon. This dude will get eaten alive in Hollywood. Gig around in Helena and come back is what the judges should be telling him.
Carrie calls his voice “nice.” But she feels it’s a dice roll. “You would have to get real comfortable real fast.” And that’s not going to happen in such a short amount of time! He’s not ready. She suggests he watch his favorite performers. Lionel assures him that all singers start out the same way. Inexplicably, the panel all say yes. Alrighty then. – 3 yeses
Next, it’s a trio of singers from Canada. Olivier is a French speaker from New Brunswick. He previously competed in Star Academie. Fun fact: Carrie Underwood’s husband Mike Fisher is from Canada.
Olivier – 23 – Save Me by Jelly Roll
Olivier is French Canadian, but he can sing like an American. Lionel calls his voice a unique style. Carrie welcomes him to Hollywood in French. – 3 yeses
Cal Buckley – 20
Luke dubs Cal the “Canadian Elvis Presley.” Carrie quizzes him on what beanies are called in Canada. He answered correctly! – 3 yeses
Sarah Day – 23
Carrie calls her voice “beautiful,” adding that she was “feeling what you were singing.” – 3 yeses
Will Carter – 24 – Dreams (Original)
And the final Canadian hopeful is Will from Newfoundland. He’s a hockey coach, a fact that catches Carrie’s attention. In his video package, Will explains how he grew up in hockey culture. He loves hockey, but he writes songs and wants to express himself. He wrote his audition song after his mother passed away from breast cancer. She loved American Idol.
The song is about him feeling unsure about how to follow his dreams. He’s a raw singer, but unique sounding and heartfelt. He doesn’t hold back his vulnerability. “I’m afraid to chase my dreams, with all these demons chasing me.” It’s a pretty solid turn of phrase.
“That’s a really good song,” Carrie gushed. “That was so clear, concise and beautiful.” He’s relatable, she feels. Lionel calls him a storyteller. “I was locked into everything you did…love your voice.” – 3 yeses
Yani – 26 – Waiting All Day for Sunday Night (Sunday Night Football theme) by Carrie Underwood
Yani introduces the song, calling it very deep. She sings the Sunday Night Football theme like a torch song, The panel busts out laughing. She throws in a few high kicks for good measure. Yani is a good singer, but going for the gimmick? Hm. She probably had another song that got left on the cutting room floor. “You’re clever,” Carrie says. Luke says no–too theatrical. Carrie and Lionel say yes – 2 yeses 1 no
Clara Rae – 22 – Radioactive by Imagine Dragon
Clara and her husband and dog live in a cabin on the Louisiana Bayou. She comes from a big musical family. She surprises the panel by NOT singing a country song. But she gives the performance a raspy country twang. It might as well be a country song. Luke suggests she drop the guitar and sing a’ cappella.
Luke appreciates her voice, and wanted to hear everything. He calls her vocals perfect and unique. “The song was a surprise. You made it your own,” says Carrie. Lionel really loves her rasp. “You have a unique tool there.” – 3 yeses
Derek Reed – 20 – New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
Oh dear. He’s lucky Harry Connick Jr. is no longer a judge. Because he’d be ripping this guy to shreds right about now. Maybe there’s a decent crooner in there, but Derek is flat in spots and seems very nervous. He tells the panel his heart is with standards singing but he also likes classic country music. – 3 nos
Next, it’s a montage of singers who bring support stuffies with them into their auditions.
Santina Madden – 20
The singer not only brings a stuffed dog which Carrie holds while she sings, but a violin as well. Luke tries to snatch it from her but it’s attached to her wrist with a string. Luke is all up into these hopefuls spaces and needs to chill out. Santina follows up her full-bodied vocal with a violin solo. – 3 yeses.
Malik Bilbrew – 24
This Jacksonville, Florida singer is a solid vocalist boasting a lovely tone. The judges coach him into connecting more. “Who you singing to,” says Carrie. Luke is a big fan. – 3 yeses
Kyana Fanene – 28 – Unaware by Allen Stone
She is from Bavaria, but currently lives in Brooklyn. Kayana brought an acoustic guitar player to back her up. She hinted at being somewhat of a pro, and she shows it here. Her highly developed and unique style seems effortless.
Luke says, “Your first note filled up the room.” Carrie adds, “You are very easy breezy” and calls her energy “relaxed.” – 3 yeses
Lillian Vandaam – 23 – Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps by Doris Day
Lillian easily persuades Ryan to try out hula hoops she’s brought with her. She jokes that Ryan was bad. Carrie reveals that she won a few hula hoop contests in her youth and gives it a shot as well. She’s better than Ryan.
Well, I wasn’t expecting that voice. Very odd. Lionel suggests she stop kidding around. Carrie notes the artistry and says yes. Luke doesn’t thinks it’s all baked into the pie perfectly yet. – 2 nos, 1 yes
Samantha Ray – 22 – I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
ABC previewed this emotional audition last week. Samantha watched American Idol with her little sister who also loved to sing. She delivers a pretty and heartfelt version of the country hit featuring a rangy and powerful vocal.
Afterward, Samantha shares that her sister died last year of a drug overdose. She had two little boys. Carrie, who also has two little boys, is overcome with emotion. Lionel feels Samantha has the absolute trigger on emotions. Carrie calls her a storyteller. Luke calls her voice “very listenable.” – 3 yeses
Canaan James Hill – 17 – I Need Your Glory by Earnest Pugh – PLATINUM TICKET
The Dallas singer explains that he comes from a gospel singing family. His grandfather inspired him. Canaan graduated high school early and now is getting ready to take the pulpit. The panel notes that he doesn’t present like a teenager. Indeed, his demeanor is very professional and adult-like.
Canaan sings a gospel song that resonates with Lionel especially. He lifts up the house like he’s preaching to a room full of worshipers. He’ll nab a gospel record deal, because he is the real deal.
Lionel says, “That was powerful…spectacular.” Carrie compared the singer’s voice to velvet and butter, “Smooth but powerful,” she describes it. “You have a gift,” she adds. Lionel is pacing he’s so moved. Luke is sure Canaan saves everyone who hears him.
Of course the judges send him to Hollywood. But more than that, they hand him the third and final PLATINUM TICKET of the 2025 season.- 3 yeses
Lionel explains that the three platinum ticket holders can skip the first round in Hollywood. American Idol kicks off Monday shows TOMORROW March 31 with the Hollywood Round, so tune in!
