American Idol 2023 Premiere Preview: Slater Nalley performs an emotional song dedicated to his teacher’s late son
After the March 2 post-Oscars preview, American Idol season 23 premieres for real on Sunday March 9 at 8 pm. The show recently dropped an audition from the first episode featuring 17 year old Slater Nalley from Atlanta, Georgia. He performs a special song he wrote for the son of his English teacher, Mrs. Davis.
Mrs Davis wrote a poem in tribute to her late son Carter Davis, who died in 2016. She asked her student, 17 year old Slater, to look it over and transform it into a song. Inspired, the young singer presented a composition to her in only two weeks, which he performs for the judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
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Slater explains in his video package that the song, “Traces of You,” is the “most deep I’ve ever written about.” He didn’t know Carter, but when his teacher told him about his son, Slater explains that he felt “this presence come into my life.” He chokes up as he describes writing the song on “little notebook pages.”
Mrs Davis shares that although Slater didn’t know Carter, he captured his essence–the person she wishes was still in her family’s life. “It felt like there was light and hope in the middle of it too,” she remarks.
Accompanying himself on guitar, Slater performs the emotional words with a southern twang propelled by emotion. He crafted a pretty melody to tell Carter Davis’ deeply personal story.
Before the song is over, Carrie Underwood is in tears. “I’m not alright,” she says
Before the song is over, Carrie is in tears. Even luke has trouble holding back his emotions. He asks Carrie if she’s OK, “I’m not,” the mother of two sons answers,” I am not Ok.” Mrs. Davis and Slater are also emotional. “Even though this was about your son,” says Carrie, “Every single person that hears that can fill in that memory with somebody that’s in themselves.” She’s impressed with Nalley’s performance, “I couldn’t have imagined you doing that better.”
Lionel remarks, “That one line ‘your life was like a river running home’ that was the one! Very powerful.” Luke adds, “You just stick to walking out on stage and singing with your heart and the rest will take care of itself.”
“Sometimes we don’t even have to vote,” said Lionel before asking Luke to countdown to “You’re going to Hollywood!”
American Idol season 23 (8 on ABC) premieres on Sunday March 9 at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC, streaming next day on Hulu.
