Get a Sneak Peek at the Season 23 Contestants Competing to Be the NextAmerican Idol(Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Get excited,Idolfans!Season 23is upon us.In a new promo premiering exclusively with PEOPLE on Monday, Jan. 27, fans get a glimpse at the contestants who have a shot at becoming the nextAmerican Idol.In the opening of the clip, judgesLuke Bryan,Carrie UnderwoodandLionel Richiewalk into the audition room with enthusiasm. Then, contestants on their way to audition appear on the screen.“Getting that golden ticket today will change my life,” says a contestant.“I want my daughter to know how much this means to me. I hope that one day she decides to chase her dreams,” adds another contestant.Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Ryan Seacrest in October 2024.Mike Coppola/GettyThen, longtime hostRyan Seacrestopens the audition room door for a contestant and encourages them to “give it your all.“Richie, 75, then advises a contestant to “take a deep breathe” after Underwood, 41, acknowledged they were “nervous.” A clip of a contestant impressively singing then flashed on the screen — and the judges give them a standing ovation.“This is the place where dreams come true,” reads a message on the screen. Then, clips of contestants growing emotional after receiving their golden ticket are shown.“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Bryan, 48, says.The new season ofAmerican Idolpremieres Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.Season 23 of the singing competition show marks a homecoming for Underwood, who’s the show’s newest addition.Underwood won season 4 of the show two decades ago — and she’s the first alum to make her way to the judge’s table.Lionel Riche, new addition Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.American Idol“As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television,” Craig Erwich, the president of Disney Television Group, saidin a statement. “Welcome home, Carrie.“In October, the country star — who shares sons Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 6, with her husband, Mike Fisher — revealed herson’s sweet reactionto her return to the show.“My son thinks I’m singing somewhere, so he’s like, ‘God please give her all the right words and help her sing great.'” Fisher, 44, then had to correct his little one. “Mike was like, ‘She’s not singing,'” she toldE! News.“The don’t really know what I do,” she then admitted. “They do, but they don’t, which I kind of love. I’m mom to them.”

Get excited,Idolfans!Season 23is upon us.

In a new promo premiering exclusively with PEOPLE on Monday, Jan. 27, fans get a glimpse at the contestants who have a shot at becoming the nextAmerican Idol.

In the opening of the clip, judgesLuke Bryan,Carrie UnderwoodandLionel Richiewalk into the audition room with enthusiasm. Then, contestants on their way to audition appear on the screen.

“Getting that golden ticket today will change my life,” says a contestant.

“I want my daughter to know how much this means to me. I hope that one day she decides to chase her dreams,” adds another contestant.

Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Ryan Seacrest in October 2024.Mike Coppola/Getty

Mike Coppola/Getty

Then, longtime hostRyan Seacrestopens the audition room door for a contestant and encourages them to “give it your all.”

Richie, 75, then advises a contestant to “take a deep breathe” after Underwood, 41, acknowledged they were “nervous.” A clip of a contestant impressively singing then flashed on the screen — and the judges give them a standing ovation.

“This is the place where dreams come true,” reads a message on the screen. Then, clips of contestants growing emotional after receiving their golden ticket are shown.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Bryan, 48, says.

The new season ofAmerican Idolpremieres Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Season 23 of the singing competition show marks a homecoming for Underwood, who’s the show’s newest addition.

Underwood won season 4 of the show two decades ago — and she’s the first alum to make her way to the judge’s table.

Lionel Riche, new addition Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.American Idol

American Idol

“As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television,” Craig Erwich, the president of Disney Television Group, saidin a statement. “Welcome home, Carrie.”

In October, the country star — who shares sons Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 6, with her husband, Mike Fisher — revealed herson’s sweet reactionto her return to the show.

“My son thinks I’m singing somewhere, so he’s like, ‘God please give her all the right words and help her sing great.'” Fisher, 44, then had to correct his little one. “Mike was like, ‘She’s not singing,'” she toldE! News.

“The don’t really know what I do,” she then admitted. “They do, but they don’t, which I kind of love. I’m mom to them.”

source: people.com