Wanting to celebrate the end of 2024 and the upcoming season of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest and Carrie Underwood thought New Year’s Eve was the perfect time to kick off season 23. Although the new season recently aired, fans learned about the passion of Filo Ebid when Underwood gifted him a Platinum ticket before the new year started. While fans shared their excitement, the audition from Ebid was a mystery. Not knowing how he won over the judges, fans finally got to witness the stage power of the 23-year-old star.
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Walking in front of Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan, Ebid prepared for his first step in his journey on American Idol. Knowing how crucial the moment was, the singer decided to perform Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” With his mother, Haidi, nervous about the audition, Ebid felt right at home, winning over fans and the judges.
Looking at the praise he gained from the judges, Richie insisted, “Yes, indeed. We’ve been waiting for you. What took you so long to get here. That was amazing.” He continued, “I am just so happy that the universe has directed you to the three of us at American Idol. That’s divine guidance right there.”
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Luke Bryan Sees Potential Finalist in Filo’s Future
Noting how his mother wanted him to pursue a medical degree, Underwood thought Ebid found his home. “Born to sing. You ain’t going to be no doctor. Tell mama she was wrong…no don’t say that. She’s just looking out for you. Three notes in, in my brain, I just thought ‘Holy, Shrek,’ just wow! That was really fantastic.”
Adding his voice to the conversation, Bryan said, “You’re definitely going to go far in this, in my opinion. Definitely Top 20. Maybe Top 10. It’s perfect in my opinion.”
With all three judges moving him forward, Ebid received a touching reception when reuniting with his mother, who stated, “You deserved it, you work very, very hard. We never, never expect this, so thank God for this gift.”
Just getting started, don’t miss a new episode of American Idol, airing Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and available to stream the following day on Hulu.
(American Idol, 2025)
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