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‘American Idol’ Season 23 Live Blog: Final Auditions, Episode 5 (March 30, 2025)

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The final night of auditions is upon us, as season 23, episode 5 of American Idol airs tonight. Don’t miss standout performances from Samantha Ray and 16-year-old phenom Kaleo Knight, starting tonight (March 30, 2025) at 8/7c on ABC

You can keep up with all the auditions and viral moments with American Songwriter’s Season 23 Live Blog below.

Videos by American Songwriter

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(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

11 days ago / 6:56 PM CDT

It's Almost Time For 'American Idol'

American Idol starts in about 5 minutes! Who’s headed for Hollywood?

 

26 days ago / 9:02 PM CDT

Canaan James Hill Is "The Real Deal," Viewers Say

A self-proclaimed “singer, preacher and comedian,” Canaan James Hill might soon be able to tack on another title to his social media bio: American Idol champion. The 17-year-old from Dallas, Texas belted his way to Hollywood with a soulful rendition of Earnest Pugh’s “I Need Your Glory.”

“That technical ability can translate into any genre of music,” one viewer wrote on X/Twitter. “He’s the real deal!”

 

26 days ago / 8:54 PM CDT

Samantha Ray's Sister Is "Looking Down On Her, Smiling"

Not a dry eye in the house after Samantha Ray’s poignant cover of “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. Ray dedicated the performance to her sister, Taylor, who died from a drug overdose in February 2024. Taylor was Samantha’s “built-in singing partner” as a child, and the two would often harmonize together.

“Wow. I’ll bet Samantha Ray’s sister’s looking down on her, smiling,” one American Idol viewer wrote on X/Twitter.

And she’ll continue to for at least another week, as the Georgia stay-at-home mom, 22, heads for Hollywood.

 

 

26 days ago / 8:44 PM CDT

Clara Rae's Raspy Imagine Dragons Cover Is Better Than the Original

Northeast Louisiana-based singer-songwriter Clara Rae just did Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” like we’ve never heard it—and that’s a good thing.

 

26 days ago / 8:28 PM CDT

'American Idol' Viewers Predict This Frontrunner Will Top the Charts in a Few Years

Will Carter, a 24-year-old hockey coach from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, just punched his golden ticket to Hollywood with an original song, “Dreams.” Fans are already making bold predictions about this Idol hopeful.

 

26 days ago / 8:03 PM CDT

Patrick Swayze Lookalike Is Going to Hollywood

The first thing you notice about Gabe James is his striking resemblance to the late Dirty Dancing legend, Patrick Swayze. The second thing you notice is his honeyed vocals. James scored three “yes” votes with a swoon-worthy cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love.” Now, the Coloradan is going Hollywood.

“We didn’t even look at each other. Right? Okay. It’s a yes for me,” Lionel Richie said.

 

26 days ago / 7:53 PM CDT

Kaleo Knight Just Nailed This Dreamy Cover

Is there nothing Kaleo Knight can’t do? The 16-year-old from Los Angeles grew up performing hula dance and traditional Hawaiian ballet. She also speaks Japanese, and she just delivered what Lionel Richie called a “crazy good” cover of Idol alum Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the Dreamgirls film adaptation.

“What I loved about you is, you fought through a battle through and then just slayed it at the end—something a 16-year-old should definitely be proud of,” Luke Bryan said.

 

Such an old world sound #Kaleo You killed it! 👏👏 #AmericanIdol

— Michele (@MeSheShelby)

26 days ago / 7:35 PM CDT

Carrie Underwood Just Made Luke Bryan's Day

Back in 2021, Luke Bryan starred in the docuseries My Dirt Road Diary. Brajawn Upshaw, who punched his golden ticket during the March 16 episode, cited that series as an inspiration for his American Idol audition. And much to the “Mind of a Country Boy” crooner’s delight, Carrie Underwood has watched it too.

 

.@carrieunderwood took me by surprise. Day made. #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/EGU7sjlG6M

— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan)

26 days ago / 7:26 PM CDT

Zaylie Windsor Is Giving Taylor Swift

Zaylie Windsor, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from Safford, Arizona, isn’t new to American Idol. 

“I’ve been auditioning the past couple years,” she told AZ Central. “And this year, I was like, ‘I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just not do it.’ And my mom was telling me, ‘Just try it one more time. It’s OK if it doesn’t work out.’ And this ended up working out. So I was really happy about that.”

Accompanying herself on guitar, Windsor belted an original song called “The Used.” Judge Carrie Underwood called the performance “Taylor Swift-esque.”

“I feel like there’s something about her,” Underwood said before voting “yes.” After a second “yes” from Lionel Richie, Zaylie Windsor is going to Hollywood.

 

 

 

Even from a small audition clip I can tell Zaylie will go FAR #americanidol

— Wyatt 🛸👽 (@Wyatt_fann)

26 days ago / 7:19 PM CDT

JMarie Does Carrie Underwood Like You've Never Heard It Before

Jessica Marie Michel, an R&B singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, New York, who goes by JMarie, hardly seemed intimidated to perform Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” in front of the Idol legend herself. And not only that, she made the song entirely her own, infusing the vengeful country anthem with some pure rhythm-and-blues soul.

“This is a hood anthem, Carrie,” JMarie said. “I’m sorry, it is.”

JMarie proclaims “Before He Cheats” to be a HOOD ANTHEM! 🎤💥 #AmericanIdol

Watch JMarie’s performance here: https://t.co/2gxGRWMeHJ pic.twitter.com/xs61AmHWx7

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol)
“I’m gonna be real honest, I was a little worried coming into sitting here that people would sing my songs to me,” Underwood said. “But you made it your own. I forgot about myself ever having sung that song, and it was like I had heard it for the first time… I’m mad at you for not trying out sooner.”
After years of admittedly “psyching myself out,” JMarie is headed to Hollywood.

Some people audition for Idol. Others show up, flip the script, and make a country superstar rethink her lyrics! JMarie is the latter #AmericanIdol

— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest)

26 days ago / 7:05 PM CDT

It's The Last Night of Auditions For 'American Idol'

The last night of season 23 auditions starts right now on American Idol! Monday (March 31) kicks off Hollywood Week. Following last year’s Idol Arena format, each singer will perform at random with their competitors closely watching. Last year, only 56 of 143 Idol hopefuls were left standing. Let’s see if this year will be as brutal.

 

last night of auditions! #AmericanIdol

— charly 🌼 (@charlyy_brownn)

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