The new season of American Idol has started. Season 23 began on March 9, 2025. This season includes four talented contestants from Arizona. Moreover, they are ready to show their skills and share their stories. Continue reading to learn more about the contestants from American Idol Season 23.
Sophia Humbert
Sophia is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter. She is from Anthem, Arizona. The singer recently graduated from Arizona State University. She has a degree in music. Moreover, she grew up watching “American Idol”. Thus, she felt inspired by the talent on the show.
For her audition, she performed a piano version of “Before he Cheats”. The song is by Carrie Underwood. Sophia wants people to see her as an artist. She has spent years singing cover songs. Now, she is working on her own music.
Her writing style is influenced by artists such as Taylor Swift. She is also influenced by Jeff Buckley, and Elliott Smith. Moreover, she believes that vulnerability in songwriting is integral. She hopes to find her unique sound and connect with audiences through her music.
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Drew Ryn
Drew is a 28-year-old singer-songwriter. She is from Chino Valley, Arizona. Her journey to “American Idol” feels special because her first concert was by Carrie Underwood. Also, she remembers voting for Underwood when she was younger.
Moreover, she lives in Nashville. The singer feels that auditioning for “Idol” is a full-circle moment. For her audition, she performed an original song. This was inspired by her past experiences on a talent show. Also, she was on The X Factor in 2011. However, she faced cyberbullying during that time.
Now, she wants to reintroduce herself to the world. She draws inspiration from powerful singers. Some of them include Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston. Also, she writes pop music but explores EDM. Drew hopes the show will help her show her true self. This is as both an artist and a person.
Zaylie Windsor
Zaylie is an 18-year-old singer-songwriter. She is from Safford, Arizona. The singer has auditioned for the show in the past. However, she decided to give it one more shot this year. Her mom encouraged her to try again. It paid off this time.
She has not watched the show recently. However, she remembers watching it with her mom as a child. Her audition went well, despite her nervousness. She feels more comfortable performing than speaking.
Moreover, she comes from a small town with limited music opportunities. Now, she started an open mic night in her town. Also, she has played at many local festivals since she was 12. She hopes the show will help her reach a larger audience. Along with this, it will take her music career to new heights.
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Colton Dawson
Colton is an 18-year-old country singer. He is from Chandler, Arizona. The singer has been performing professionally with his dad since he was 15. Also, he first heard about the show from a woman at one of his gigs.
His audition experience in Nashville was life-changing. Colton performed “Where I Find God”. The song is by Larry Fleet. Also, he sang a gospel song with his dad. He comes from a musical family. His siblings also play instruments and sing. His musical influences include traditional country artists. These include Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, and Vern Gosdin. Moreover, he wants to inspire others to chase their dreams and keep country music alive. The singer hopes to share his music with the world through the show.
Conclusion
The four Arizona contestants bring unique stories and talents to the show. They are ready to impress the judges and the audience. Each contestant hopes to use the opportunity to share their music and talents with the world. The judges for this season are Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. The show airs on Sunday nights on ABC at 7 p.m.
