Carrie Underwood may have found the next Taylor Swift on American Idol season 23. When 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor auditioned during the Sunday, March 30, episode of the singing competition, she performed an original song titled "The Used" that she wrote several years prior.

A contestant on American Idol paid tribute to her late sister with an audition that brought judge Carrie Underwood to tears during Sunday's new episode. Samantha Ray sang 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack and opened up about losing her sister Taylor,

Carrie Underwood is officially back on American Idol 20 years after she won the show. Of course, now — as Season 23 airs on the 2025 TV schedule — she’s on the other side of things, judging up-and-comers alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.