Regardless of whether or not this “American Idol” contestant wins Season 23, Carrie Underwood predicts that he’ll make history in country music.
The “Idol” judge, Season 4 winner, and country hitmaker heaped praise upon Slater Nalley during Sunday night’s episode of the show, which depicted 12 of the Top 24 contenders facing off at Aulani, a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii. Nalley performed the “Wizard of Oz” classic “Over The Rainbow,” which he tweaked to fit his own twangy style.
Sunday night’s episode marks the first round of the competition where “Idol” viewers — not the judging panel — will determine who advances in the competition, but Underwood and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were stunned by the performance.
“I don’t understand how there is this much talent and this much of a seasoned professional in somebody that is at the very beginning of his career,” Underwood said.
She added: “I truly, honestly think that you have the talent and the voice that in 10 years, it will be like ‘this is one of the finest voices that we’ve ever had in country music.‘”
Bryan called Underwood’s assessment “dead on the money,” while Richie noted that Nalley had “developed into a first-class artist-singer.”
“Idol” viewers will decide if Nalley advances to this season’s Top 20 contestants. Text-based voting will remain open until 6 a.m. Eastern time on Monday, April 14.
