I’m Watching American Idol This Season and I Have Already Chosen the Winner

Hollywood Week is underway in Season 23 of American Idol and Lionel Richie has already bragged, rightfully, about the level on talent on display this year. He's 100% correct. It's been sensational so far.

I have watched every single season of American Idol. I was there- dialing in votes on a rotary phone- when Kelly Clarkson won Season One. I was there- casting votes again- when Carrie Underwood took home the title in Season Four. Now, I'm watching Carrie absolutely slay it as a judge this season. I consider myself a bit of an Idol expert and I have an 'expert' prediction to share.

There's a contestant that I fully believe is the front-runner to win this year.

Slater Nalley, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, was featured near the end of the season premiere. I won't go into the details of the story and song that landed him an audition in front of Carrie, Lionel and Luke Bryan. But, watch this!  I'll let him tell it and sing it.

Oh, and warning! Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie were in tears by the end of his audition.

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I have watched that performance about fifty times so far. Carrie's right. "Every single person that hears that can fill in that memory with somebody that's in themselves." As you heard in the video, she also told Slater, "I couldn't have imagined you doing that any better."

With that much history and weight behind "Traces of You," I wondered if Slater could follow it up during Hollywood Week. When he took the stage inside 'Idol Arena,' he followed it up triumphantly with another original song- one he wrote when he was just 15-years-old.

Obviously, there's a long way to go this season and Slater has some stiff competition. However, I think this kid is the real deal. He can write. He can sing. He can cast a spell, spin a story, and move his audience to tears. Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and I have already shed them.