Season 23 hopeful Abi Bowen may have given one of the most memorable auditions in American Idol history.
During the season premiere of the singing competition, which aired Sunday, March 9, the Tennessee native tried to conquer her stage fright as she stepped in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for a chance at earning a golden ticket to Hollywood. She was inspired to audition by her late mother, Miriam Collins, who was a fan of the show before her 2023 death.
Before she began to sing Bonnie Raitt‘s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” — the same song Underwood, 41, auditioned with back in 2005 — Bowen took the judges by surprise by turning away from their table and donning a pair of sunglasses. She performed the song with her back to the trio, who eventually snuck away from their seats to stand in front of her.
The unconventional audition left a big impression on the judges in more ways than one. Bryan, 48, even compared Bowen to season 22 alum Emmy Russell, granddaughter of country legend Loretta Lynn, who referred to herself as “timid” during her own audition last year.
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While impressed by Bowen’s soulful voice, Underwood urged her to consider what she wanted to get out of the competition — especially with live shows on the horizon.
The judges also teased that Bowen’s eclectic fashion sense — she entered the audition room wearing a large Western hat, bolo tie, a blue shirt and dark-washed denim — didn’t quite help her blend in with the crowd.
Despite her stage fright, Bowen earned her ticket to the next round, celebrating the milestone with her husband and her young son, Stetson.
“This is something I would have absolutely never done before. … I’ve been dealing with stage fright my whole life,” Bowen said in an interview before her audition aired. “This is a big step for me not just in music, but in proving to myself that I can do hard things.”
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Bowen added that she has a “go with the flow” mentality, which helped her make the choice to put herself out there. “I kind of woke up one day and decided I was just gonna do it and see what happens because no matter what happens, it’s an experience of a lifetime,” she said of appearing on Idol.
No matter the show, it’s rare for reality TV contestants to be in it to make friends, but making new connections was top of mind for Bowen.
“You don’t realize how many stories there are in this, such a small world,” she said. “Like, you get to know all these people and you find out why they’re doing it. And you know, some people have some pretty crazy stories and I’m really excited to hopefully make friendships that last a lifetime.”
American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
