Three American Idol Country Auditions That Made History

Over the years, American Idol has given country music fans some unforgettable moments. From small-town teens to future superstars, these auditions still stand out as some of the most iconic in the show’s history.

At number three is Scotty McCreery, who walked into his Season 10 audition at just 16 years old. Hailing from Garner, North Carolina, the young singer charmed Jennifer Lopez with a bit of teenage flirting before shocking the room with his deep Josh Turner vocals. When Steven Tyler asked for another song, McCreery launched into a Travis Tritt number that had the Aerosmith frontman shouting a colorful reaction. Three yeses later, McCreery was on his way, and by the end of the season, he was crowned champion.

Coming in at number two is Slater Nalley, a 17-year-old from Atlanta who auditioned in Season 23. Introduced by his teacher, who shared a heartbreaking story of losing her son, Nalley performed a chilling original tribute that brought both her and the judges to tears. His emotional delivery carried him all the way to the Top 5, making his audition one of the most talked about of the season.

And of course, number one belongs to Carrie Underwood. Nervous but charming, the 21-year-old from Oklahoma poked fun at Simon Cowell before delivering a stunning version of “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Simon even convinced her to demonstrate her chicken clucking skills. She advanced easily to Hollywood, and the rest is country music legend.