Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## American Idol’s Carrie Underwood Sees the Next Taylor Swift in 18-Year-Old Contestant

**Los Angeles, CA** – American Idol judges were captivated Sunday night by 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor, whose performance of her original song “The Used” sparked a debate amongst the panel and led to comparisons to pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Windsor, whose blonde bangs bear a resemblance to Swift’s “Red” era look, impressed judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie with her songwriting and vocal performance. Underwood, in particular, championed the young singer, highlighting her artistry and potential. “There’s a Taylor Swift-esque quality that she has,” Underwood stated, advocating for Windsor’s advancement to the next round despite fellow judge Luke Bryan’s initial reservations. Bryan felt the song’s lyrical content was too simplistic for a contestant of her age.

Ultimately, Underwood and Richie’s votes secured Windsor a golden ticket to Hollywood. “Carrie is incredible, so it’s an honor to have her fight for me like that,” Windsor shared.

The episode also featured another contestant, Gabe James, who prompted a comparison to Patrick Swayze from *Dirty Dancing* from judge Underwood – a reference that James found humorous.

American Idol season 23 continues Monday, March 31, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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