Slater Nalley touched hearts when he auditioned for American Idol with an original song that he wrote about his high school teacher Ms. Davis‘s late son Carter, who was a source of inspiration for him. He followed that with a second original song for Arena performances, “Foolish Pride.” But due to theme nights like “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” “Iconic Idol Moments” and the upcoming “Ladies Night,” it’s been cover songs ever since.
“I did two original songs, and I have wanted to do one since. But at the end of the day, we have to go off what they send us,” Slater told Parade.
He’s looking at the upcoming Mother’s Day show (May 11) as the next opportunity to do another original. It’s not that he doesn’t have a lot of original songs in his repertoire, but he says he has to “feel it” to want to sing it. So let’s hope that happens soon! In the meantime, he’s thrilled that America is liking his music and voted him into the Top 10.
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“You’ve got a lot of really talented people around here,” the 17-year-old from Atlanta, GA, says. “Everybody’s more talented than the next. I’ve never been in a situation where I can’t tell who’s the most talented, because everybody here is just equally talented, and it’s going to be really hard for America to vote. But hearing that I got put into the Top 10, America’s pick, was one of the coolest moments. I was really happy to hear the news that people are enjoying my music. At the end of the day, that’s what I’ve always wanted.”
Something else that Slater is enjoying, in addition to all the new friends he’s made, is working with professionals like Jelly Roll, this season’s artist-in-residence, and with the behind-the-scenes Idol vocal coaches, who have taught Slater new approaches to his music.
“They help me arrange songs in ways I never thought I could,” he says. “’Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ was actually my arrangement. But I was really excited to see and hear that I can take a song, not just a textbook song, and I can move it around how I want it to be sounding.”
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Slater is also doing that with the outfits that he dons to take the stage. Once he made it to the live rounds, he was given a budget to select his wardrobe.
“I am a Georgia boy through and through,” he says about his onstage style. “I grew up going hunting and fishing and also going into the city a little bit and all that. So, being able to show my artistry has never really been something I’ve been able to confidently do, and now that I have this platform, I can show the style that I’ve wanted to do my whole life. Funny different boots and things that’ll make me feel something special.”
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There’s only three more weeks until the American Idol 2025 finale. And there’s a good chance that Slater will be around most of that time, so he will have to live with his missing home until the end.
“I’m enjoying every minute of it, though,” he says. “I’m so happy to be here. I’m happy to be able to share my music with everybody, and the response has been great from everybody, so it’s been cool to see that.”
American Idol airs Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu.
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