"I'm honored" American Idol judge Carrie Underwood reacts to Mattie Pruitt's rendition of Katy Perry's Wide Awake

With American Idol Season 23 heating up, 16-year-old Mattie Pruitt is rapidly emerging as a star. Just before her sweet sixteen on April 15, the high school student from Eagleville, Tennessee, stunned the judges and the audience with her passionate rendition of Katy Perry's popular song "Wide Awake".

Carrie Underwood, currently seated at the judges' table, could not contain her enthusiasm. She complimented Mattie not only on her singing but also on how she made the song her own, which is no small accomplishment when working on such a huge pop hit.

“You're so good, you're so good, I'm honored just to kind of be along for the ride here with you, Mattie. When you take a song and you make it your own — I mean that's an iconic, monster of a song — and you really did, you made it your own" ,

gushed Carrie Underwood. Mattie's recent heartbreaking performance of "The House That Built Me," performed by none other than guest mentor Miranda Lambert, only served to increase her momentum with her landing a spot in the Top 8.

Mattie is among the youngest competitors, yet her emotional depth and stage presence are much above her years. As the field gets smaller, she's demonstrating that when talent and passion are prioritised, age is just a number.

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Mattie Pruitt’s versatile performances on American Idol

With an emotionally rich performance of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake”, Mattie Pruit proved her talent on the American Idol stage, yet again. Her ability to bring maturity and elegance to modern pop was already impressive, but she took things to another level during American Idol's Top 10 "Ladies Night" episode, where contestants honored iconic female artists.

For this round, Mattie chose Miranda Lambert’s deeply personal ballad “The House That Built Me,” which was a fitting pick, especially with Lambert serving as the mentor that week. Ahead of the show, Mattie admitted this would be her “most personal” performance yet. She was nervous, but also ready to open up in a way she hadn’t before. And when the moment came, she delivered, offering a heartfelt, vulnerable rendition that resonated with both the judges and viewers at home.

The risk paid off handsomely. Judge Lionel Richie praised her emotional control, telling her:

"You held your emotions perfectly. We felt every moment of that."

According to Luke Bryan, who praised her "huge growth," the performance allowed her to reach emotional depths she hadn't previously explored during the competition.

Unavoidably, Pruitt's journey has been compared to Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner. Following Pruitt's performance of Clarkson's poignant hit song "Because of You" to earn her Top 10 spot, these similarities have been a lot more intense.

The performance left judge Luke Bryan visibly impressed, remarking:

"I mean, 16 out here going toe-to-toe with everybody… You're just doing so good."

These comparisons aren't made lightly either. Clarkson's career represents the pinnacle of what an American Idol contestant can achieve. For Pruitt to be able to evoke such comparisons speaks volumes about her potential as both a vocalist and performer.

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Looking ahead at Mattie Pruitt’s future in the competition

With a well-earned spot in the Top 8, Mattie Pruitt is headed into new territory on American Idol as the competition gears up for the “Judge’s Song Contest” episode. In this twist-filled round, the judges, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, each secretly pick a song for the contestants, and it's up to the singers to choose one, without knowing which judge chose what.

For Mattie, this format brings both a big opportunity and a bit of a gamble. On one hand, a well-chosen song could spotlight a whole new side of her artistry. On the other hand, it might nudge her out of her comfort zone in ways that could be tricky to navigate. But if her past performances are any indication, she’s more than ready to take the leap!

Despite being one of the youngest in the competition, Mattie has shown time and again that she has the emotional range and vocal depth to stand toe-to-toe with anyone. No matter what the judges throw her way next, she’s already proven she’s a real contender, one whose talent and heart could carry her far beyond the Idol stage.

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American Idol Season 23 airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.