“Favorite female voices” — American Idol fans react to Sophia’s performance on day 4th of the audition

The auditions continued to feature a wide range of talents from across the nation in American Idol Season 23 Episode 4, which aired on March 23, 2025. Judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie witnessed performances from a variety of genres, with each competitor showcasing their distinct style.

Sophia Humbert, a 24-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, had one of the most memorable auditions; her performance moved the judges and the crowd alike.

Sophia decided to sing Before He Cheats, a song that judge Carrie Underwood popularized. Her first performance in the audition room demonstrated her vocal range, but it lacked the depth of passion the judges were looking for.

Carrie Underwood saw Sophia's promise and adopted a hands-on approach, helping her to give a more genuine and emotional performance. At the end of this mentorship, Sophia gave a moving performance of the song.

Social media was buzzing with fan reactions showing their appreciation for Sophia's audition and her ability to accept criticism. Her perseverance and the unique chance to receive mentoring from an American Idol icon throughout the audition process were praised by many users on social media.

A tweet from an American Idol viewer read,

"Sophia has one of my favorite female voices I’ve heard all season she can go far far #AmericanIdol"

Another fan wrote from his account,

"That was an amazing performance by sophia humbert #AmericanIdol."

"Sophia found her inner rage, along with a golden ticket #AmericanIdol," another person posted.

A few fans of American Idol however questioned the song choices and judges taking Sophia to break a car to find her inner rage.

A netizen criticized,

"#AmericanIdol This is not a good way to show how people should take out their anger. The producer should be fired for this. I hope this is not how this person teach his or her children how to deal with their anger. #ABC should have edited this out. No excuses. 👎"

"@AmericanIdol Sophia should have sang a different song. That’s not a song you can “jazz up” Simon taught us old schoolers well 😂 #AmericanIdol," another X user shared.

---

"It's exercise time" — American Idol's Luke Bryan and other judges help Sophia improve her audition performance

Sophia Humbert’s audition on American Idol Season 23 took an unexpected turn when judges stepped in to offer hands-on guidance. The Nashville native chose to perform Carrie Underwood’s hit “Before He Cheats,” but her initial rendition lacked the emotional punch the judges were looking for. Recognizing her potential, the judges decided to create a unique opportunity for Sophia to grow in real-time.

"I have got the plan. Let's do this. It's exercise time!" Carrie Underwood declared, leading Sophia through a powerful coaching session.

With newfound confidence, Sophia delivered a more authentic performance that earned her a golden ticket to Hollywood. Fans applauded the judges’ mentorship and celebrated Sophia’s determination.

---

Day 5 of American Idol Season 23 will air on ABC on March 30, 2025.