"Will continue to stay true to myself:” American Idol Top 20 contestant Zaylie Windsor reacts to her elimination

American Idol is a singing competition series where artists compete to win the grand prize and make a name for themselves in the music industry. 18-year-old Zaylie from Safford had high hopes when she was sent straight to the Top 24 by the judges due to her strong stage presence and impressive vocals.

However, even after being one of the Top 20 contestants, Zaylie was eliminated from the show. On April 23, 2025, she took to her Instagram, captioning her post as:

"I will continue to stay true to myself, to who I am, for my art. Thank you all so so much for the support and kind comments and messages. I just wanted to thank The Venue on Main for all of their support, my loving family, friends, and community, and all the new people here. You guys make me feel like this dream is actually possible. Thank you."

American Idol Top 20 contestant Zaylie Windsor looks back on her journey on the show

In her Instagram post, American Idol star Zaylie Windsor shared her experience being on the show and making it to the Top 20. Even though Zaylie faced elimination due to fewer votes, she shared that she would remember this "incredible experience."

Zaylie reflected on her journey from singing covers in her bedroom to performing on stage in front of a live audience, she said:

"Well, that's a wrap on my American Idol journey! This has truly been such an incredible experience. I’ve made so many friendships through this, and I’ve learned so much about myself. To go from that first audition in my bedroom, singing an original song, in my small hometown, to the Top 20 is insane to me."

In another April 25, 2025, Instagram post, Zaylie shared with her followers that after her journey on American Idol wrapped up, she went back to her small town. Additionally, viewers think the Top 20 artist might be teasing her upcoming singing projects, as mentioned in the post caption, which states:

"I love my little town in the middle of nowhere!!! Being able to achieve what I have from such a small town is crazy :’) so excited to see what comes next and to share it with you all!!"

For the Showstopper Round, Zaylie performed Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish, impressing the judges, who were surprised at her mature yet soft vocal range. As of now, Zaylie hasn't released her music yet, but fans are eager for her to post her audition's original song The Used soon. On her Instagram account, the American Idol star shares updates regarding her music.

Zaylie also opened up about her childhood and the impact of music on her life. She expressed love for singing and music in the April 21, 2025, post:

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“I played my first gig at 12 years old, joined my first band at 13, won my first battle of the bands at 14, and since then it’s been up from there, but not without some trials. I was bullied a lot for my love of music (oddly), and that pushed me into some really dark places."

Fans can stream American Idol on ABC to watch Zaylie's journey on the show, and can follow her on the official Instagram account as well.

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