"American Idol" released a clip of Season 8 auditions on Thursday. The show returns Sunday after the Oscars on ABC and includes Slatter Nalley's original song about his teacher's son.

Country singer Emmy Russell, who competed in Season 22 of "American Idol," said she was "so mad" when judges picked "Coal Miner's Daughter" for her to sing last April. The song was the signature tune for her grandmother,

American Idol is returning with Season 23 this year, and Thunderstorm Artis is one of the hopefuls auditioning for the show. Fans may actually recognize the rising star, as he was previously a contestant on The Voice and made it far in the competition.

However, Russell felt that singing her grandmother’s song “was just going to add to” claims of nepotism because of Lynn’s status as a country music legend. Lynn died in October 2022 at age 80. But anger wasn’t the only emotion Russell felt.

ABC will air exclusive “American Idol” auditions on March 2, following the Oscars, featuring Carrie Underwood as a judge. The season premiere is set for March 9 on ABC.

The short answer is yes, contestants who make it to a certain point in the season are paid for their time. There are reportedly other perks along the way but also some expenses. Let’s break it all down.