Will Carter, a 24-year-old musician from St. John’s, Newfoundland, made history on March 30, 2025, as the first person from Newfoundland to compete on American Idol. His appearance aired during the fourth episode of Season 23, where he performed his original song titled “Dreams”.
The Road to American Idol
Carter’s journey to American Idol began unexpectedly in 2023 when he received a text message from an American Idol producer who had discovered his singing clips on social media. Initially skeptical, Carter went through several rounds of auditions before making it to the official taping of the show in October 2024.
Will Carter started his musical journey at just 10 years old and eventually began sharing his talent on Instagram in 2016. That same year, he entered his first singing competition called Sing NL, marking the beginning of his more serious pursuit of music.
The Emotional Performance
Carter’s performance of “Dreams” carried deep personal significance as it served as both a tribute to his mother Tina, who passed away from breast cancer in 2018, and as an expression of his commitment to pursuing his musical aspirations despite his fears. The song explores themes of chasing dreams even when fear of failure becomes overwhelming—a message that resonated with the judges and audience alike.
Judge Reactions and Hollywood Ticket
After completing his performance, Carter received overwhelming praise from the celebrity judge panel consisting of Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan. Luke Bryan was particularly moved, telling Carter, “Your momma is proud of ya”.
All three judges voted in favor of Carter advancing to the next round, presenting him with the coveted golden ticket to Hollywood Week—a significant milestone in the American Idol competition. As Carter described it himself, this achievement represents “really a kickstart to a career”.
St. John’s Celebration
Following his successful audition, Carter participated in a watch party at the Rock House stage in St. John’s, where hundreds of supporters gathered to witness his American Idol moment. The crowd erupted in cheers when his face appeared on screen and continued their enthusiastic support throughout his performance and the judges’ evaluations.
After the episode aired showing his advancement to Hollywood, Carter returned to the Rock House stage where his father Greg presented him with the golden ticket in a silver case—a tangible symbol of his achievement and the beginning of a new chapter in his musical career.
Will Carter is making history as the first Newfoundlander and first Atlantic Canadian to appear on American Idol. His emotional performance and personal story have already made an impact, earning him the opportunity to continue competing at the Hollywood stage of the show. The references to a Will Carter on America’s Got Talent appear to be unrelated AI-generated fictional content, not actual performances on that show.