Bo Bice was the Season 4 contestant who came in second to Carrie Underwood, so that’s no small praise for whoever inspires that comparison!

The season 4 winner is making her grand return to the show that started her career — this time as its newest judge.

American Idol hopeful Slater Nalley checks all of the boxes as the kind of contestant judges love: He’s confident, he’s talented, he writes his own songs — but most of all, he’s a good dude with a compelling story.