Grab the Kleenex — tears will be flowing on season 23 of “American Idol.” A new promo released by ABC on February 13, 2025, provides peeks at some of the contestants trying out for season 23, including one that leaves new judge Carrie Underwood in tears as fellow judge Luke Bryan consoles her.

With the show due to kick off on March 9, ABC is building buzz for an emotional new season. Underwood will step in for long-standing judge Katy Perry, who left in May to release new music and launch a world tour, and the series’ first-ever artist-in-residence, Jelly Roll, who is known to wear his heart on his sleeve, too.

Luke Bryan Asks Carrie Underwood If She’s Okay in New ‘Idol’ Promo

In a sneak peek of one young man’s season 23 audition in front of Underwood, Bryan and fellow judge Lionel Richie are seen telling them, “My grandparents raised me from the moment I turned two.” Underwood can already be seen getting emotional as she stares down at her paper.

“She put everything that she had in me all those years,” the contestant continues, and is then shown hugging an older woman who starts sobbing. When the camera pans to the judges’ table, Underwood is seen crying with a tissue and Bryan rolls his chair closer to hers, reaching out for a hug.

“You okay over there?” he asks, and Underwood croaks, “I’m not!”

It’s not the first time producers have shown Underwood in tears while promoting the upcoming season. Another teaser released on January 27 showed the season four winner talking through tears to someone off-camera.

In October, Bryan revealed on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” that as they began filming auditions, Underwood was feeling heartbroken when contestants would beg for a ticket to Hollywood.

He explained, “Yesterday we had a kid (who was) like, ‘I will work so hard’ and Carrie was like, ‘I didn’t realize they would do this!’”

Underwood later explained to Extra, “(It’s hard) whenever somebody is saying, ‘I can sing another one! I have this song, and this song!’ I did one yesterday and I was like, ‘Okay!’ But then that’s, like, that’s even worse because now it’s like, ‘Eh, still a no.’ Like, ugh!”

‘American Idol’ Contestant Cried During New Year’s Eve Surprise With Carrie Underwood & Ryan Seacrest

Underwood, who won season 4 of “American Idol” in 2005, isn’t the only one shedding tears over the new season. On New Year’s Eve, she and “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest brought one season 23 contestant to tears on live television.

There to perform in Times Square on Ryan’s New Year’s countdown, Underwood welcomed a singer named Filo into the camera shot. After sharing what a great singer he is, she and Seacrest surprised him with a platinum ticket — awarded to only three hopefuls each year. The honor which typically allows the recipients to skip competing in the first round of Hollywood Week.

As soon as Filo saw the platinum ticket, he broke down in tears, shouting, “What!? What just happened? This is insane!”

A week before “Idol” premieres on March 9, ABC will air a preview show immediately following the Oscars on March 2.