A special preview of the upcoming season of American Idol aired after Sunday night’s 97th Academy Awards ceremony.

American Idol’s 23rd season is slated to kick off with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, March 9, but fans got a sneak peek after the Oscars. The 30-minute special gave viewers a glimpse of Carrie Underwood‘s return to the show that made her a star, albeit in a different role. The “Something In The Water” singer is taking a seat at the judge’s table 20 years after she took home the Season 4 title.

Carrie’s new gig makes her the first Idol alum to return to the show and join the judging panel. She will sit next to her fellow country star and returning judge Luke Bryan, and veteran judge Lionel Richie.

Prior to Sunday’s sneak peek, ABC released a 7-minute teaser showing Carrie Underwood breaking down in tears over an audition. In the clip, high school English teacher, named only as Mrs. Davis, introduces one of her students, 17-year-old Slater Nalley. She tells the judges that Nallen took a poem she had written about her late son and made it into a song.

Nalley accompanied himself on guitar as he sang the song that he said is “the most deep thing” he’s ever written. Carrie, Lionel, and Luke were visibly moved by the performance.

“Every single person that hears that can fill in that memory of someone that’s within themselves,” Underwood said. “I couldn’t have imagined you doing that any better.”

Auditions in the preview that aired Sunday night included Sonny Tennet, the first contestant to audition in front of Carrie.

Tennet, a U.K. native, sang “Easy” by The Commodores. The song was first recorded by the group when Lionel Richie was their co-lead singer in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Richie gave the singer a standing ovation and praised him, saying, “You made my song your song. It was beautifully done.” Luke and Carrie agreed and the panel voted unanimously to give Sonny a golden ticket.

Next up was Thunderstorm Artis, a 28-year-old from Nashville. Artis sang a song he wrote about his and his wife’s love story called “Don’t Let Me Let You Go.” All three judges rewarded him with a standing ovation and a ticket to Hollywood.

Then came the audition that Luke Bryan said was one of the best …. ever.

Amanda Barise took a turn in front of Lionel, Luke, and Carrie to sing James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” The 26-year-old from New York had the judges on their feet by the end of the song, clearly in awe of what they were hearing.

“Every line you delivered just took us on our own little journey. That was perfection,” Carrie told Amanda.

Luke added, “One of the best I’ve heard…ever.”

Amanda seemed surprised by the praise and simply replied with, “Thank you. Wow. That’s very nice.”