In a major milestone for one of country music’s rising stars, 18-year-old Slater Nalley, a Top 5 finalist on American Idol Season 23, has signed a significant management deal with Play It Again Music (PIA), a Nashville agency founded by Dallas Davidson, a longtime friend and collaborator of American Idol judge Luke Bryan. The announcement, first reported by Music Row on May 23, 2025, comes just days after Nalley’s high school graduation from The Lovett School in Atlanta—a ceremony he attended via FaceTime while performing at the Idol finale—and marks the official launch of his professional music career. For Nalley, whose heartfelt performances and songwriting talent captivated millions during the competition, this deal represents not just a step toward stardom, but a chance to honor his roots and the people who have shaped his journey.

Nalley’s path to this moment has been one of talent, perseverance, and emotional depth. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Nalley has been a “Lovett Lifer,” attending The Lovett School from kindergarten through his senior year. His love for music began at a young age, with Nalley recalling in a 2023 interview with his school newspaper, The OnLion, that he “can’t remember my life without singing.” He picked up the piano at 13 but found his true passion with the guitar, teaching himself chords via YouTube and saving up to buy his first instrument around 2019. His parents later surprised him with his dream guitar for Christmas, a gift that fueled his growing ambition. Over the years, Nalley honed his craft by performing at local bars and restaurants in Leland, Michigan, during summer visits to his grandparents, and by sharing his music on TikTok, where he has amassed over 42,000 followers and 1.1 million likes with covers like Tyler Childers’ “Jersey Giant” and Zach Bryan’s “Something in Orange.”

It was at Lovett, however, that Nalley’s talent truly began to shine. Involved in the school’s chorus and musicals—where he played roles like the Big Bad Wolf in Into the Woods and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—Nalley developed a stage presence that belied his age. His English teacher, Michele Davis, played a pivotal role in his journey when she shared a poem she had written about her son, Carter Davis, who was tragically murdered in 2016 at the age of 17. Nalley, deeply moved by the story, turned the poem into a song titled “Traces of You,” which he performed for the first time at a Lovett chapel service in Spring 2022. The song, a haunting tribute to Carter’s memory, would later become the cornerstone of Nalley’s American Idol journey.

Nalley’s Idol audition in Nashville in late 2024 was a defining moment. Accompanied by Mrs. Davis, who introduced the backstory to judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, Nalley performed “Traces of You” with an acoustic guitar, his husky voice carrying the weight of the song’s emotional narrative. The performance brought all three judges to tears, with Underwood declaring, “I couldn’t have imagined you doing that any better.” The judges unanimously sent him to Hollywood, and the audition clip went viral, amassing 5.9 million views on TikTok alone. Nalley later reflected on the moment via social media, writing, “Still in shock. Golden ticket is secured! Huge thanks to @carrieunderwood, @LukeBryan, and @LionelRichie! It means so much that ‘Traces of You’ has resonated with so many of you. Just the beginning!”

Throughout the competition, Nalley showcased his versatility and artistry, performing a mix of originals and covers that drew comparisons to country music icons like Chris Stapleton, John Prine, and Bob Dylan. During Hollywood Week, he delivered another original, “Foolish Pride,” written at age 15 about self-reflection in relationships, earning high praise from the judges. His cover of The Band’s “Ophelia” in the Showstoppers round secured his spot in the Top 14, and he continued to impress with performances like Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” chosen by Luke Bryan, and a high-energy rendition of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” during Disney Night. Despite a brief lyric flub while performing Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Nalley recovered quickly, earning praise from Bryan for his professionalism: “I want you to just understand, that stuff happens.”

Nalley finished in the Top 5, eliminated just before the finale on May 12, alongside Thunderstorm Artis. Fans expressed their disappointment online, with one writing on X, “Slater Nalley #AmericanIdol I’m so sad you are not in the finale! Keep singing & writing songs, you have such potential, you’re so talented!” During the finale, Nalley performed a duet of “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood and Cody Johnson, a fitting capstone to his Idol journey. He also released “Traces of You” as his first-ever single through 19 Recordings, the show’s label partner, on the eve of the finale, marking the beginning of his professional music career.

The signing with Play It Again Music, announced just five days after the finale, is a testament to Nalley’s potential and the impression he made during the competition. PIA, founded in 2021 by Dallas Davidson, is named after Luke Bryan’s 2013 hit “Play It Again,” a song Davidson co-wrote. Davidson, a multi-platinum songwriter who has penned nearly a third of Bryan’s 31 number-one country singles—including “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”—has been friends with Bryan since their teenage years in Georgia. The two share deep roots in the state, with Bryan’s family still tied to a peanut farm in Leesburg, a connection that made his support for Nalley, a fellow Georgian, especially meaningful.

Davidson’s vision for PIA is to nurture “raw talent, a robust work ethic, and being a good person,” values that align perfectly with Nalley’s character. In a statement to Music Row, Davidson praised Nalley, saying, “Slater Nalley is special. This young man checks all my boxes when I’m looking at an artist. Not only does his raw talent immediately draw you in, but he is a kind person. At an extremely young age, Slater carries himself like a seasoned music veteran both on and off the stage.” He also commended Nalley’s parents, Slater Sr. and Katie, for raising an exceptional young man, adding, “He is going to have an immediate impact in music, not just in the country genre but globally. PIA is extremely proud to announce that we will be representing Slater on his exciting musical journey ahead.”

Nalley, for his part, expressed gratitude and excitement about the partnership. “The past few months of American Idol have been nothing short of a blessing, and I feel more inspired than ever to create music that speaks to my fans,” he told Music Row. “I’m thrilled to be working with Dallas Davidson, Alyssa Ramsey, and Cade Price at Play It Again Music. Their belief in me from the start brought me a new confidence, and I cannot wait to see what we will accomplish together in the near future. Stay tuned, y’all.”

The partnership is a natural fit, not just musically but geographically. Nalley’s Atlanta roots and Davidson and Bryan’s Georgia connections create a sense of shared heritage that strengthens their collaboration. Bryan, who has been a judge on American Idol since 2018 and mentored Nalley throughout Season 23, was a vocal supporter of the young artist, even selecting songs like “Atlantic City” for him during the competition. This deal with PIA positions Nalley to follow in the footsteps of artists like Bryan, who has sold over 75 million records worldwide and earned accolades like the Academy of Country Music’s Album of the Decade for Crash My Party in 2019.

For Nalley, the signing is just the beginning. With “Traces of You” already released and more music expected soon, he is poised to make a significant mark on the country music landscape. His influences—modern country artists like Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson—inform his songwriting, which blends emotional depth with gritty country soul. As he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution during the competition, seeing these artists live has made him a better performer, and he’s adapted their strategies to enhance his stagecraft.

The Lovett School community, where Nalley graduated just days before the signing, has also celebrated his success. Head of School Meredyth Cole described him as “the model of who we want to graduate from Lovett: students full of intellectual strength and character with a sense of purpose.” Michele Davis, whose son inspired Nalley’s breakout song, reflected on the experience, saying, “To see Carter’s spirit get to live on a little in this song—it’s a priceless gift that seems to put some of those shattered pieces back together.”

As Nalley embarks on this new chapter, his fans are eager to see what’s next. With Play It Again Music behind him and the support of mentors like Luke Bryan and Dallas Davidson, the 18-year-old is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of connecting with audiences through music that tells meaningful stories. For a young artist who has already moved millions to tears with his voice and heart, the future looks brighter than ever.