Five months after capturing hearts on Season 23 of American Idol, 18-year-old Slater Nalley has taken the next big step in his music career. On October 17, he announced a record deal with Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records, in partnership with 19 Entertainment, and released his debut single, “Foolish Pride.”
Slater first wowed audiences with an original song, “Traces of You,” inspired by a poem his high school English teacher wrote about her late son. His audition earned praise from judges, with Luke Bryan telling him, “You just stick to walking out on stage and singing with your heart, and the rest will take care of itself,” and Lionel Richie noting, “Sometimes, we don’t have to vote.” Slater went on to reach the top 5 before being eliminated just short of the season finale.
Described on his Facebook page as “an 18-year-old wordsmith and Atlanta native,” Slater is now officially introducing his music to the world. “I am overjoyed to announce that I have officially signed a record deal with Warner Music,” he said. “Their team genuinely care about the power of music and truly believe in me. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us!”
“Foolish Pride” first made its mark during Hollywood Week on American Idol, where Slater explained that he wrote the song at 15. It’s a heartfelt reflection on realizing when you might be the cause of tension in a relationship or friendship. “I’ve performed it for years, and after its debut on ‘American Idol,’ I knew I had to share it with the world … I’m so grateful to everyone who helped bring this song to life,” Slater said.
Now officially released as his first single, “Foolish Pride” marks the beginning of Slater’s journey in the music industry. Fans can listen to the track, watch the visualizer, and revisit his original Hollywood Week performance to see the roots of his storytelling magic.
With his record deal in place and his debut single out, it’s clear that Slater Nalley is just getting started — and the world is ready to listen.
