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From American Idol winner to recording artist
Carter, who grew up in Indio, California, won Season 22 in May 2024, beating runner-up Will Moseley. The transition to original music had already begun: she started writing material for her debut album while filming the show. In an October 2024 interview, she said she had expected to be voted off each week, calling the win “the most unexpected part.” American Songwriter’s interview also covered her early releases, including “Peppermint Sky” and “some people need drugs.”
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A Carter Organ Album | $38.39 | Buy on Amazon |
What is Ghosts in the Backyard about?
Released in November 2024, Ghosts in the Backyard is a 10-track, narrative-driven album. Carter’s official biography says she wrote on every song and describes the record as an exploration of her youth. She has called the writing process “therapy for myself,” explaining that working through her feelings in the songs was cathartic and that connecting with even one listener would make the effort worthwhile. Her official site lists the album and a deluxe vinyl edition.
The title track has a specific personal starting point. In the October 2024 interview, Carter connected it to a childhood friend who moved across the country in spring 2020. She recalled that the friendship felt unresolved and that places around her hometown brought back memories. The album’s title and songs draw on that personal history, rather than marking a new television project.
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She took the songs on the road in 2025
In 2025, Carter toured with original material on the ghosts in the backyard tour and made her Stagecoach debut in Indio on April 25. The BNP Paribas Open later described her as having performed on Stagecoach’s Mane Stage and completed a wide-ranging U.S. tour. Those are dated milestones, not confirmation of her present touring status.
Her announced 2026 homecoming performance
On January 23, 2026, the BNP Paribas Open announced Carter and her band for the Village Stage on March 4. The event announcement described it as a return to the community where she grew up. Carter said she was excited to reunite with the community that raised her. This was an announcement for a specific past date, not evidence of an ongoing 2026 tour or current ticket availability. The BNP Paribas Open announcement provides the event details.
What is established about her career now
The available dated milestones show a clear first chapter after American Idol: Carter developed and released a self-written debut, then performed its songs on tour and at major live events. Her official site is the place to check for newer music or performance information; the milestones above do not establish a current tour schedule.
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