The prospect of some bilious back-and-forth between judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj is one reason to tune in to the new season of “American Idol.” Listening to 18-year-old Angela Miller is another.

Miller, who graduated from Beverly High School last year, was among the highlights of Wednesday’s season premiere, and she seems a good bet to hang around for a while, just as Barnstable’s Siobhan Magnus did a few years back.