16-Year-Old ‘American Idol’ Alum Triston Harper Surprises Fans with Marriage Announcement and Pregnancy News
“I’ve got big news harpies❤️❤️😘,” the 16-year-old shared.
Triston Harper with Wife; Photos via Facebook
American Idol’s Triston Harper has two pieces of big news to share with his fans.
On November 6, the 16-year-old took to Facebook to tell his fanbase, known as the “harpies,” that he has tied the knot with his girlfriend, Paris Reed.
“Iv [sic] got big news harpies❤️❤️😘,” he wrote alongside a Facebook status update.
But that’s not all because two days later, Harper’s mother Hattie Mae Sullivan made her own post letting the world know her son is a first-time dad-to-be. She included a selfie of Harper smiling bright as he held up a positive pregnancy test next to his wife, which the country singer reshared to his own feed.
Sullivan’s caption read, “Now Everybody has congratulated me on Triston and Paris getting married but to me that is old news but now I’m bout to be a ‘G Ma.’”
While Harper hasn’t shared much insight into his relationship in the past, fans have seen a few snippets into their love for one another through social media. He first introduced his followers to Reed on March 5, 2024, while he was in the midst of his Idol journey. The post included a holiday photo of the couple.
“Look at my beautiful Girl @reedgirl.101she’s gorgeous ❤️❤️❤️❤️😊😊😘,” he wrote.
The next time we got a heartfelt post dedicated to his other half was in August for National Girlfriend Day.
“Happy National Girlfriend Day❤️😘.I love you so much @reedgirl.101❤️❤️❤️❤️.There may be a 1 in a million kind of girl, but your my 1 in a lifetime time kind of woman. I love you 25❤️😘”
During his Season 22 audition, Triston Harper left the judges speechless with his incredible vocals and his inspirational story of overcoming major obstacles throughout his life. Although the aspiring singer/songwriter was only 15, he opened up about his childhood in McIntosh, Alabama and admitted that he’s already “been through a lot.”
Clips then appeared on the screen and began to take a deep dive into one of the lowest chapters of Harper’s life which came when he was just 11 years old.
He shared, “My mom was with my stepdad. He was getting very abusive. We had to leave McIntosh then everything had went sideways, just like that.”
In order to find their way out of this difficult situation, Harper explained that he and his mom became homeless – “I’m sleeping on sidewalk. I had just turned 12.”
He continued, “It was not easy, me watching my mom sit there and cry that night and not knowing what to do. I’d got to that point where I said, ‘God, I need you to help me.’ My papaw, he drove all the way from Alabama, Arkansas, nonstop to come and get us.”
After reflecting on all that, Harper revealed how much it meant to him to have made it to the American Idol audition room and how he “never thought” he would be able to share his story with the world. Having the platform to do while simultaneously pursuing his dreams made him feel incredibly “happy.”
The Alabama native earned a golden ticket and made it all the way through to the competition’s top five before being eliminated in May.
Shortly after his time on the singing competition show came to an end, Harper released his debut single, “H.O.P.E.” and has continued to post performance clips to social media ever since. Now, his time will likely be dedicated to preparing to welcome his first child and begin the next phase of his life.
Written by
Madeleine O’Connell
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.