‘American Idol’ Winner Hannah Harper Thanks God and Fans as She Marks One Year Since Her Life-Changing Audition
“A year ago, I wondered how I’d make it through one audition. Today, I’m looking back at a year full of answered prayers…”
Photos Courtesy of Hannah Harper
American Idol winner Hannah Harper is reflecting on her Idol audition, which took place on this day last year, giving thanks to the Lord for making it all possible and expressing her gratitude for everything that has happened since.
In a new social media post, Harper shared photos from that fateful day alongside a heartfelt caption looking back on how her journey began.
“One year ago today. I stood outside the Fisher Center at Belmont University absolutely SHAKING. Partly because I was freezing to death, but mostly because I was nervous as all get-out,” she recalled. “Up until that point, I’d only ever made music with my family, singing in churches. I’d never competed as a solo artist, much less had people critique my performance OUT LOUD. And moments before my audition, my 1-year-old was having the meltdown of his LIFE. My momma heart was already in pieces.”
Harper explained that while she had so much on her mind, she found “peace” in knowing she was about to share her raw and real story through her original song, “String Cheese.” At the time, she thought she would simply audition and “go home.”
“Well, jokes on me,” she wrote. “God had other plans.”
Although Harper doubted herself, the American Idol judges, including Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, saw something special in her. Her original song even brought Underwood to tears, and Underwood and Bryan, along with Lionel Richie, awarded her a coveted golden ticket.
“I sang my song, still shaking, and before I could gather my emotions, I was handed a GOLDEN TICKET,” she remembered.
Receiving the golden ticket was an exciting moment, but it also left Harper wondering how she would balance the opportunity with her responsibilities at home.
“How was I going to make this work with my babies and my family?” she recalled thinking.
Looking back, Harper knows she didn’t have to figure it all out on her own. As she explained, “God made a way. Every single time.”
As she continued reflecting on her journey, Harper shared that the experience has been beyond anything she could have imagined.
“If this journey has taught me anything, it’s that every hardship can become a testimony. I was so afraid of being misrepresented, but instead, I got to share my faith, my music, and my heart with the world. And goodness gracious, what a year it’s been!”
Since her audition, Harper has completed 50 dates on her String Cheese Tour and teased that more tour dates for 2027 are coming “soon.”
She also took time to thank her family, husband and the people who have supported her as she navigates this new chapter of her life.
“I’m forever thankful for my family, my sweet husband, and my incredible band and crew, who have sacrificed so much to make this possible. We’ve spent most of the year with 14 people sharing 45 feet of living space, and somehow we still like each other!”
In closing, Harper reflected on how much has changed since the day she stood outside Belmont University, unsure of what would come next.
“A year ago, I wondered how I’d make it through one audition. Today, I’m looking back at a year full of answered prayers I didn’t even know to pray. And we’re just getting started.”
She also thanked her fans for standing by her throughout the journey, adding, “Y’all mean more to me than you’ll ever know!”
As fans await the announcement of additional tour dates, there are still a few opportunities to see Hannah Harper live this year, including an upcoming performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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