All eyes are on Harper as she pushes forward in the competition.
Hannah Harper; Photo Courtesy of Facebook
Music lovers nationwide were recently introduced to a stunning singer/songwriter named Hannah Harper. While she has been pursuing a solo career for several years now and steadily growing a fanbase across social media, her American Idol audition brought an extra boost of attention to her talent.
On Monday, Feb 2, the songstress stepped in front of the show’s judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie and performed a moving original song inspired by motherhood, “String Cheese.” Her powerful vocals earned her a golden ticket and the opportunity to advance in the competition.
With her emotional performance leaving a lasting impression on both the judges and viewers at home, Hannah Harper is quickly becoming a name to remember. Keep reading to learn five key facts about to know about the singer-songwriter making waves on American Idol.
She Is A Country, Bluegrass, And Gospel Singer From Southeast Missouri
Harper developed her love for singing on stage at the age of 9 years old and has never looked back. Even though she has traveled far beyond Missouri throughout her life, the singer/songwriter ultimately found herself returning to Missouri to settle down and plant the roots of her own family.
She Cut Her Teeth Performing In Her Family Band, The Harper Collective
While she is mainly pursuing a solo career in this chapter of her journey, Hannah Harper performed in her family’s bluegrass band, now known as The Harper Collective, for seven years. The group consisted of her mom and dad, Katrina and Gaylon, plus siblings Dillon and Dalton, and Dillon’s wife Makeena. Harper explained her dad quit his job at the lead mine to allow the family to pursue music full time, traveling from coast-to-coast in a 40-foot-long tour bus. They went on to win the SPBGMA International Band Contest in 2010 and have recorded two albums for Pisgah Ridge and Crossroads Records.
She Is A Mom To Three Boys And Has Been Married For Eight Years
Harper and her now-husband Devon met in a small church in Missouri where she served as a worship leader. They tied the knot at 18 years old and by 19 they welcomed their first child into the world. Now, they are a family of five living in a house that Harper and her husband built back in 2020. Specific ages and names for her sons have not been revealed to the public.
“Somehow we blinked, and here we are with three beautiful babies and a home we built from the ground up,” she wrote in a social post in December. “We’ve walked through the ups, the downs, and everything in between… and this might just be my favorite season yet. I never imagined I could chase music and still be a present mom — but the Lord has provided in ways I never could’ve dreamed. I’m so thankful for this life, and I can’t wait to bring my babies right beside me as we step into this next season.”
Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” Was A Staple in Her Family
The songstress regularly shares covers from a wide range of artists, spanning country, bluegrass, faith-based music and more. One song she recently called attention to was Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” On January 10, she took to Instagram to post a video of herself alongside two fellow female singers, delivering a heartfelt rendition of the beloved song, noting it was her late grandfather’s “most requested” tune to sing.
“This was a staple song for us growing up. Before we ever knew it was a Vince Gill song, it was “Bob Lewis’s song” in our family. It was our grandpa’s most requested and most loved song to sing. Now he’s in the arms of Jesus, and we’ll make sure our kids grow up knowing the love, memories, and legacy tied to this song. 
”
She Sang An Original Song For Her American Idol Audition
Fans first met Hannah Harper during her emotional American Idol audition. Wearing a homemade patchwork dress, she performed her original song “String Cheese” with her brother Dalton on guitar. The song, inspired by her battle with postpartum depression, took a heartfelt turn when her young son asked her to open his string cheese, reminding her she was exactly where she was meant to be. The performance earned her a golden ticket to Hollywood Week.
“I finally opened his cheese and when I did, I realized that God had put me in that place and that where I was in my house was the biggest ministry that I could ever have and being a mom,” she told the judges.
