Three months after making Carrie Underwood cry with “String Cheese,” her original song about motherhood, Hannah Harper could become the newest winner of “American Idol.”
The 25-year-old singer and mom of three from Missouri has made it to the show’s top three and will compete in the Season 24 finale Monday night.
Here’s a look back at Harper’s viral audition — and what inspired her to write “String Cheese.”
How being a mom inspired Hannah Harper’s song ‘String Cheese’
Harper told herself she wasn’t going to cry during her “American Idol” audition. But the tears came pretty quickly as she started opening up to the judges about her song.
The “Idol” contestant said she developed postpartum depression shortly after the birth of her youngest son.
“I was sitting on my couch wallowing. ... Everybody wants to touch you, and I didn’t want to be touched,” she said during her audition. “I was just having a pity party, praying that the Lord would calm my spirit, and my son kept coming up to me. He said, ‘Mom, open this. Mom, open this, open my cheese.’ I’m like, ‘Just leave me alone with the daggum cheese.’
“And 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, in being a mom,” she continued. “So, I gathered myself, and I got up off the couch, and I quit throwing a pity party, and I realized that that was exactly what I wanted.”
“String Cheese” was born out of that moment.
As Harper began to sing of Miss Rachel on the TV and Hot Wheels under her feet, Underwood, who is a mom of two boys, was visibly moved.
“I thought finding peace in the quiet’s what I wanted / but I’d do anything to go back to being needed.
“One day I’ll be alone with a hot fresh cup of joe / Wishing that someone would just drop by / And I’ll sit and reminisce on times that I sure miss / Scattered toys and a baby on my hip.”
When Harper ended her song with the lyric, “Being their mama is who I’m meant to be,” Underwood asked “Idol” judge Luke Bryan to hand her a tissue.
“Well, that’s about the most relatable song I think I’ve ever heard,” the country star said.
“I just think you have a beautiful simplicity to your voice,” she added. “You’re one that I’m going to think about when we leave here, like, ‘I wonder what song she’s gonna sing next.’”
After receiving praise from all of the judges — and drawing comparisons to artists like Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves and Alison Krauss — Harper received her golden ticket to Hollywood, advancing to the next round of the competition.
Since the audition, which aired on Feb. 2, “String Cheese” charted on iTunes — ranking above “Baby Shark” in the children’s music category — and ranked No. 14 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart, as the Deseret News previously reported. The song has also earned praise from artists including country legend Martina McBride and Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth.
Harper has remained a standout contestant on “Idol” all season. Performances throughout her time on the show have included McBride’s “A Broken Wing”; Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California”; Taylor Swift’s “Mean”; Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”; and “At the Cross (Love Ran Red).”
Now, the entertainment site Gold Derby predicts Harper will become the “American Idol” winner. A poll from the outlet shows just over 50% of readers voting for the rising country artist to win, with Jordan McCullough in second with nearly 30% of votes.
Throughout the season, Harper’s performances have consistently garnered more views on YouTube than her competitors. Her higher number of social media followers also points to a potential win, per Parade.
Who is Hannah Harper?
Harper grew up traveling and performing bluegrass and gospel music with her family band, The Harper Collective.
The singer took a break from performing to focus on being a stay-at-home mom, but began to miss the creative outlet music provides, she previously said during an interview with Howell County News, an outlet in Missouri.
She began writing songs at home and posting videos on TikTok, which caught the attention of “Idol” recruiters.
“‘American Idol’ recruiters seek people out with little-to-no following,” she told Howell County News. “I had about 100 followers.”
Now, thanks in part to the success of “String Cheese,” Harper has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram.
“When I wrote the song, I wasn’t sure anyone would ever hear it,” she said. “For the audition, I had prepared a cover song because the judges don’t always like originals. I was ready, but the song resonated. It’s relatable for anyone. It was special. (Underwood) has heard everything, but something sparked.”
Hannah Harper ‘American Idol’ highlights
Below are some of Harper’s top performances on ‘American Idol’:
Jo Dee Messina’s ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California’
‘Ain’t No Grave,’ traditional gospel song
Chris Tomlin’s ‘At the Cross (Love Ran Red)’
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’
Taylor Swift’s ‘Mean’
Martina McBride’s ‘A Broken Wing’ duet with Kellie Pickler
Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’