Hannah Harper will make her official debut at the Grand Ole Opry on June 2, bringing her new title as AMERICAN IDOL Season 24 winner to one of country music’s most famous stages. The performance will come during the venue’s “Summer of the Century” celebration in CMA Fest week, and Harper is set to appear alongside fellow Idol winner Carrie Underwood.
Underwood said she sees a lot of herself in Harper. “I definitely see myself in her quite a bit,” she said, adding that Harper is “just relatable” and that viewers voted for her because “they see a mom who’s juggling just like everybody else.” She also noted that Harper’s family has been with her throughout the run, saying she has been coming to rehearsals, going home to make dinner and already figuring out how to balance the work with life at home.
That balance is part of what has defined Harper’s rise. She is a mother of three and has described herself as a devout Christian, saying she has been in ministry since she was 9 years old. “Having a platform at this level and getting to still be this open about my relationship with the Lord is an incredible honor to me,” she said. Harper added that she wants people to know “you’re never too far gone” and that “He can meet you anywhere…no matter what walk of life you’re in.”
Harper has also talked openly about what mattered most during the competition. “The only thing that was real and mattered was my kids and my relationship with my husband,” she said, calling that foundation very important. She said many people admire Dolly Parton because “she’s such a character,” but said she is still working through the pressure that can come with the spotlight because she prizes authenticity on stage and off. “Carrie just wanted to make sure that I kept a hold of the grasp of reality once everything settled down,” Harper said, adding that Underwood urged her to keep her focus on “my kids and my husband.”
The Opry debut gives Harper a fast turn from television winner to live-country stage performer, and it places her in front of an audience that will already know the story behind the name. Her first appearance there, with Underwood beside her, answers the immediate question around her next step after the Idol win: she is not waiting to be introduced to country music, she is walking straight into one of its center stages.
