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Shortly after Hannah Harper won Season 24 of American Idol, she was invited to make her Grand Ole Opry debut. The Missouri native and mother of three shared the exciting news on May 18th, writing:
“I truly don’t know if this will ever feel real…What an overwhelming honor it is to step into that circle that carries so much history, legacy, and heart within country music. As a little girl, this was one of those dreams that felt far too big to even speak out loud. Yet somehow, the Lord has continued to write a story bigger than anything I could have imagined for myself.”
Harper made her dream-come-true Opry debut on Tuesday, June 2. She became overwhelmed with emotion as she stepped into the storied Circle where many great artists have stood before her.
“This is absolutely insane,” she said as she took in the moment. Then, she referenced a beloved and iconic Opry artist, Minnie Pearl.
“And now I understand why Minnie Pearl said, ‘I’m just so glad to be here!‘” Harper said with a smile.
Harper continued, telling the crowd:
“Let me tell ya, something about standing on this wood right now, I feel like there’s power coming through my boots. This is floor that so many legends have stood on. And last year I was sitting on my couch hoping and praying that I’d have the opportunity…that I’d get to share my original songs with the world.”
Harper was clearly fighting back tears at that point, and she remarked, “I’m too emotional for this, y’all.”
She went on to say how she prayed to God to “shut the door” in her face if chasing this dream of a solo country music career wasn’t the right path for her. But instead, she said, “I felt like he grabbed my hand and said, ‘It’s go time, we’re running, baby.’ We haven’t stopped running, and now we’re here, and it’s so amazing.”
Watch the video below to hear Hannah Harper speak about making her Opry debut.
@opryofficial You’re right where you’re meant to be, @hannahharperofficial ♬ original sound – Grand Ole Opry
Hannah Harper Performs Original Songs At The Opry, Including “String Cheese” With Carrie Underwood
Just as she always dreamed of, Hannah Harper used her Opry debut to showcase some of her original music. One attendee uploaded a TikTok video of Harper performing her original tune, “Married Into This Town.”
Idol fans previously got the chance to hear Harper perform the heartwarming track live during the season finale on May 11…just moments before she was crowned the champion.
@kristensebring Idol winner @hannahharperofficial debuts at the @Grand Ole Opry and debuts a new song #opry #nashville #countrymusic #tennessee ♬ original sound – Kristen 📚⛳️
Of course, Harper couldn’t make her Opry debut without singing the song that started it all…“String Cheese.” She wrote the track following her battle with postpartum depression after giving birth to her third child.
The powerful song struck a chord with judge Carrie Underwood during the Idol auditions. Underwood told Harper that she “might be my favorite person that’s walked through those doors.”
In a truly full-circle moment, Harper welcomed Underwood to the stage to sing “String Cheese” with her when she made her Opry debut. She introduced her by saying, “Y’all welcome my mama friend, Miss Carrie Underwood.”
Then, Underwood sang a small portion of the song while Harper stood by her side and played guitar. The two vocalists also sang together for a while, and that was a beautiful thing to hear.
If you didn’t get the chance to see their “String Cheese” duet in person, you’re in luck. Several audience members filmed the performance, and you can watch a couple of those videos below.
Congratulations to Hannah Harper on her Opry debut! We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her!
@hannaheasterwoodhair An incredible night watching @hannahharperofficial’s @Grand Ole Opry debut with a surprise duet with @Carrie Underwood 🥹🩷 #stringcheese #grandoleopry #carrieunderwood #hannahharper #fyp ♬ original sound – hannaheasterwood
@kristensebring @hannahharperofficial brings out @Carrie Underwood to sing on String Cheese in her Opry debut #opry #nashville #countrymusic #tennessee ♬ original sound – Kristen 📚⛳️
