By India McCarty
AMERICAN IDOL contestant Hannah Harper brought judge Carrie Underwood to tears with her inspiring story of faith.
“I have three little boys, and after I had my youngest, I had postpartum depression,” Harper said of the inspiration behind the original song, “String Cheese,” she sang for her audition. “I remember being on the couch, they were all crying at the same time.”
She continued, “All I wanted was to be a mom, and I couldn’t do it. I was praying that the Lord would calm my spirit. I got up off my couch and I wrote this song.”
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Underwood was in tears by the end of Harper’s song and told her, “Well, that’s just about the most relatable song I’ve ever heard.”
Harper, who released “String Cheese” under the name Hannah Noelle, discussed the inspiration for the song further in a 2025 Instagram post.
“A few months ago, I found myself in a trench, overwhelmed by laundry and dishes,” she wrote. “It was 4 PM when I realized I hadn’t eaten all day because I was so focused on meeting everyone else’s needs. I sat on the couch and threw myself a pity party, but then the Lord reminded me of my purpose here on earth as my baby crawled into my lap, wanting me to open his snack. This is my ministry. My calling is to lead and guide them in the ways of the Lord through my words and actions in everyday life.”
Harper continued, “The thought of them growing up and not needing me one day breaks my heart, but I pray to soak in these moments while they still depend on me for their daily needs. I am incredibly thankful that the Lord entrusted me with three little boys, even on the heavy days when being a mom feels like a challenge.”
The singer-songwriter is sharing her faith through both her music and her social media platforms.
In a recent Instagram post, Harper wrote, “Last year around this time, I was bathing the idea of pursuing a solo career in country music in prayer. I didn’t want to tread on ground that wasn’t appointed for my feet. And boy, let me tell you…this is ground I never imagined myself standing on — but when He opened the door, I ran through it and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads.”
She finished her post with a Bible verse — “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
We can’t wait to see how Harper does on this season of AMERICAN IDOL!
Read Next: Here’s What This AMERICAN IDOL Winner Has Been Up To: ‘God Is So Good’
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