‘American Idol’ Alum Gabby Barrett Sweeps in Billboard Nominations
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This has been a great year for Gabby Barrett. Aside from welcoming her first child with husband and fellow Idol alum Cade Foehner in January, she recently took the music world by storm with a total of nine Billboard nominations.
Gabby Barrett Takes the Lead in Billboard Nominations
Among the top nominees this year is first time nominee Barrett. She is the top nominated female artist for the Billboard Music Awards this year. Her country music nominations include Top Country Artist, Top Country Female Artist Top Country Album, and Top Country Song for her hit single and breakup anthem “I Hope.”
Her debut hit single “I Hope” truly broke onto the scene and secured multiple all-genre nominations, such as “Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar,” “Top Selling Song,” “Top Radio Song,” and “(Fan Voted)Top Collaboration” for her inclusion of artist Charlie Puth in another version of the song.
What a way to kick off her music career, following a successful run on American Idol. Amazingly, she secured a nomination in the lucrative all-genre category “Top New Artist.”
Gabby Barrett Finds Success After American Idol
Originally from Munhall, Pennsylvania, Barrett finished third on Season 16 of American Idol. Even though she did not win, she soon found quick success in the country music industry. In 2020, she went on tour with Kane Brown and opened for a number of his shows. Life has now come full circle.
Both are nominated for “Top Country Artist.”
In a 2020 interview with CMT, Kane Brown even praised Gabby Barrett and said she had a “super powerful voice” and reminded him of a “Young Carrie Underwood.”
Carrie Underwood Heats Up the Christian Charts
Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood, meanwhile, is nominated alongside Barrett for “Top Country Female Artist” and “Top Country Album.”
Underwood is also nominated for four Billboard awards of her own. Two of those nominations are in Christian music categories. They are “Top Christian Artist” and “Top Christian Album.”
Other notable country music nominees are Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, and Morgan Wallen.