American Idol Season 24 winner Hannah Harper almost didn’t sing her original song “String Cheese” for her audition on the show. Harper shared in a recent interview that producers advised against performing an original track.
Hannah Harper’s American Idol Audition Could Have Been Different
For her American Idol audition, mom of three Hannah Harper performed an original song called “String Cheese,” which was inspired by her experience with postpartum depression. The performance brought tears to judge Carrie Underwood’s eyes, and the song went viral as fellow moms related to the lyrics.
However, in a recent interview with TV Insider, Harper revealed that the show’s producers warned her that singing an original song might not be a good idea. Thankfully, the singer went with her gut and sang it anyway.
“They told me to prepare backup because the judges don’t love to hear originals,” Hannah shared. “They want to hear something that they’re familiar with, that they’ve heard before. So I had a backup planned and never had to use it. I was really thankful.”
Harper’s backup song was apparently a track by Jake Worthington. As she said, “I’m glad I didn’t sing [it] because no one knew it. So it would be the same as singing an original. So I was glad I just went and sang my own song.”
Last week, Hannah Harper was named the winner of American Idol Season 24 during the live finale. During the show, Harper performed “No One” by guest mentor Alicia Keys, before singing an original track called “Married Into This Town.” She also reprised her audition song, “String Cheese.”
Singer Keyla Richardson finished the competition in third place, while Jordan McCullough was named the Season 24 runner-up. This season featured longtime judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, while former winner Carrie Underwood returned for her second season on the panel.
Were you rooting for Hannah Harper to win the show? What do you think about her choice to sing an original song in her audition? Let us know in the comments below.
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
