Just three weeks after being crowned the winner of American Idol Season 24, Hannah Harper is already stepping into her next major career moment, and it is a landmark one.
The 25-year-old singer from Missouri is set to make her official debut at the Grand Ole Opry on June 2, where she will share the iconic stage with country superstar Carrie Underwood – the Opry member and Idol judge who supported Harper throughout her entire run – as well as ACM New Female Artist of the Year Avery Anna. The show will take place with two performances scheduled at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.
The appearance is part of the Opry’s “Summer of the Century” celebrations, marking 100 years of the legendary institution, with CMA Fest week kicking off the milestone programming. For Harper, the moment feels almost surreal. When announcing the news on Facebook, she wrote, “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.”
The milestone also carries a strong sense of full circle. Carrie Underwood was the first judge to publicly break down in tears during Harper’s audition performance of “String Cheese”, a deeply personal song about postpartum depression and motherhood that quickly went viral and defined her journey on the show. Underwood was again emotional during Harper’s finale performance of “Married Into This Town”, later saying in an interview with Gold Derby, “I definitely see myself in her quite a bit. She’s just relatable.” She also added, “Anything you need in the industry, I want to be available.”
Harper’s win also made history, as she became the first female country winner of American Idol since Underwood herself in 2005 – ending a 21-year gap. Reflecting on that achievement, Harper told USA Today, “I hope that I make that genre proud, but also glorify God at the same time. I’ve been given this amazing platform to do so.”
Her Opry debut is just the beginning of a packed week. On June 3, she will appear at the 19 Recordings Takeover at Nashville’s 6th and Peabody during CMA Fest. Then on June 5, she officially launches her headlining String Cheese Tour, which will run through November with theater and festival dates across the country.
Harper will be joined on the road by her husband Devon Mendenhall and their three sons, embracing the chaos that comes with balancing family and fame. As she put it simply, “We’re going to figure it out.”
For the artist, whose Instagram bio still reads “Only a somebody to my babies and Jesus,” the Grand Ole Opry debut is more than a career milestone – it is the realization of a lifelong promise.
