Throwback To Gabby Barrett Singing “I Hope You Dance” On “Idol”
on May 07, 2018 • Updated Aug 30, 2023
Gabby Barrett Fights For Spot In Idol Top 5
From early on in the competition, 18-year-old Gabby Barrett was a fan-favorite contestant on American Idol’s 2018 season. After weeks of impressive performances, Barrett brought her A-game when it came time to fight for a spot in the Top Five.
While Barrett performed a variety of songs during her time on the show, she leaned toward country. Some of the songs she offered up include Miranda Lambert‘s “Little Red Wagon” and Maren Morris‘ “My Church.” She even got the chance to sing a duet with Sugarland on their emotional song “Stay.”
So when it came time to choose another song, Barrett opted for another country hit. Unlike the others she had performed up to that point, the song is less of a “modern” country tune.
Living Up To Lee Ann Womack
The song that Barrett chose was none other than Lee Ann Womack‘s “I Hope You Dance.” Released in 2000, “I Hope You Dance” snagged the top spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and the 14th spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
To this day, “I Hope You Dance” remains Womack’s signature song. Since she did such a spectacular job singing it, anyone who covers the song knows they have a lot to live up to.
With that in mind, Barrett didn’t hold anything back as she took to the Idol stage. The song is styled in the perfect way to show off a singer’s range, and Barrett placed hers on full display in her performance.
RELATED: GABBY BARRETT & HUSBAND CADE FOEHNER EXPECTING BABY #3
Barrett’s Performance Draws Praise From Judges
To echo the words of judge Lionel Richie after Barrett finished singing, the only thing wrong with Barrett’s performance was nothing!
Richie wasn’t the only judge who was amazed by Barrett’s gorgeous performance. She also earned immense praise from Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, with Bryan telling her, “In my opinion that may be one of the best vocals we’ve heard in this room thus far.”
Now you can see exactly what Bryan was talking about by watching Barrett sing “I Hope You Dance” in the video below. This stunning performance helped her earn a coveted spot in the Top Five!
