Hannah Harper Says “Idol” Producers Urged Her Not To Audition With “String Cheese”
on May 19, 2026
American Idol Winner Hannah Harper Almost Didn’t Audition With Her Original Song “String Cheese”
It’s a good thing Hannah trusted her gut.
If you’ve been following Hannah Harper’s journey since she first auditioned on Season 24 of American Idol, then you are probably familiar with her viral song “String Cheese.”
The bluegrass singer wrote the song based on her own struggles with motherhood and postpartum depression after having her third child.
What started as Hannah simply sharing her own story through music quickly became much bigger than that. After her audition aired, mothers across the country connected deeply with the lyrics, and “String Cheese” went viral.
The song also moved the Idol judges, and by the time she finished performing, there was hardly a dry eye in the room. Judge Carrie Underwood, who is also a mother, was especially connected with the meaning behind the lyrics.
“You might be my favorite person that’s walked through those doors,” Carrie told Hannah, adding that the song “might be the most relatable song I’ve ever heard.”
With that performance, Hannah received three “yes” votes from the judges, moving her on to the next round of the competition.
As the season progressed, she stayed a fan favorite, and by the end of Season 24, Hannah was crowned the winner.
RELATED: HANNAH HARPER LAND SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AT DOLLYWOOD AFTER “IDOL” WIN
It’s definitely one of the most touching wins fans of the show have seen in a while, but it’s wild to think Hannah’s journey could have turned out very differently.
At one point, she came very close to not choosing “String Cheese” as her audition song at all.
Hannah Harper Almost Didn’t Sing “String Cheese”
It’s hard to believe now, but Hannah was actually told that performing the song might not be the best idea.
In an interview with TV Insider, she shared that producers encouraged her to go in a different direction for her audition.
“They told me to prepare [a] backup because the judges don’t love to hear originals,” she recalled. “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.”
Hannah told the outlet that her backup plan was to sing a song by Jake Worthington.
“Which I’m glad I didn’t sing because no one knew it,” she added. “So it would be the same as singing an original. So I was glad I just went and sang my own song.
So what’s next for Hannah Harper?
The 25-year-old revealed shortly after her Idol win that she has big plans to head out on tour in the near future.
It was also confirmed that she recently landed a special set of performances at Dollywood. She is set to take the stage for two shows during the theme park’s Harvest Festival on September 30 and October 1.
