On June 2, “American Idol” winner Hannah Harper marked a major milestone in her rising country music career by making her Grand Ole Opry debut. The legendary Nashville stage has long been a rite of passage for country artists, hosting icons such as Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash, as well as modern stars such as Lainey Wilson and Blake Shelton.
Harper’s debut became even more memorable when “American Idol” judge Carrie Underwood joined her on stage for a duet of her now-viral hit “String Cheese.” It was an emotional moment fans won’t forget.
Carrie Underwood Celebrates Hannah Harper’s Grand Ole Opry Debut With Surprise ‘String Cheese’ Duet
“American Idol” season 24 winner Hannah Harper made an emotional Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday, June 2, reflecting on the remarkable journey of her original song, “String Cheese.” The deeply personal song, inspired by her experience with postpartum depression, was first introduced to fans during her Idol audition, and it has since gone viral, resonating with millions of listeners.
Harper took the Opry stage to perform her hit song, but the performance was made even more special when “American Idol” judge Carrie Underwood joined her for a heartfelt duet of the song.
In a clip posted by Country Now on Instagram, Harper plays the guitar as Underwood delivers an emotional rendition of the song. Harper then joins in during the chorus and ends the song, making for one memorable duet.
During her debut, Harper shared with the audience the meaning behind “String Cheese” and how her personal track has now reached over 140 million people who have resonated with her lyrics.
“Everybody needs something at the same time; it’s overwhelming. But there’s no place that I’d rather be,” she shared. “And it was at that moment, one of my babies was crying, and the other one was like, ‘I want to watch ‘Bluey,’ and my son was like, ‘Open my cheese,’ and he was just flinging his cheese in my face, and I was like, ‘Leave me alone with the dang cheese,'” she added.
Harper continued, ‘But the Lord shook me at that moment and reminded me that my house is the greatest ministry that I’ll ever have. And this is a song that I wrote for myself that I never thought the world would hear.”
Hannah Harper Reflects on a Dream Come True at the Grand Ole Opry
It was a monumental moment for Harper as she made her Grand Ole Opry debut, with the Idol winner calling it “insane” as she spoke to the audience on stage.
“Let me tell you something about standing on this wood right now, I feel like there’s power coming through my boots,” she said. “This is a floor where so many legends stood on, and last year, I was sitting on my couch hoping and praying I’d have the opportunity that I get to share my original songs with the world,” she shared as she became teary-eyed.
Reflecting on her musical journey, Harper shared, “When I started thinking about ‘American Idol,’ I just prayed that the Lord would, if it wasn’t for me, shut the door to my face. And then, I felt like he grabbed my hand and said, ‘It’s go time, we’re running, baby.’ And we haven’t stopped running, and now we’re here, and it’s so amazing.”
Her Grand Ole Opry debut is just one of many milestones on Harper’s busy calendar. The country star is set to headline her “String Cheese Tour,” which takes her to venues across the U.S. from June through November as she continues to grow her career.
