Minutes before the voting results were revealed as the three-hour “American Idol” finale came to a close on May 11, 2026, host Ryan Seacrest asked finalist Hannah Harper, 25, what she was looking forward to doing most after the season concluded. Her answer? “Take a nap.”
That nap might have to wait, given that the mom of three boys was named the season 24 winner moments later, with a jam-packed schedule and bright future ahead of her. So, what’s next for Hannah Harper?
Hannah Harper Heads to New York City for Media Appearances
Harper will have little chance to rest, as ABC flies her from Hollywood to New York City today to make press appearances on May 13, starting with “Good Morning America.” She’ll then head to “Live With Kelly and Mark” to perform on that morning show.
But she won’t be alone; runner-up Jordan McCullough is also heading to New York, and will record his own performance on “Live With Kelly and Mark,” which is scheduled to air on Friday, May 15.
Hannah Harper is Going On Tour & Will Meet With Record Label Execs
DisneyHarper also has to navigate her future as an artist, including meeting with the record label partner of “American Idol,” 19 Recordings. While a record deal is no longer guaranteed to winners of the show, they get a rare opportunity to work with the label’s creative team to develop their sound, make high-profile appearances, release singles, and potentially sign a long-term deal with the label.
Jamal Roberts, who won in 2025, has released multiple new songs with the label, including his latest, “Perfect For Me,” which he performed on the show this season.
Harper already had a following before auditioning for “American Idol,” writing and recording original country music, including “String Cheese,” the inspiring motherhood song that’s gone viral since she sang it for her audition.
So, even before winning the show, she decided to capitalize on her newfound fame by planning a tour, playing primarily in smaller towns on summer weekends, beginning on June 5 and 6 at two venues in Arkansas. Typically, “American Idol” hosts a reunion show at CMA Fest in Nashville that weekend, so it’s possible Harper will need to rearrange her schedule for that, especially since her goal is to be a country artist.
Hannah Harper Looks Forward to Incorporating What She’s Learned Into Her New Music
During her hometown visit to Willow Springs before the finale, Harper told local radio host Sara Forhetz that competing on “American Idol,” she realized how “sheltered” she’d been from different music genres and artists.
“They were, like, throwing different artists and songs at us and I was like, ‘Wow, I’ve never heard of ’em,'” she said. “So Pat Benatar, for example, she was my mentor for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I had never heard that name before! But it was almost like I had an advantage because I got to meet her in a simpler setting of getting to know who she was (as a person), not as who she was as an artist.”
“I have educated myself on a lot of different genres because of the competition,” Harper continued, “and it’s opened my mind up to different songwriting styles as well as instrumentally different things I can incorporate for myself long-term. But country will always — that’s always where I’m gonna lean toward.”
