Since American Idol contestant Hannah Harper’s second week audition with Lee Ann Womack’s “A Little Past Little Rock,” fans have been drawing comparisons between their sweet, effortless voices.
Harper confirmed the likeness once more with a cover she posted from January 25 of her singing Womack’s 1997 hit, “The Fool.” While the first episode of season 24 didn’t air until the following day on January 26, it’s pretty evident that this sneak peek video showed Harper singing on the balcony of her Hawaii hotel, foreshadowing her presence on the “Ohana” rounds.
Backed by the calming ambiance of the island waves crashing in the distance, Harper delivers yet another incredible lullaby-worthy rendition of this track. Known for her candid cover’s showcasing the raw moments of motherhood, she hilariously expanded on this theme sharing in the caption, “Halfway through, an old fella stepped onto his balcony, stared me down, and my brain immediately forgot the chords.”
The Missouri mother of three, who has now become an undeniable frontrunner in the competition thanks to her soothing southern vocals and relatability, currently has a wide list of famous supporters following her journey on social media. Country music stars Ella Langley, Zach Top, Ernest, Jake Owen, and Parker McCollum all currently follow Harper on Instagram.
The Limestone Kid even extended his admiration in the comment section of this clip, saying, “Damn girl…” That remark alone from McCollum would certainly give me the confidence to rock every idol performance after that.
Unfortunately for fans eager to see what gorgeous rendition Harper has up her sleeve next, the 26-year-old aspiring singer will be absent from Monday’s, March 23 episode. This year, American Idol split up their Final 20 performances into two separate weeks of 10 singers each as they continue to narrow the competition down to 14 remaining contestants.
With Harper’s performance of Bethel Music’s “Ain’t No Grave” rocking the stage last week, she’ll return for the voting results on ABC next Monday, March 30, at 8/7c.