Who is Hannah Harper? 5 facts about ‘American Idol’ season 24 winner

The time has finally come. The season 25 winner of “American Idol” has been crowned!

During the live finale, the remaining three contestants − Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper  − took the stage for their final performances of the season. Ryan Seacrest delivered the results from the fan vote and announced Harper won this season of “American Idol.”

“I’m a puddle right now,” Harper told USA TODAY an hour after wept on stage with star-shaped confetti in her hair and on her lashes. “All the sacrifices have been made [by my family] to make this happen. Had it not been for my husband … that poor man has sacrificed his entire life.”

Here are five facts about the 2026 “American Idol” winner.

Where is Hannah Harper from?

Harper, the “American Idol” season 24 winner, is from Willow Springs, Missouri.

Growing up in Southeast Missouri, she was “part of a family steeped in rich traditions of bluegrass gospel music, with the legacy of Bob Lewis and The Bob Lewis Family as her foundation,” her website states.

Harper made ‘American Idol’ history

According to USA TODAY, Harper became the first female country artist to win since judge Carrie Underwood was crowned the “American Idol” winner in 2005.

How old is Hannah Harper? Is she married? Does she have kids?

Harper is 25 years old and has three sons with her husband, Devon Mendenhall. The two wed in April 2018.

According to Mendenhall’s Instagram bio, he’s a “fishing addict.” Harper has talked about her husband several times throughout the “American Idol” season, praising him for taking care of their three boys while she pursued her musical dreams on season 24.

Before auditioning for “American Idol,” she was a stay-at-home mom to her boys. Her first son was born in April 2019. She welcomed two more boys in the years since.

When she auditioned for “American Idol” in the fall of 2025, her youngest son was one, according to TV Insider.

Her original song went viral following her ‘American Idol’ audition

It didn’t take long for Harper to go viral after her “American Idol” audition aired on ABC.

During her audition, the 25-year-old performed an original song, “String Cheese,” which she released May 11, 2025. The emotional ballad was inspired by her struggles with postpartum depression after the birth of her youngest son.

She moved Underwood to tears during her audition. The “Before He Cheats” singer is also a mother to two boys.

Harper’s audition quickly gained traction online, with mothers flooding the comments to praise her for the relatable tune. Her audition video alone has garnered 1 million views on YouTube.

Hannah Harper got her start in a bluegrass band

Before pursuing a solo music career, Harper performed in her family’s bluegrass band known as the Harper Collective.

She was in the family band, which consists of her mother and father, Katrina and Gaylon; her siblings Dillon and Dalton and Dalton’s wife, Makeena.

The Harper Collective won the SPBGMA International Band Contest in 2010 and recorded two albums together for Pisgah Ridge and Crossroads Records, according to Entertainment Now.

 

 

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