One American Idol contestant auditioned with a song that particularly resonated with Carrie Underwood.
On the Monday, February 2, episode of the hit singing competition show, contestant Hannah Harper performed an original song for the judges — Underwood, 42, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan — called “String Cheese” about navigating motherhood, including her “postpartum depression” journey.
“I thought finding peace in the quiet’s what I wanted / But I’d do anything to go back to being needed / To those days I want to cry, run away and cry / But I’d worry about their every need,” Harper sang. “When I’m overwhelmed and touched out, they come climbing up on the couch / Saying ‘Mama can you open my string cheese?’ / I smile because I know meeting their needs fills my soul / Being their mama is who I’m meant to be.”
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
After Harper finished singing, the “All-American Girl” hitmaker — who shares sons Isaiah, 10, and Jacob, 7, with husbandMike Fisher — wiped tears from her eyes and admitted, “Well, that’s about the most relatable song I think I’ve ever heard.”
“You might be my favorite person that’s walked through those doors in the past three days,” she continued. “You’re gorgeous, you look famous already. I just think you have just a beautiful simplicity to your voice.”
“You’re one that I’m going to think about when we leave here,” Underwood added. “Like I wonder what song she’s gonna sing next, and I feel like I’m gonna be just rooting for you. I loved everything about everything you just did.”
Harper received a yes vote from all the judges and is headed to the next round of the competition.