Gabby Barrett went from American Idol to country music stardom.
The singer appeared on season 16 of the reality competition series in 2018, which is where she met her husband, Cade Foehner.
Barrett returned to the spotlight years later when she was announced as one of the performers for Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show, hosted by protests Bad Bunny’s performance at Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
“LINEUP FOR THE ALL AMERICAN HALFTIME SHOW IS HERE! 🔥,” she shared a caption. via Instagram along with a poster of the event said. “Watch Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice & Gabby Barrett THIS SUNDAY 🇺🇸”.
Scroll below to learn more about Barrett ahead of the performance.
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Gabby Barrett competed on season 16 of American Idol
Barrett was inspired by that of American Idol Carrie Underwood to devote himself to country music.
“I’ve always loved R&B. That love seemed to start in church. But then I saw Carrie Underwood in American Idoland I fell in love with country,” he told Kickin’ Country in May 2018. “Hell, I loved ’80s hair bands, too, so I’ve always loved country and rock ‘n’ roll.”
For her audition, Barrett chose to sing “Good Girl” by Underwood. While you judge Katy Perry, Luke Bryan i Lionel Richie enjoyed the performance, they asked him to sing a second song to show more of his range and individuality. Barrett subsequently sang the worship song “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” prompting the judges to praise her for her stage presence and personality and send her to Hollywood.
Barrett soared during the competition, pushing her all the way to the finals. She finished third behind the runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson and winner Maddie Poppe.
Gabby Barrett Met Husband Cade Foehner During ‘American Idol’
Love blossomed for Barrett and Foehner throughout the competition. (Foehner was a crowd favorite, reaching the Top 5 before being eliminated from the competition.)
During an episode of the “Out of the Vineyard with Kaitlyn Bristowe” podcast in January 2026, Barrett recalled meeting Foehner for the first time.
“I had to chase him down,” he told the host Kaitlyn Bristowe. “On the show, I think I noticed him around the Top 24.”
Barrett’s father was also a big fan of Foehner throughout the competition.
“My dad had mentioned something about him on stage. He said, ‘There’s a guy who came out … on stage, and … he ripped out his guitar, and it was so impressive. This guy just came up and commanded the stage,” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Who is that?’ … And then I saw him backstage and I told him he was doing a good job, and he said, “Thank you,” and he was very reserved. But to this day, he says he doesn’t remember. But I remember it and it happened!”
Barrett ended up asking Foehner for a backstage picture, and the rest was history.
“We ended up hanging out in, like, a little conference room in the hotel where all the contestants were staying, and we just picked, played music, and then he asked me out again,” she noted. “And then I started going out with him in groups of friends. So we had met, and then we continued through the show, going out with each other, and then he asked me, you know, to be his lady… and then the rest of the year went really fast. We went on the American Idol tour after Idol, which is crazy… So we got to know each other really well… And it went really fast.”
When did Gabby Barrett get married?
Barrett and Foehner were married in October 2019 in Garrison, Texas, in front of 100 guests. Jinger Duggarthe husband of Jeremy Vuoloa close friend of the couple, officiated the wedding.
“We are both excited to make such a serious and holy commitment before the Lord, with our friends and family there to support and celebrate,” Barrett said. people after the wedding “Becoming a family has been what we were most looking forward to.”
Gabby Barrett Launched Her Music Career After ‘American Idol’
Post-Idol, Barrett released the single “I Hope” in 2019 and signed with Warner Music Nashville. A version of the song with Charlie Puth was published the following year. The song landed at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Barrett released his debut album, gold minein 2020. His second studio album, Chapter and versewas released in 2024, followed by the album Holiday Christmas carols and candlelight that same year Barrett made his acting debut in hurry up tomorrow in 2025.
Foehner is often seen on stage playing guitar during Barrett’s performances.
Does Gabby Barrett have children?
Barrett and Foehner share three children: daughter Baylah May, born January 2021, son Augustine Boone, born October 2022, and daughter Ivy Josephine, born February 2024.
The “Glory Days” singer opened up about parenting while on tour, revealing that she and Foehner hired a nanny.
“Sometimes they’ll go to sleep and the nanny will help them sleep,” Barrett said Wide Open Country in May 2025. “Or I will tell you: ‘What time did I finish?’ And then I said, “OK, this one will still be active.” And then I see them in their pajamas waiting on the bus, and it’s the cutest. And then we’re going to put them to bed, take off my hair, take off my makeup, all the stuff. But it’s fun. It’s nice, especially because they’re there.”
Gabby Barrett was announced as the turning point halftime performer
After Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl Halftime performer for Super Bowl LX, some conservative critics expressed their disdain and disappointment with the decision. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has he stood firm in the choice that the Puerto Rican artist headlines the show.
“Listen, Bad Bunny is, and I think that was proven last night, one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him,” Goodell said during a press conference, referring to the singer’s big night at the Grammy Awards in February 2026. “But the other reason is that he understood the platform he was on, and that platform is used to his creativity and these people are used to putting their creativity together for their people unforgettable. talents and to be able to use this moment to do that, and I think artists of the past have done that.”
“I think Bad Bunny understands that and I think he’s going to have a great performance,” Goodell added.
In protest, Turning Point USA, the nonprofit organization founded by the late political activist Charlie Kirk and now run by his widow, Erika Kirkthey announced a show of their own. Kid Rock is configured as holder, with Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Barrett all ready to perform.
The show will air on Turning Point’s social channels and OTT channel CHARGE! from Sinclair Broadcast Group, as well as other distribution services such as Samsung Plus, YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling, Daily Wire+, Real America’s Voice and One America News Network.