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Hannah Harper says her husband made the ultimate career sacrifice to help launch her country music dreams.
The “American Idol” Season 24 winner exclusively revealed to Fox News Digital that her husband walked away from a nearly decade long career in law enforcement, “put his badge up” and joined her full-time on the road as her tour manager.
“It has definitely strengthened our marriage in ways that I didn’t even know those muscles worked, if that makes sense,” Harper said.
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“American Idol” winner Hannah Harper says her husband left law enforcement and put his police badge up to become her tour manager as her country music career took off. (Eric McCandless / Disney)
“My husband was in law enforcement for eight years and put his badge up just so that I could pursue this. And he was doing insurance there for a little while. We were going to try to just do, like, a work-on-the-road kind of thing. And then music just got too busy. And he was like, ‘You know what? I think I want to be tour manager.’ And I was like, ‘That’s perfect. I think you should do that.'”
The career pivot came as Harper’s schedule exploded following her “American Idol” victory, leaving the couple searching for a way to keep their family together while managing an increasingly busy tour calendar.
Harper is currently on her first national tour and recently landed her first major brand partnership with Sargento after her original song, “String Cheese,” went viral during her “American Idol” run. The cheese company is sponsoring her tour with a custom-wrapped bus stocked with snacks for Harper, her band, crew and family.
“American Idol” champion Hannah Harper is on her first national tour and recently landed her first major brand partnership with Sargento. (Sargento / Hannah Harper)
However, working side by side with her husband has sometimes come with its own growing pains, Harper pointed out.
“I think the biggest challenge now is because we’re both working is, ‘OK, when are off hours?’ You know, like when normal people go home, they’re done working for the day, but our work is at home. And so, it’s hard for us to be able to turn it off. But it’s so much fun for both of us to be building this together.”
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Before being crowned the winner of “American Idol” Season 24, Harper was already building a life with her husband, Devon Mendenhall. The couple, who married in April 2018, welcomed their first son the following year and have since grown their family to include three boys.
Hannah Harper was crowned the winner of “American Idol” Season 24. (Eric McCandless / Disney)
Harper said the family’s all-in approach has become one of the most rewarding parts of her success.
“My entire family is on the road with me, both of my brothers, my parents, my kids. And I think it’s so special that everyone has a role and a job, and everyone feels included.”
Sargento is sponsoring Harper’s tour after her original song, “String Cheese,” went viral during her “American Idol” run. (Sargento / Hannah Harper)
The singer became emotional, reflecting on her husband’s sacrifice.
“But more than anything, I feel honored that he was willing to step down from his position. A lot of men wouldn’t do that. I think their pride would get in the way, and that man would bend over backwards for anything that I asked him to do.”
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As Harper adjusts to her rapid rise in country music, she said fellow “American Idol” winner, Carrie Underwood, offered advice that has helped her navigate the pressures of fame without losing herself.
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“Carrie, just saying like social media, the stage presence that one has to have, it’s like a character basically, and you have to separate that character from reality, which is hard for me because I want them to be the same.”
Carrie Underwood gave Hannah Harper some advice after she won “American Idol.” ( Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
“I want everyone to feel connected to me and know that I’m real and authentic, but there definitely has to be a separation on my stage mask and mom, if that makes sense. And so, I’m learning that very quickly and how important it is to be able to take it off and still be Mom and still be the Hannah I was before ‘American Idol.'”
Harper said one of the biggest surprises following her “American Idol” win was watching “String Cheese” take on a life of its own.
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The deeply personal song, inspired by her experience with motherhood and postpartum depression, has become an anthem for parents who see themselves in its message.
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“I am so emotionally connected to the people who are going through it,” Harper said.
Hannah Harper performing on “American Idol” earlier this year. (Frank Micelotta/Disney)
“In meet-and-greet lines… there are at least 50 of those are women who walked the exact same path as I did when it came to postpartum depression or just being in the trenches of motherhood. And getting to connect with them during their hardships… I relive all of those same emotions while talking to them and it still feels fresh.”
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Harper believes the song’s impact extends beyond music.
“And I think that it’s a song that continues to give, and I didn’t write it on my own. I think the Lord just kind of like laid it in my lap, and He’s used it to minister to people as well as me.”
Harper will remain on the road through November for her first national tour, with upcoming stops across the country and appearances alongside Brad Paisley and Lauren Alaina.