Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett is an American country music singer. She finished third on season 16 of American Idol broadcast on ABC.
Her debut single "I Hope" was the first top 10 Hot Country Songs debut by an unaccompanied woman since October 2017. It has since become a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA. Her debut album Goldmine was released on June 19, 2020.
Early life and education
Barrett is one of eight children born to Blaise and Pam Barrett. She attended Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, Pa., but transferred to Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.She started singing at 9 and doing shows at 11. In 2014, she won the Kean Quest Talent Search. At 14, her father encouraged her to sing in an all-black choir, which prompted her to join the Lamb of God Christian Ministries in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
''American Idol''
Barrett auditioned for the 16th season of American Idol in Nashville, Tennessee. She emerged as a favorite in the competition after her audition and subsequent Hollywood week performances.| Episode | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | Good Girl His Eye Is on the Sparrow | Carrie Underwood Ethel Waters | N/A | Advanced |
| Top 24 Solo/Duet | Contestant's Choice | My Church Stay | Maren Morris Sugarland | 11 | Advanced |
| Top 14 | Contestant's Choice Victory Song | The Climb Little Red Wagon | Miley Cyrus Audra Mae | 14 6 | Safe |
| Top 10 | Disney | Colors of the Wind | Vanessa Williams | 6 | Safe |
| Top 7 | Prince Year You Were Born | How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? I Hope You Dance | Prince Lee Ann Womack | 10 2 | Safe |
| Top 5 | Carrie Underwood Mother's Day | Last Name I Have Nothing | Carrie Underwood Whitney Houston | 2 6 | Safe |
| Finale | Winner's Single Reprise Song Hometown Decision | Rivers Deep Little Red Wagon Don't Stop Believin' | Gabby Barrett Miranda Lambert Journey | 2 5 8 | 3rd Place |
Career
After Barrett appeared on American Idol, she collaborated with songwriter and producer Allen Foster to write three songs on her extended play The Fireflies: "Fireflies", "Your Name On It", and "Missin' Love".Barrett has opened for Toby Keith in Ohio, as well as Keith Urban and Cole Swindell. Along with performing at a Pittsburgh Pirates' game, and sung the national anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and at the Daytona 500. The song on the show selected for her if she won was "Rivers Deep." Former was quoted as saying that Barrett is further along than she was at her age.
In 2019, Barrett released a single independently titled "I Hope", which was co-written by Jon Nite and Zachary Kale and co-produced by Zachary Kale and Ross Copperman. She performed the song in an appearance on the 17th season of American Idol in May 2019. It attracted the attention of music labels, and in June 2019, Barrett signed with Warner Music Nashville. "I Hope" was then officially released as a single by the label on June 27, 2019. This debut single topped Billboard's Country Streaming Songs chart as well as the Country Airplay chart in April 2020.
It was then announced the single had made its way atop of the Billboard Hot Courty charts on July 21,2020 via Billboard.com knocking Marren Morris single The Bones down from the top spot after it had spent 19 weeks in its place.
Her debut album Goldmine was released on June 19, 2020. The album earned 15.98 million on-demand streams in its opening week, breaking the record for the largest streaming week ever for a debut country album by a woman.