‘American Idol’ singer’s gospel performance draws praise: ‘From singing to preaching’

“American Idol” contestant Hannah Harper’s rendition of a traditional American gospel song brought her "from singing to preaching,” according to judge Lionel Richie, who praised the young singer’s delivery of the faith-rooted anthem.

The 25-year-old mother and Missouri native took the stage in Hawaii during Monday night’s episode of the reality singing competition, performing her version of “Ain’t No Grave.”

Claude Ely, a songwriter and preacher from Virginia, composed the song in 1934. Multiple artists have covered it, including Johnny Cash and, more recently, Bethel Music and Molly Skaggs.

“When I hear that trumpet sound/ I’m going to rise right out of the ground/ Ain’t no grave/ Can hold my body down,” Harper sang.

The “American Idol” hopeful’s rendition earned praise from the judges, with Richie saying she “went from singing to preaching” during the performance.

“You got our attention,” he said. “You did a great job.”

Fellow judge Luke Bryan told Harper he “loved the whole performance,” adding that the Missouri singer appears to have created a new genre of music called “resurrection rock.”

“I think your voice is so listenable. It’s so easy on the ears, and then, finally, we see you get a little more power behind that voice,” Bryan said. “You’re showing me you’re ready to branch out and grow.”

Carrie Underwood also complimented the young singer’s performance during Monday night’s episode, saying Harper’s voice gave her “chills.”

“We got a glimpse of a fire that is in you,” Underwood said. “The more you go through this process, I hope to see more of [that]. You remind me a lot of myself when I was on the show. All of a sudden, things would be falling apart because I was thinking about what I was doing. Try not to. Just tell the story and don’t worry about what any of this is doing.”

The top 20 performers this season of “American Idol” have been split into two groups, and Harper was among the first 10 artists to perform this week. The next group of 10 will perform on March 23, as TV Insider reported Monday.

Earlier this year, Harper’s audition for Season 24 of “American Idol” went viral after a clip surfaced of Underwood crying when the Missouri mother sang an original song titled “String Cheese.” The song details how Harper, a mother of three boys, found comfort through God during a time when she struggled with postpartum depression.

A preview of the episode showed Underwood grabbing a tissue and wiping away tears after hearing the song.

“Well, that’s just about the most relatable song I’ve ever heard,” the country music singer said in the clip.

Underwood, also a mother of two sons with her husband, former NHL player Mike Fisher, gave birth to her second child after suffering three consecutive miscarriages in 2017 and 2018 following the birth of her firstborn.

“I’ve always wanted to be a good daughter to my parents but also to God and not complain, because we are beyond blessed,” the singer said in a 2019 interview with People. “I get to do what I love, I have an incredible family. I have Mike, I have Isaiah, I have great parents. I have all of these amazing people around me, and I don’t want to complain, ever.”

“But the miscarriages made me get real with God and say, ‘OK, I’m kind of giving up a little bit. If this isn’t meant to happen, then I need to accept that and know that someday I’ll understand why.’”