Country music star Gabby Barrett, known for her hit single «I Hope,» recently opened up about the financial and emotional hardships she endured before her rise to fame on «American Idol.» In an exclusive interview, the 26-year-old singer recalled sleeping in her car with her family as she prepared to audition for the show, describing the experience as a time when she understood what it meant to be «at the bottom.»
Barrett, who grew up in Pittsburgh as one of seven children, credited her parents for instilling a strong work ethic in her from an early age. Her father worked multiple jobs and often sacrificed his own comfort to support her early singing career. «There were times… he couldn't pay the light bill or the lights got pulled, and we had to pack up sandwiches in the car because we couldn't afford to stop at the drive-through,» Barrett said. She added that when she was getting ready to go onto «American Idol,» her family slept in the car along with a couple of dogs. «It was just crazy,» she said, but she expressed gratitude for the lessons learned during those difficult times.
Barrett began singing at around age nine, performing at local fairs and festivals in Pennsylvania. In 2018, at age 17, she auditioned for Season 16 of «American Idol.» Initially skeptical, she thought the invitation from a producer was a scam. «I got scouted by a producer and got emailed like, 'Hey, American Idol wants you to…' And I was like, this is not real. There's no way,» she recalled. After auditioning, she finished in third place, a result she described as a wonderful experience that felt like «another world.»
The competition also changed her personal life. Barrett met her husband, Cade Foehner, while both were contestants on the show. They married a year after appearing together and now have three children. Reflecting on marriage, Barrett said it has taught her about her own strengths and weaknesses. «I've been married for almost seven years, got married when I was 19,» she said. «Everybody was like, 'No!' You know? Because that's so young… But it has taught me a lot about me as a person, and it's taught me also just how thankful I am to the Lord for marriage and what a gift that really is.»
As a working mother of three, Barrett acknowledged the challenge of balancing family and career. She said she prefers to «throw the word balance out the window,» emphasizing that there is no perfect equilibrium. Instead, she prioritizes her family and her music, striving to be intentional about both. Currently on tour, she brings her children along on the tour bus. «Some nights aren't the best nights of sleep, but it's really cool when you zoom out and get to put it in perspective,» she said. «I get to take my kids to work. I know that there's a lot of hard-working parents out there that don't get to take their kids to work… I really am thankful for the life that I get to live.»
Barrett's latest single, «In On It,» continues her trajectory as a rising country star. Her journey from sleeping in a car to headlining tours serves as a testament to her resilience and the support of her family. She remains grounded, acknowledging that the challenges of her past have shaped her appreciation for her current success.
