‘American Idol’ contestant reveals Carrie Underwood’s lavish gift

Season 4 winner gave handwritten notes and gifts to all 'Idol' contestants who cracked the Top 11

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Published Apr 15, 2026  •  3 minute read

Carrie Underwood performs on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza, Sept. 14, 2023, in New York. Photo by Charles Sykes /Invision/AP

American Idol contestant Hannah Harper has revealed the heartwarming gift Carrie Underwood sent this year’s top 11 finalists.

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Hannah Harper revealed in an Instagram post that the Season 4 American Idol winner gifted her a handwritten note and a keepsake from Tiffanys.

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“Didn’t think my first piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry would come from Carrie Underwood,” the Missouri singer wrote.

“But truly, the part that got me the most was the handwritten note,” Harper added. “That meant more than anything. Just her taking the time to do that … it says everything about who she is.”

Harper went on to call Underwood “down-to-earth and genuine as they come.”

“Just a good, kind human. I love her dearly,” she concluded.

In her message, Underwood congratulated Harper for making it to the top 11 on the long-running reality series.

“From the first time I laid eyes on you – and heard your story and your voice – I knew you were special,” Underwood wrote. “So many women and moms have related to you.”

Calling Harper “an inspiration,” the Before He Cheats singer concluded her message by writing: “I cannot wait to see what God has in store for you (and) I am so blessed to have a front row seat.”

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‘American Idol’ contestant Hannah Harper. Photo by Hannah Harper /Instagram

Pensacola’s Keyla Richardson also thanked Underwood in her own Instagram post.

“Your kindness and generosity mean more than words can express. The fact that you took the time to bless someone like that speaks to the incredible woman and class act that you are. American Idol gave us all a gift when it gave us YOU and your legacy continues to inspire every artist who walks through those doors,” Richardson wrote.

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Underwood called Harper’s audition ‘the most relatable song I think I’ve ever heard’

During her audition, Underwood praised Harper for singing her original song, String Cheese, which documented her struggle with postpartum depression.

“You’re, like, my favourite person,” Underwood said before Harper sang. “You’re wearing homemade clothes, you’re singing songs called String Cheese.”

“I was sitting on my couch wallowing, and you have boys, you know. Everybody wants to touch you, and I didn’t want to be touched,” Harper replied when Underwood’s fellow judge Lionel Richie asked her what the song was about. “And my youngest son … kept coming up to me. He said, ‘Mom, open this. Open my cheese.’ I’m like, ‘Leave me alone with the … cheese.'”

It was in that moment, Harper realized that she had exactly what she wanted and learned to stop pitying herself.

“I kind of kicked the postpartum depression in the butt, and I said, ‘I ain’t doing it,'” she recalled.

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After she finished, Underwood called Harper’s track “the most relatable song I think I’ve ever heard.”

“You might be my favourite person that’s walked through those doors in the past three days,” Underwood remarked. “You’re gorgeous. Like, you look famous already. I just think you have just a beautiful simplicity to your voice.”

“You’re one that I’m going to think about when we leave here, like, ‘I wonder what song she’s gonna sing next.’ I feel like I’m going to be rooting for you. I loved everything about everything you just did,” Underwood added.

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