Gabby Barrett, one of the American Idol season 16 finalists, has been keeping busy in both her professional and personal life in 2022. In 2018, the now-22-year-old country music superstar placed third on American Idol behind runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson and winner Maddie Poppe. While on the show, Gabby was known for her spectacular country music performances, and she has had a very successful country career ever since.
In 2019, Gabby independently released the song, "I Hope." She later signed with Warner Music Nashville and released her debut album Goldmine in 2020. Goldmine broke the record for the largest streaming week for a debut country album by a female artist. Gabby gained much more than her impressive country music career from American Idol. In 2019, Gabby married fellow season 16 contestant Cade Foehner, and she gave birth to their daughter, Baylah May, on January 18, 2021.
In 2022, Gabby's career is still going strong. This year, the American Idol finalist released her single, "Pick Me Up," from her album Goldmine (Deluxe), which is an extended version of her debut album. She and Cade star in the video for the song. In March, Gabby received the Rising Star Award at the 2022 Billboard Women in Music Awards. Later that month, she co-hosted the 57th ACM Awards alongside Dolly Parton and Jimmie Allen. At this show, Gabby set the record for being the youngest host in the show's history and was nominated for Female Artist of the Year. Also in March, she was nominated for the Country Song of the Year Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards for her song "The Good Ones." In April, she was nominated for Female Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards for "Footprints on the Moon."
Gabby will spend this summer on the road with Jason Aldean as one of the opening acts for his Rock n' Roll Cowboy Tour. The American Idol star also announced that she will be performing at CMA Fest in Nashville in June. Gabby returned to her American Idol home on the April 24 episode as a guest mentor for the Top 14. She will also perform on the May 22 finale. Gabby's personal life has also been exciting in 2022. On Mother's Day, she announced that she is pregnant with her second child with husband Cade. In a post on Instagram, Gabby shared a video of her baby boy's sonogram and wrote, "My son. Another LIFE we get to love and cherish. Happy Mothers Day!"
Gabby has had an incredible career and a full and happy personal life since her time on American Idol. She is one of the most successful country stars to come out of the show. She revitalized the show as one of the first stars of the ABC revival and was another example of a finalist who proved that contestants do not have to win American Idol in order to skyrocket to superstardom. Gabby and her fans have so much to look forward to in 2022.
The American Idol finale airs Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: Gabby Barrett/Instagram