Gabby Barrett went from American Idol to country music stardom. The singer appeared on season 16 of the reality competition series in 2018, and it's where she met her husband, Cade Foehner. Barrett was thrust back into the spotlight years later when she was announced as one of the performers for Turning Point USA's All-American Halftime Show, organized to protest Bad Bunny's performance at Super Bowl LX in February 2026. "THE LINEUP FOR THE ALL-AMERICAN HALFTIME SHOW IS HERE! 🔥," a caption shared via Instagram along with a poster for the event said. "Watch Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett THIS SUNDAY 🇺🇸." Scroll below to learn more about Barrett ahead of the performance. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and More of Country Music's Biggest Couples Gabby Barrett Competed on 'American Idol' Season 16 Barrett was inspired by American Idol's own Carrie Underwood to pursue country music. "I've always loved R&B. That love seemed to start in church. But then I saw Carrie Underwood on American Idol, and I fell in love with country," she told Kickin' Country in May 2018. "Heck, I loved the hair bands of the '80s too, so I have always loved country and rock 'n' roll." For her audition, Barrett chose to sing Underwood's "Good Girl." While judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie enjoyed the performance, they asked her to sing a second song to show more of her range and individuality. Barrett subsequently sang the worship song "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," leading the judges to praise her for her stage presence and personality and send her through to Hollywood. Barrett soared during the competition, propelling her all the way to the finale. She finished in third place behind runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson and winner Maddie Poppe. Gabby Barrett Met Husband Cade Foehner During 'American Idol' Love blossomed for Barrett and Foehner throughout the competition. (Foehner was a crowd favorite, making it to the Top 5 before he was eliminated from the competition.) During an episode of the "Off the Vine With Kaitlyn Bristowe" podcast in January 2026, Barrett recalled meeting Foehner for the first time. "I had to chase him down," she told host Kaitlyn Bristowe. "On the show, I think I noticed him around Top 24." Barrett's father was also a big fan of Foehner throughout the competition. "My dad had mentioned something about him on the stage. He was like, 'There's this dude that came out ... onto the stage, and ... he just ripped the guitar, and it was so awesome. This dude just came on and commanded the stage,'" she recalled. "And I was like, 'Who is that?' ... And then I saw him backstage and I told him he did a good job, and he said, 'Thank you,' and it was very reserved. But to this day, he says he doesn't remember that. But I remember that, and it did happen!" Barrett ended up asking Foehner for a picture backstage, and the rest was history. "We ended up hanging out in, like, a little conference room at the hotel that all the contestants were staying at, and we just picked around, played music, and then he asked me to hang out with him again," she noted. "And then I started going out with him in friend groups. So, that's how we had met, and then just continued through the show, hanging out with each other, and then he asked me, you know, to be his lady ... and then the rest of the year went really fast. We went on to the American Idol tour after Idol, which is crazy. ... So, we got to know each other really quick. ... And it worked out really good for us." Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images When Did Gabby Barrett Get Married? Barrett and Foehner tied the knot in October 2019 in Garrison, Texas, in front of 100 guests. Jinger Duggar's husband, Jeremy Vuolo, a close friend of the couple, officiated the wedding. "We're both excited to make such a serious and holy commitment before the Lord, with our friends and family there to support us and celebrate," Barrett told People after the nuptials. "Becoming one family has been the thing we've looked forward to most." Gabby Barrett Launched Her Music Career After 'American Idol' Post-Idol, Barrett released the single "I Hope" in 2019 and signed with Warner Music Nashville. A version of the song featuring Charlie Puth was released the following year. The song landed at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Barrett released her debut album, Goldmine, in 2020. Her second studio album, Chapter & Verse, was released in 2024, followed by the holiday album Carols and Candlelight that same year. Barrett made her acting debut in Hurry Up Tomorrow in 2025. Foehner is often seen on stage playing guitar during Barrett's performances. Does Gabby Barrett Have Kids? Barrett and Foehner share three children: daughter Baylah May, born in January 2021, son Augustine Boone, born in October 2022, and daughter Ivy Josephine, born in February 2024. The "Glory Days" singer opened up about parenting while on the road touring, revealing that she and Foehner hired a nanny. "Sometimes they'll be going to bed, and