Brian Mansfield Carrie Underwood aside, country radio has embraced former “American Idol” contestants only reluctantly, as if they were averse to sharing the credit for launching an act.
A few have managed to last, though: Underwood’s an arena headliner and a radio mainstay for 15 years now, and Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, who finished 1-2 on “Idol” in 2011, also seem to have won over programmers.Gabby Barrett can go on that list, too.
Barrett, who finished third on the 2018 edition of “Idol” as an 18-year-old, recently made that ascent with “I Hope,” making her the first solo female singer since Carly Pearce in 2017 to reach No.
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