Hannah Harper’s rise on American Idol Season 24 has been closely tied to one name that keeps coming up again and again: Dolly Parton. From her storytelling style to the warmth in her voice, many fans believe Harper carries the same heart that made Dolly a country music legend.
After Harper’s original Idol audition aired, her home-recorded cover of Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” quickly went viral, passing two million views in a short time. The video was recorded simply with an iPhone and an Audigo mic, but that simplicity only made the performance feel more honest. Sitting at home, surrounded by family life, Harper delivered the song with quiet emotion, reminding listeners why Dolly’s music has always felt personal and real.
Fans immediately flooded the comments, with many saying they heard “Dolly all over her voice.” Some even claimed they liked Harper’s version more than the original, while others said Dolly herself “needs to hear this.” Viewers praised the performance as “the true meaning of country,” saying it felt like classic storytelling rather than modern production. Several fans compared Harper to Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, calling her voice pure, smooth, and timeless.
The Dolly comparisons didn’t stop online. During her Idol audition, Lionel Richie encouraged Harper to look at Dolly as a model for her career, pointing out her unmatched ability to tell a story and lift people up at the same time. He praised Harper’s range and emotional control, saying she already has the tools needed to move an audience the way Dolly has done for decades.
Harper’s connection to Dolly’s music feels especially natural given her life story. A wife and mother of three young boys, she openly shared how she struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of her youngest child. That experience inspired her original song “String Cheese,” which captured the chaos, exhaustion, and quiet beauty of motherhood. Much like Dolly’s songwriting, Harper’s lyrics focus on everyday life, faith, and finding meaning in simple moments.