Gabby Barrett

So, Shane & Shane are my favorite Christian artists out there.

Oh, I'm very grateful for 'American Idol' and I always will be.

I think 'Idol' has been such a wonderful platform for me to step onto, and be a part of, and they've always treated me very kindly, and have been very supportive of my music and myself. I will always keep that as a highlight in my career for the rest of my life.

A few people have asked me about the women agenda on country radio. I can only speak for myself on this, and all I have to say is that I'm very grateful, and thankful, that country radio has been so automatically accepting, and supportive, of me and my music.

The Lord always comes first in our lives, and then everything else comes second. And so with my music and with my platform, I have places to talk about the Lord and His goodness.

I'm not the kind of person who walks in a room and is just like, 'Hi everybody!' I'm more somebody who is quiet and who isn't good at starting conversations.

When I was about 11 years old, I wrote a song with my dad. Then in high school I started more writing.

There's a lot to learn in Nashville. This town is just filled with amazing, talented, smart people, so it's been an honor to be part of that community and to have everyone open their arms wide to me.

There were so many emotions on 'Idol' with nervousness and pressure, but in good ways.

I would definitely say I'm a country girl at heart; I wanted to make sure that I established my music first at Country just because that is the artist that I am. But it wanted to spill over into pop too, which I don't have a problem with at all and I think is awesome because it spreads it to a broader audience of people.

Each child you have, you love them, but it's a different feeling. That's how it is with songs on the radio.

I think it's really cool when any of your songs play on the radio for the first time.

The first time I ever had a song play on a legit radio station, I think I was about 13. It was a song of mine that I had written called 'Young Blood.'

Being on the Hot 100 is absolutely amazing.

There is nothing like hearing people sing your single back to you during a show.

I wasn't in any super duper serious relationships growing up, but yeah, I know what that heartbreak feels like.

High school relationships will mess you up.

I always wanted to be somebody that kind of stuck out on the stage.

From a very young age, my main thing was always entertaining.

When I was in high school, I used to pray about whoever my future spouse was going to be.

So many people have been so supportive of my music, my music videos, everything all around.

I naturally gravitated first to R&B and pop: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle.

I love Marty Robbins, I love Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline.

My dad was into classic rock and R&B, which I originally started in. And then my mom did the country.

All of the genres are just blending now, which I think is another super-cool thing.

From a young age, I was never into going out and partying.

Nashville's been like my second home.

I like to be on most of my songs. I think being on your songs makes it all the more special in a way. Especially for me, just knowing that I'm releasing something that I was really a part of and dug in the dirt with.

Sometimes you don't really know what you're going to write about. I mean, there's times where you get into a writing room and it's a complete flop. And then there's times where you get to a writing room and you're like, 'Oh, I'm just on a roll.'

Country radio has been so supportive.

My fans have been amazing.

I'm getting to put my music out into the world the way that I envisioned and hoped it would be when I was little, and that is a total dream come true.

I Hope' is the fourth song that I'd ever written in Nashville. I didn't know that it was as special as it was.

To be given a chance to be in the finals was a dream come true, and I will forever be thankful to the whole 'American Idol' crew.

I would say when I was 9 or 10 I started doing gospel choir, and I was with them for about two years.

There were a lot of challenges I had to face on 'American Idol' that helped me grow in a few different ways that I'll take forever with my career.

I'm actually pretty boring, to be honest.

I was always a homebody who wanted to be somebody's wife.

Country is and always will be my heart, but I don't have a problem with it spilling over into pop if it wants to.

I just think falling in love and being married completely changes your life in so many ways.

My dad has sacrificed so much for me and my family, so for me to be getting the star treatment is insane.

I was influenced by gospel and Christian music from a very young age.

When I got into the Nashville scene, with the Ross Coppermans and Zach Kales and Jon Nites and Nicolle Galyons, all these people who have No. 1 hits with huge celebrities, they were able to show me creative ways and right ways of formulating songs.

I completely understand why labels would be a little bit hesitant to sign somebody coming off of a television show, in their first glance.

From 11 to 17, I just toured my butt off with my dad and my sister. We hit the road and I was singing all kinds of different songs and different types of genres. But I knew from an early age what I wanted my sound to be, which was country on bass, and I wanted to be a country artist.

Of course, growing up, you listen to your favorite people on the radio and you want to have an album of your own and you want to have number one songs that people know and can sing back to you when you have shows.

If I had to define my style, I'd say edgy sleek.

In terms of brands, Jovani is one of my favorites, and also Zhivago, and I love Steve Madden shoes.

I'm not somebody who can tell if the song is good enough to be pushed until I hear what it sounds like after all the bells and whistles are put on it.

I know it's cliche, but after the first show, I knew I liked singing, being on stage, making people happy. It just felt natural.