About I Hope

"I Hope" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Gabby Barrett. She released the single independently following her third-place finish on season 16 of American Idol. It led to her signing a deal with Warner Nashville, and it was released as her debut single in July 2019.

Gabby Barrett co-wrote "I Hope" with Zachary Kale and Jon Nite, and the track was produced by Ross Copperman. They originally sat down to write a song about a woman suffering a breakup and still wishing for her ex to be happy, but she decided to turn it toward a more revengeful nature: "The fact is that sometimes we hope for the worst when it comes to our exes. We would never voice that, but it wreaks [havoc] inside. This song now says the things that maybe you or I never said."

The music video for "I Hope" was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee and premiered on February 7, 2019. Barrett returned to the American Idol stage to give her first televised performance of "I Hope" on May 5, 2019. "I Hope" debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated January 11, 2020. As of January 2020, the song has sold 116,000 copies.

Barrett was one of eight children born to Blaise and Pam Barrett. She attended Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport but transferred to Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.Gabby Barret graduated from The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (Pacyber).

She started singing at age 9 and doing shows when she was 11. In 2014, she won the Kean Quest Talent Search. At 14, her father encouraged her to sing in an all-black choir, which prompted her to join the Lamb of God Christian Ministries in Homestead.