Grammy Award-winning Christian artist and worship leader Chris Tomlin publicly invited “American Idol” winner Hannah Harper to sing his song “At the Cross (Love Ran Red)” with him. Harper performed the song during the show’s “Songs of Faith” episode and reprised it after her win was announced Monday, May 11.

“Hannah Harper, huge congrats on winning American Idol,” Tomlin said in a social media post of Harper closing the “American Idol” finale with his song. “I love hearing you sing At The Cross!!!  Let’s sing it together sometime!  God bless you and your family in this next season of your life.”

Hannah Harper Gives God ‘All the Glory’

Hannah Harper, a mom of three who grew up singing in her family’s bluegrass-gospel band, won this year’s season of “American Idol,” letting her faith in God shine from the beginning of her journey on the show.

Harper auditioned with an original song titled, “String Cheese,” about how God helped her with her struggle with postpartum depression. Harper’s audition actually moved judge Carrie Underwood to tears. During the finale, Harper performed “String Cheese,” which has achieved over 120 million views, according to host Ryan Seacrest.

During the Top 20 performances in March, Harper performed a rendition of the song “Ain’t No Grave,” and she gave a heartfelt, emotional performance of Tomlin’s “At The Cross” on March 30, receiving praise from all three judges. Lyrics to the song read in part:

At the cross, at the cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of you
I’m in awe of you
Where your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to you
I owe all to you, Jesus.

Seacrest asked Harper, “What was special about the performance of that song here tonight?”

After American Idol winner Hannah Harper reprised Chris Tomlin’s At the Cross (Love Ran Red), Tomlin invited her to sing it with him.

“An opportunity to give an invitation on this platform is incredible,” she answered through tears.

Later in the competition, Harper revealed she had gotten to meet the members of MercyMe, a Christian band she has “been listening to since I was basically in the womb.” Harper said that frontman Bart Millard told her that he had been voting for her, something she said was “absolutely wild.”

After being announced the winner at the end of the “American Idol” finale, Harper reprised “At the Cross” but ended up simply worshiping with tears running down her face for most of it.

On Wednesday, May 13, Harper posted the segment of her visit to her hometown that was played during the finale, again thanking God and those who supported her. “I can’t watch this without sobbing,” she said. “What a wild, beautiful ride this has been. I have so much in my heart that I still can’t quite put into words. But we did it, y’all. WE DID IT. .”

Source: churchleaders.com