Billboard’s 2022 Women in Music Awards took place in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (March 2). The annual Women in Music event recognizes music’s top female artists, producers and executives for their contributions to music industry and their communities.
American Idol alum Gabby Barrett received the Rising Star Award. Other artists honored included Bonnie Raitt (Icon Award), Phoebe Bridgers (Trailblazer), Doja Cat (Powerhouse) Kaole G. (Rule Breaker) Saweetie (Game Changer) and Summer Walker (Chartbreaker). Ciara hosted the event.
“Mama Foehner…is a mother and wife before she is anything else in this world”
Gabby’s husband, Cade Foehner, presented Gabby with her award. He notes that Gabby is very “driven for excellence and driven for goals and accomplishing those goals.” However, he says, “Mama Foehner is a super star in her home.”
“She is a mother and wife before she is anything else in this world.” He adds, that while the world sees a hit maker, they don’t see “the glory and wonder of a women of this caliber in her home.” He adds, “I’ve seen her nurse a crying baby, I’ve seen her cook so many meals that fill my belly up with good food. And I’ve seen her change a big ole poopy diaper before we go out on stage. This is my wife. This is her all the time. Everybody gets a little glimpse of her singing really really well. But she is a woman through and through. And she is a Godly woman…she does it for the glory of her Lord Savior Jesus Christ.”
“I am so proud of my darling wife’s accomplishments. And I’m so grateful to her and to the Lord for making her the woman, wife and mother that she is.”
The two met as contestants on American Idol in 2018, where Gabby finished 3rd and Cade finished in 4th place.
.@GabbyBarrett_’s husband @CadeFoehner presents her with the Rising Star Award at #BBWomenInMusic. pic.twitter.com/dUx4gtDxBY
— billboard (@billboard) March 4, 2022
Watch Gabby accept the Rising Star Award
First, she gives props to all the other recipients, the great Bonnie Raitt in particular. She shares how she grew up with a big dream, but her path to success wasn’t easy. “I didn’t come from a wealthy background…a lot of people doubted me. Kids, adults, school teachers, you name it.” She continues, “I heard a lot of knows, and it seemed like every door that I knocked on remained closed for a long time.” She dedicates the award to “all of those that dream big no matter what age you are.”
She gives some advice: “You may not see a clear path, and others will knock you down. Some days you’ll want to give up and feel absolutely defeated. But try to use any negative comments or situations that you run into along the way as fuel to keep you going.”
“I receive this Rising Star award with humble gratitude and take it as a responsibility to be a light for the Lord and inspire others with what I do.” She thanks a series of women in her life, including her manager, siblings and baby girl Bayleigh. Unless it’s cut off the clip, she doesn’t thank her husband. UPDATE: She thanks him quickly at the beginning of her speech
.@GabbyBarrett_ receives the Rising Star award, presented by @Honda, at #BBWomenInMusic ?? pic.twitter.com/vWYkxJDdLq
— billboard (@billboard) March 3, 2022
Gabby performs “I Hope” with Cade accompanying her on guitar
.@GabbyBarrett_ performs "I Hope" with her husband @CadeFoehner at 2022 #BBWomenInMusic. ? pic.twitter.com/ahWGSS0Hh4
— billboard (@billboard) March 3, 2022
Gabby is surprised with 3 platinum plaques on the red carpet
On the red carpet before the event, Gabby was surprised with three Platinum awards. Her album Goldmine went Platinum, her single “The Good Ones” 2x platinum and “I Hope” 6 times Platinum. She had no idea that Goldmine went Platinum.
On Monday, Gabby will co-host the ACM Awards with Jimmie Allen and Dolly Parton. She also shared how American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood has been a wonderful mentor.
Gabby reveals that she’s writing for her sophomore album.
Afterward, Cade continued to praise Gabby on Instagram for submitting to him and the Lord.
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4,” Cade writes on Instagram. “I am grateful for my darlin’ bride’s character and her display of chastity and modesty. Congratulations to Mama Foehner on being Billboards rising star!”
