A 17-year-old American Idol star has announced the birth of a child with his wife, who is also 17.
Triston Harper, from McIntosh, Alabama, made the top five on the singing competition TV show in season 22.
Soon after the competition, the singer announced that he was marrying his childhood sweetheart, Paris Reed, and swiftly broke the news that the pair were expecting a baby.
Given their age, the baby announcement was met with some controversy.
One person said: “Two babies having a baby.
“They don’t even know how to manage their own lives, much less a baby’s.”
But there were, however, many people who rushed to congratulate Harper on the exciting news.
“They both look happy, they have support,” one said.
In agreement, another added: “Glad he is married and willing to step into a family role.”
The star announced in June 2025 that they had welcomed their daughter into the world.
“Everybody my grand baby has made her grand entrance,” his mom, Hattie M. Sullivan, announced on Facebook June 23.
“Weighing a solid 6-lbs and 6 ounces, Brenley Lichelle Harper has now arrived on the scene and she ain’t here to play.”
Sullivan added: “She’s already in boss mode!!!!!
“Feed me, change me, Cut that bright light out.
“Yes ma’am whatever you want G MA is gonna make it happen!”
And it’s not the first time that the new grandma has spoken out on behalf of her young son.
Speak to AL.com last year about how Harper handled himself on the show, she noted that he was ‘very mature.’
The mom added: “I just let him be him and I let him spread his wings.
“This is what he’s gonna be doing the rest of his life, so he needs to get a feel of it without mama being there to make every decision.”
In his audition, he sang ‘Cover Me Up’ by Jason Isbell while playing the guitar, earning praise from the judges.
Lionel Richie called Harper’s voice ‘a storytelling voice,’ while Katy Perry praised his authenticity and described him as an ‘old soul.’
During his audition, he said: “My mama wanted us to be something.
“That’s why I got into music.”
Sharing a sweet post earlier this year of him and his then-pregnant wife Paris, alongside a snap of him and his mom, he wrote: “I want to wish a happy Mother’s Day to these two beautiful women.”
