It turns out, love actually does cost a thing.
Gabby Barrett and her husband, Cade Foehner, turn down projects they deem too “intimate” out of respect for their marriage.
“I won’t get into specific songs, but there’s been large song opportunities that have come in for me to do [an] add-on or be a part of and something between myself and my husband and I respect him a ton and I listen to what he has to say and I think he deserves that,” Barrett, 23, explained during an appearance on the “Unexpected with Hannah Love” podcast.
“And there’s been songs that are just not appropriate to sing wording-wise,” Barrett continued. “Like, these love songs that are really intimate.”
The “American Idol” alum, who managed to snag trophies at both the American Music Awards and the CMT Awards in 2021, stated that there is more to it than just agreeing to sing a song.
“When you accept a song, there’s obligations that go along with it, that you could sing it on award shows together, you might be doing interviews together,” the “I Hope” singer said. “What does that look like on the stage? What does that dynamic look like? If I’m singing with another man, is that going to make my husband uncomfortable? Probably.”
“And I respect him and love him so much that I’m not going to jeopardize my marriage to do a duet with somebody, you know,” the songstress continued. “Like, I care about this a lot more and I pray and hope and know that God will bless my efforts in trying to keep my marriage straight, and not just for a duet or whatever it is.”
Barrett and Foehner, 27, began dating in 2018 while battling it out on Season 16 of “American Idol.”
Despite coming in at third and fourth place, respectively, they ultimately found the greatest prize within each other and announced their engagement in March 2019. They exchanged vows that October.
According to Barrett, who shares three children with Foehner, their faith in God has helped the “Glory Days” singer maintain her convictions.
“It helps me to be very firm no matter what the push is from outside industry and outside people,” she said. “I have tons of people say that say to me or have texted me or have commented about me and said, ‘She’s ruining her career by talking about these things, and by X, Y and Z.’”
“I treasure a Godly marriage over anything the world could offer because that is so much,” Barrett continued. “I know where I’m going, I’m who I’m going to answer to and it’s not those people.”
Barrett’s statements were met with outrage online.
“That marriage sounds fun,” one user commented sarcastically on X (formerly Twitter).
“If you have to dim your lights to be in the relationship … this man don’t deserve you,” a second person chided.
“Gabby Barrett’s husband is an insecure controlling freak and this is actually terrifying that he won’t allow her to collab with male artists due to his own insecurities,” ranted a third. “What century is this? How is this endearing? How can anyone find this charming or romantic?”