Pittsburgh singer Gabby Barrett determined to win ‘American Idol’

much for me and my family, so for me to be getting the star treatment is insane,” she said after the network flew her home in a private jet to shoot a hometown visit that will air Sunday.

The Barretts will have a large family contingent in Los Angeles, including Gabby’s brother, Gabe, and sister, Gypsy. “Just having my family there keeps me grounded, and it drives me to work harder and try to win this thing.”

Back in Pittsburgh, there are watch parties planned that include Station Square’s Hard Rock Cafe, both nights, as well as Crafthouse Stage & Grille in Baldwin Borough. The Hard Rock events begin one hour before broadcast and will feature the chance to win tickets to the show’s upcoming tour.

“Gabby performed here first when she was 12,” said Roy Smith, the Hard Rock Cafe sales and marketing manager. “Her dad and I talked, and I told him to get her out there on stage as much as you can.”

For Ms. Barrett, appearing in public was not always about the joy of singing. For years she has talked openly about being bullied in school. She attended the beginning of high school at Serra Catholic but has since enrolled at Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.

She’s said she hopes to continue talking with students about bullying. Win or lose Monday, she’ll be traveling the country this summer as part of the “American Idol” top 7 tour. It stops in the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall on Sept. 13.

Donald Fast, the promotions director for local radio stations including Froggy 104.3, has been a friend of the Barrett family and a fan of the young singer’s career.

“Four or five years ago, I started hearing her name more and more, and her dad was like, ‘Listen, any time you need a show, she’ll be happy to play.’”

On television as well as performing live, Ms. Barrett comes across as a giggler. She likes to switch up genres, clearly having fun with songs like “Little Red Wagon,” which she did while racing from one end of the “Idol” stage to another on a live show.

Mr. Fast remembers talking to the family at a motor sports pro shop opening north of Pittsburgh: “The first thing she ever said to me was ‘I don’t shake hands; I’m a hugger.’ Her whole family is like that.”

Admitting his bias toward Ms. Barrett, he nonetheless did a brief handicapping of the finale. “I think Maddie’s great, she’s got sort of an indie sound, sort of free spirit.

“And Caleb, he’s very good, but his stage presence and experience just isn’t there yet. … I’m not taking anything away from his talent.

“Caleb is very old-school country roots, but I just think Gabby has it all. She’s always had that talent, and I think her starting at a young age, she’s learned how to work a stage, work a crowd. You see that.”

Years ago, he said, he watched his former boss, radio exec Frank Bell, push air time for another young country pop singer. What he’s seeing with Ms. Barrett “is like watching it again.”

“I’ve done this for 16 years and the only person I saw go from a child to a star was Taylor Swift.”