Laine Hardy gets married and is expecting a baby

Surprise! American Idol Champion Laine Hardy starts a family.

The singer announced his engagement to Jordan Gautreau, a New Orleans Saints cheerleader and former NBA dancer for the New Orleans Pelicans, on Saturday (September 7).

But that's not all: The couple is currently expecting their first child. Hardy and Gautreau shared the news in a joint Instagram post that includes a snapshot of her engagement ring and a celebratory video announcing her pregnancy.

“We are so excited for this chapter of our lives. We are excited for God's plan for us,” Gautreau writes in the caption. “The biggest surprise and the easiest YES! Can't wait to receive our new title as parents and start planning a wedding.”

A slide in the carousel post said baby Hardy is due in 2025. Beyond that, they didn't reveal many details about their future baby. A video shows Hardy holding a flowerpot, with a black-and-white film turning into color to reveal blue wrapping around the bouquet – possibly part of a gender reveal.

Who is Laine Hardy?

The 23-year-old Louisiana native rose to fame as a country singer in season 17 of American Idoland was eventually crowned the winner of that season of the show.

After the show, Hardy released his debut album Here is something for everyone in September 2021. In the years since, he has had some legal troubles: In April 2022, he was arrested after an ex-girlfriend accused him of placing a recording device in her college dorm room. He ultimately avoided jail time for the charges, but around the same time, he announced that he and his record label were parting ways.

According to his recent social media updates, Hardy is looking toward his musical future. On Friday (September 6), shortly before announcing his engagement and impending fatherhood, he released a new song called “That Man.”

Carena Liptak is an associate editor and staff writer at Taste of Country. She specializes in breaking country music news, interviews, and lists. She's particularly partial to sad songs – check out her roundup of the 50 saddest country songs of all time!