Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall, who serves as the band's lead vocalist, as part of a youth group at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida. They later moved to Stockbridge, Georgia, and more members joined. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. The band has won a Grammy and a Dove Award.

History

Early years and initial success

Christian rock group Casting Crowns began as a student worship band in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1999. Led by singer, songwriter, and youth pastor Mark Hall, the group initially included guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes, violinist Melodee DeVevo, and drummer Rob Cervantes (a.k.a. Chavez). The group relocated to Georgia, in 2001, adding Chris Huffman on bass, Megan Garrett on keyboards and accordion, and drummer Andy Williams. This augmented version of Casting Crowns released two independent albums on CD, both of which were well received in the Atlanta area. Both independent albums were efforts on the part of Mark Hall and the rest of the group as outreach projects for youth in the area. The group won the GMA regional songwriters competition at Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, Florida, in both the "Best Song" and the "Best Artist" categories in 2004. Although the group was not searching for a record label, one of the group's albums found its way into the hands of Mark Miller, lead singer for country group Sawyer Brown, who was struck by Casting Crowns' driving pop/rock style and Hall's vocal delivery of his hard-hitting but devout songs. Miller signed Casting Crowns to his fledgling Beach Street Records, a division of Reunion Records with distribution by the Provident Label Group, making Casting Crowns the first artist signed to Beach Street Records.

Mark Miller took the group into the studio along with co-producer Steven Curtis Chapman, himself a popular artist on the CCM musical scene. The resulting eponymous album, Casting Crowns, was released in 2003 on the Beach Street imprint. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. The album's third single, "Voice of Truth", spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning in 2003. "Voice of Truth" is also used in the trailer and the ending from the movie Facing the Giants. The album was certified platinum in 2005, and in 2011, the group received their first gold certification for a single for the song 'Who Am I' from their debut record.

Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album had three singles: "Lifesong", "Praise You in this Storm", and "Does Anybody Hear Her?". "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at No. 1 for seven weeks. Apart from being successful in the charts, Lifesong earned Casting Crowns their first Grammy Award for their work on the album in 2006.

In 2006, the group released Lifesong Live, which included live performances of songs from their studio album Lifesong.

The band's third studio album The Altar and the Door debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and No. 1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after the album's release date, it was certified gold by the RIAA. On September 27, 2007, the band embarked on the 'Altar and the Door' tour with Leeland and John Waller . The tour was highly successful, grossing $4.4 million in ticket sales. Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "East to West" from The Altar and the Door hit sixteen consecutive weeks at No. 1. The song ended up enjoying the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date. "Slow Fade" was also released as a single, and was included in the soundtrack of the Kirk Cameron film Fireproof.

In 2008, Casting Crowns scored their eighth number one hit with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a track from their newly released Christmas album titled Peace on Earth.

Recent years

Casting Crowns was one of the rare American bands to ever have been invited to North Korea. They attended the 2009 Spring Friendship Arts Festival in Pyongyang where they performed with the Annie Moses Band. This was Casting Crowns' second invitation to the festival sponsored by Global Resource Services, the first time being in 2007. On August 30, 2009, Casting Crowns performed on Huckabee, Mike Huckabee's political show.

Casting Crowns' fourth major studio album, Until the Whole World Hears, was released on November 17, 2009, debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 167,000 copies in its first week alone, setting a new record for the highest Christian album debut in history. It was certified gold within four weeks. The title track and first single from the album became the group's ninth No. 1 single in January 2010.

In April 2010, Casting Crowns won the Dove Award for Artist of the Year, their first ever win in that category. A music video for the title track of Until the Whole World Hears was posted on the band's YouTube page on August 23, 2010.

The track "Glorious Day" was released as a single in 2011 and reached No. 1 on Billboard Christian Songs during the week of April 23, 2011.

"Courageous", was released as a single on July 19, 2011. The music video for the song was released on June 13, 2011 and promotes the film Courageous. The song was featured on, Come to the Well, which was released on October 18, 2011. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners", the album's second single, was released in 2012.

In 2012, Josh Mix joined the band, replacing guitar player Hector Cervantes.

The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One, was released on January 22, 2013.

In early 2013, the band recorded their own version of the hymn "I Surrender All" for the album Jesus, Firm Foundation. Also, lead singer Mark Hall recorded the title song with Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mandisa. To end the year, the band joined Chapman, Natalie Grant, Matthew West, and other artists on "The Story Tour 2013" performing songs from The Story.

In September 2013, the band released "All You've Ever Wanted", the first single from Thrive which was released on January 28, 2014. and charted No. 6 in Billboard's Top 200 in its first week.

In early 2015, Casting Crowns released the hymns-album, Glorious Day - Hymns of Faith, exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. The album includes Casting Crowns' Until the Whole World Hears singles "Glorious Day" and "Blessed Redeemer", and acoustic versions of "If We Are the Body" and "Praise You in This Storm" as well as eight hymns, mostly covers.

In November 2015, the band released A Live Worship Experience. The album was recorded live at the band's home church, Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church, and features 12 songs, including worship songs "Great Are You Lord," and "Good Good Father," and Casting Crowns' songs "Just Be Held" and "Thrive."

On September 16, 2016, the band released their seventh studio album, The Very Next Thing, which was preceded by the single "One Step Away". It was followed by a second single from the album, "Oh My Soul".

On October 20, 2017, the band released a new EP, It's Finally Christmas, and embarked on "A Glorious Christmas" tour with for KING & COUNTRY shortly after its release.

On October 11, 2018, the band announced Only Jesus, scheduled for release on November 16, 2018, with a video introduction by Mark Hall and made the title track available to those on their fans list. On October 12, 2018, they also released a second track, "Nobody", featuring Matthew West, to fans. On October 19, they released a third track, "In the Hands of the Potter" to those on their fans list. On September 25, they released the deluxe edition.

On June 16, 2021, the band released "Scars in Heaven".

Andy Williams, the band's former drummer, died on July 9, 2021 at age 49 from injuries sustained in a June 27 motorcycle accident.

Ministry

In keeping with The Great Commission, Hall describes their music as a "ministry of discipleship".

Mark Hall is youth minister at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia, while the other members are active in their respective churches. They do the band part-time around their full-time work of raising families and church service. They often tour from Thursday to Saturday so that they can be home for church on Sunday morning and Wednesday night.

Members

Current

• Mark Hall - lead vocals and songwriter (1999-present)
• Juan DeVevo - guitar and background vocals (1999-present)
• John Michael Hall - bass (2021-present)
• Megan Garrett - piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2001-present)
• Melodee DeVevo - violin, backing vocals, cello (1999-present)
• Jack Williams - drums (2021-present)
• Josh Mix - lead guitar and background vocals (2013-present)

Former

• Andy Williams - drums (2001-2009)
• Hector Cervantes - lead guitar and background vocals (1999-2013)
• Chris Huffman - bass and background vocals (2001-2021)
• Brian Scoggin - drums (2009-2021)

Books

• Lifestories by Mark Hall
• Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall
• The Well by Mark Hall
• Thrive by Mark Hall
• The Very Next Thing by Mark Hall
• Only Jesus by Mark Hall

Discography

• Casting Crowns' (2001)
• What If the Whole World Prayed (2002)
• Casting Crowns (2003)
• Lifesong (2005)
• The Altar and the Door (2007)
• Peace on Earth (2008)
• Until the Whole World Hears (2009)
• Come to the Well (2011)
• Thrive (2014)
• The Very Next Thing (2016)
• Only Jesus (2018)
• Healer (2022)

Achievements

• Career sales have exceeded 10 million records.
• Voted CCM Readers' Choice Awards "Favorite Band", "Favorite New Artist" and "Favorite Album" in 2005.
• "Lifesong" voted "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2005 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• "Praise You in this Storm" was the fifth most played song of 2006 according to R&R magazine.
• "East to West" voted "AC Single of the Year" and "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2007 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• Casting Crowns was the most played artist on Christian Radio in 2007, according to Radio & Records Weekly charts (12/10).
• Casting Crowns is the second-fastest Christian band in history to have their first two albums certified platinum, the fastest being Jars of Clay.

See also

• List of awards and nominations received by Casting Crowns

References

External links

• Official website
• Casting Crowns Artist Profile on Christian Music Review Archived October 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
• The Altar and the Door album review on Christian Music Review
• Casting Crowns on WorshipSong
• The Altar & The Door Tour 2009 concert review from NewReleaseTuesday.com
• Official YouTube Channel
• Official GodTube Channel

MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma. The band consists of lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.

The band formed in 1994 and released six independent albums before signing with INO Records in 2001. The group first gained mainstream recognition with the crossover single "I Can Only Imagine", which elevated their debut album, Almost There, to triple platinum certification. Since then, the group has released eight additional studio albums (six of which have been certified gold) and a greatest hits album, 10. The group has also had 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, with 7 of them reaching No. 1. MercyMe has won 8 Dove Awards and has had many Grammy Award nominations. On April 8, 2014, the band released its eighth studio album titled Welcome to the New. Their ninth studio album, Lifer, was released on March 31, 2017, and tenth, Inhale (Exhale), was released on April 30, 2021.

History

Formation and early years

Singer Bart Millard met pianist James Phillip Bryson in Lakeland, Florida, after an invitation from his youth pastor. Both led a praise team on a trip to Europe. They both felt a call to work full-time in music. They later met the guitarist Michael John Scheuchzer, who joined them, then moved to Oklahoma City. The group was officially formed in 1994 in Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

In 1997, MercyMe moved to Nashville to find a record label. After a year, they left Nashville for Dallas and recorded an album. Then they settled in Greenville, Texas, and served at Highland Terrace Baptist Church.

The trio set up a studio and a "living area" in an old abandoned day-care center. Bassist Nathan Cochran and drummer Robby Shaffer later joined the band, accompanying the band in releasing six independent projects before signing with INO Records in 2001. Unlike their first three major label albums, their earlier indie projects tended to orient more towards rock rhythms. The group's name, "MercyMe", originated during Millard's time as a youth ministry intern in Florida. Concerned that her grandson was home whenever she called, Millard's grandmother would exclaim, "Well mercy me, why don't you get a real job?"

Almost There, Spoken For and Undone (2001-2004)

After signing with INO Records, the band released its first major debut album, Almost There. The single "I Can Only Imagine" earned the band a Dove Award in 2002 for song of the year. However, it was not until three years after its release that the song began to gain mainstream success, topping the Billboard 200 sales chart for seven weeks, and peaking at No. 71 on the Hot 100, No. 33 on the Mainstream Top 40, No. 27 on the Adult Top 40, No. 5 on the Adult Contemporary, and No. 52 on the Country Songs charts. The success of the single ultimately propelled Almost There to being certified double platinum, representing sales of over 2 million albums, as well as the single itself being certified platinum.

In 2002, MercyMe released Spoken For, which peaked at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. The album's two singles, "Spoken For" and "Word of God Speak", went on to peak at No. 1 on Christian radio charts, with "Word of God Speak" spending a record 22 weeks atop the newly created Billboard Christian Songs chart. The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.

Spoken For earned the band three Dove Awards, but was to a certain extent overlooked by the attention that "I Can Only Imagine" was receiving in the mainstream markets at the time.

In 2003, guitarist Barry Graul, who had previously been with the Christian hard rock band Whitecross, joined MercyMe, giving MercyMe a second guitarist to provide greater depth on their third studio album, Undone. In 2004, the band headlined the "Imagine Tour" with fellow artists Amy Grant and Bebo Norman. In addition to headlining the "Imagine Tour", MercyMe released their third major label album, Undone, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Albums charts, their highest debut on the chart at that point. The album spawned three successful singles - "Here With Me" (which topped the Christian Songs chart as well as reaching No. 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 38 on the Adult Top 40 chart), "Homesick" (which reached No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts), and "In the Blink of an Eye" (which topped the Christian Songs chart). The album itself won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards, and was certified gold by the RIAA.

MercyMe also released a live video album, MercyMe Live, in 2004, which eventually was certified platinum by the RIAA.

The Christmas Sessions and Coming Up to Breathe (2005-2006)

In 2005, MercyMe launched a tour with Jeremy Camp, The Afters and Monk and Neagle in support of their album, Undone.

After releasing Undone in 2004, the band took a time to rest before their next big release, so they decided to work on a Christmas record. The Christmas Sessions was recorded and was released on September 27, 2005. The album spawned seven songs which hit the top 40 on the Christian Songs chart (with one hitting No. 1 and two others reaching the top ten), and four of these charted in the top 40 of the Adult Contemporary chart (with one peaking in the top 10). The album itself peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart.

To promote The Christmas Sessions, MercyMe had a Christmas tour with Steven Curtis Chapman, who also released a Christmas album that year titled All I Really Want for Christmas.

In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up to Breathe, which charted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. Although the band had earned a reputation for being an adult contemporary group with their other albums, the group decided to make Coming Up to Breathe a more rock-oriented album, in the vein of their earlier grunge-influenced albums. As such, it also peaked at No. 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart and No. 13 on the Top Alternative Albums chart, their only chart appearances on these records to date.

Coming Up to Breathe spawned three radio singles ("So Long Self", "Hold Fast", and "Bring the Rain"), two of which ("So Long Self" and "Bring the Rain") reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. "So Long Self" and "Hold Fast" also both reached the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Coming Up to Breathe was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.

In support of Coming Up to Breathe, MercyMe headlined the "Coming Up to Breathe Tour", along with Audio Adrenaline (on its farewell tour) and Phil Wickham, seeing half their shows sell out two weeks into the tour.

All That is Within Me, Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic and 10 (2007-2009)

On November 20, 2007, MercyMe released All That Is Within Me. Millard, the band's lead singer, had believed that All That is Within Me was going to be a worship album with half of the songs being cover songs and the other half original songs; however, when the band got in studio, they ended up having written all the songs found in this album.

Upon release, the album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The album contained three singles ("God With Us", "You Reign" and "Finally Home"), all of which reached the top three on the Christian Songs chart; "Finally Home" also peaked at No. 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart (their last appearance on the chart to date). All That Is Within Me was also certified gold by the RIAA.

In 2008, the band released Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic, an acoustic version of their earlier release Coming Up to Breathe.

On April 7, 2009, MercyMe released their first greatest hits compilation, 10, a double album consisting of 15 studio recordings (12 of which were previously singles and 3 of which were new recordings) and 11 live or concept videos, as well as several documentaries on the band. The album charted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, although no singles were released from the album.

The Generous Mr. Lovewell and The Worship Sessions (2010-2011)

MercyMe's sixth studio album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, was released on May 4, 2010. The album itself peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (MercyMe's highest debut to date and first top 5 album ever on the chart) and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. The album (a concept album relating around the overall theme of love and vaguely relating to its self-titled character) has also spawned three singles - "All of Creation", "Beautiful", and "Move" - all of which reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. Upon wrapping up "The Generous Mr. Lovewell" tour, MercyMe was asked to perform the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys game.

In 2011, the band released The Worship Sessions, a worship album that was released exclusively at Family Christian Book Stores.

The Hurt & the Healer, Welcome to the New, Lifer, Inhale (Exhale) (2012-present)

The Hurt & the Healer was released on May 22, 2012 by Fair Trade and Columbia Records. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, selling 33,000 copies.

Welcome to the New, the band's eighth studio album, was released on April 8, 2014 and is produced by David Garcia and Ben Glover. Singles from this album include the pre-release single "Shake", and post-release singles "Greater" and "Dear Younger Me".

Lifer, MercyMe's ninth studio album, was released on March 31, 2017, with the lead single off the album being "Even If", which was released on February 17, 2017. It samples the chorus of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul." The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for three weeks, becoming their twelfth number one single. It also charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at No. 20. The second single, "Grace Got You", was released on March 2, 2018. It peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and became their record extending 15th chart topper on the Christian Airplay chart. It was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. The third single, "Best News Ever", was released on October 5, 2018.

In 2019 they released the single "Almost Home", and then in 2020 "Hurry up and Wait" and "Say I Won't", and from Inhale (Exhale) that was released on April 30, 2021.

Charity

In 2005, MercyMe participated in a benefit concert at Belmont University with various other country, gospel and contemporary Christian artists for the people affected by the Asian tsunami.

In 2009, MercyMe conducted a tour in partnership with Compassion International and Imagine A Cure in order to raise money to help kids with diabetes through Imagine A Cure and people with medical needs around the world through Compassion International.

Tour bus accident

On Saturday, August 8, 2009, at approximately 1:15 am in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the MercyMe tour bus was traveling through an intersection on a green light when an oncoming passenger vehicle made a left turn on red into the path of the bus, which resulted in a collision killing two passengers of the car and resulting in the vehicle's pregnant driver experiencing miscarriage from automotive trauma. MercyMe was to perform at Six Flags St. Louis but the park issued a statement saying the show was rescheduled because the band was "involved in a vehicle accident in Indiana".

Despite news reports claiming that the band remained silent during the days after the crash, not contacting the family of the deceased and injured, MercyMe did release a statement through their publicist the day of the crash.

Members

Current members

• Bart Millard - lead vocals (1994-present)
• Michael John Scheuchzer - guitars, backing vocals, keyboards (1994-present)
• Robin Troy "Robby" Shaffer - drums, percussion (1997-present)
• Nathan Cochran - bass, backing vocals, keyboards (1998-present)
• Barry Graul - guitars, backing vocals (2003-present)

Former members

• Jim Richmond - guitar (1994-1995)
• James Phillip "Jim" Bryson - keyboards (1994-2014)
• Kendall Combes - bass, backing vocals (1994-1998)
• Trent Austin - drums (1994-1997)
• David Cowan - drums (1994-1995)

Discography

• Pleased to Meet You (1995)
• Traces of Rain (1997)
• Traces of Rain Volume II (1998)
• The Need (1999)
• The Worship Project (1999)
• Look (2000)
• Almost There (2001)
• Spoken For (2002)
• Undone (2004)
• The Christmas Sessions (2005)
• Coming Up to Breathe (2006)
• All That Is Within Me (2007)
• The Generous Mr. Lovewell (2010)
• The Hurt & the Healer (2012)
• Welcome to the New (2014)
• MercyMe, It's Christmas! (2015)
• Lifer (2017)
• Inhale (Exhale) (2021)
• Always Only Jesus (2022)

Awards and accolades

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

• 2002 Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
• 2002 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
• 2004 Song of the Year - "Word of God Speak"
• 2004 Artist of the Year
• 2004 Group of the Year
• 2004 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year - "Word of God Speak"
• 2005 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year - Undone
• 2005 Special Event Album of the Year - The Passion of the Christ: Songs

ASCAP Awards

• 2003 Bart Millard awarded Christian Songwriter of the Year at the 25th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards.

American Music Awards

• 2004 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
• 2010 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist

Billboard magazine Decade (2000-2009) Awards

• No. 1 Christian song of the Decade: "Word of God Speak"
• No. 16 Christian song of the Decade: "Here with Me"
• No. 19 Christian song of the Decade: "God with Us"
• No. 35 Christian song of the Decade: "You Reign"
• No. 48 Christian song of the Decade: "In the Blink of an Eye"
• No. 49 Christian song of the Decade: "Bring the Rain"
• No. 4 Christian Album Artist of the Decade
• No. 4 Christian Album of the Decade: "Almost There"
• No. 38 Christian Album of the Decade: "Undone"
• No. 46 Christian Album of the Decade: "Spoken For"

References

External links

• Official website
• MercyMe at Billboard.com

After leaving RCA Nashville in November 2011, he gravitated his music towards an adult pop/contemporary Christian sound and subsequently made a record/publishing deal with BMG in May 2013. His second full-length album, Hope in Front of Me, was released in June 2014.

Early life

Gokey started singing with his family in church, but stated he would rather record mainstream music than perform solely Christian/gospel music. He was the worship director at his church in Milwaukee, Faith Builders International Ministries, for several years.

He is the fifth of six children. He has a brother named Charles, and four sisters: Angela, Janell, Gina, and Tracey.

He has acknowledged the influence of Jeffrey and Robin Pruitt, who are the pastors of the church where he worked, and also Matthew Barnett, the founder of the LA Dream Center. He has stated that his faith is the "key to who I am". Gokey was a church music director, while also driving a semi truck (18 wheeler) for a local logistics company for two years.

American Idol

Overview

Gokey rose to national fame with his participation in the eighth season of American Idol. Gokey's American Idol audition occurred only four weeks after his wife's death in July 2008.

During Rock Week (Top 4 week), Gokey's take on Aerosmith's "Dream On" was planned for the extended scream with which he finished the song. Gokey was the only contestant in that season who was never in the bottom two or three, but he was eliminated in third place on May 13, 2009, after his performance of Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful."

During the season 8 finale on May 20, 2009, Gokey performed a duet with R&B superstar Lionel Richie. The performance opened with Gokey singing a true-to-the-original soulful ballad solo of Richie's "Hello," and then Richie joined Gokey for a duet of his hits "Just Go" and "All Night Long".

Performances/results

Post-Idol career

Gokey was nominated in his home state of Wisconsin for a WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Award for Best Christian/Gospel Artist of the Year.

As of September 2009, Gokey finished his tour with the other idols on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009, and he worked on his foundation, Sophia's Heart, which was set up to help disadvantaged children.

Gokey, known for his many pairs of eyeglasses that he often wore on the show, had stated he might start an eyewear line to help raise funds for his foundation and Match Eyewear teamed with him for the Danny Gokey Eyewear collection. Launched in March 2012, the collection has exceeded sales projections with over 1.7 million in net retail sales.

2009-2010: My Best Days

On September 1, 2009, Gokey signed with 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville, becoming the first third-place finisher to record with 19 and the first male Idol to be signed to a major country label. On November 19, 2009, 19 Recordings and RCA Records announced the release of the debut single "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me". Gokey's debut album, My Best Days, was released on March 2, 2010. It debuted on the Billboard charts at number four, and it netted Gokey the best opening-week sales by a debut country male in 18 years and the highest debut of digital downloads sold by any new country artist ever. In support of the album, Gokey was the opening act on Sugarland's Incredible Machine tour which began in April. Gokey also performed at country singer Darryl Worley's ninth annual Tennessee River Run festival in Savannah, Tennessee along with other artists such as Joe Diffie and Lee Brice. The event helped raise $200,000 for the Darryl Worley Foundation.

On October 18, 2010, Gokey earned a nomination for Best New/Breakthrough Artist at the first annual American Country Awards. On November 21, 2010, Gokey was a part of ABC's pre-show event at the American Music Awards.

2011-2013: Love Again and label change

Gokey released the single "Second Hand Heart" penned by Cary Barlowe, Shane Stevens and Josh Kear on July 4, 2011. He was one of opening acts on Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour. He also made an appearance in a TV movie with Candace Cameron Bure called Truth Be Told.

Gokey left RCA Nashville in November 2011.

Gokey released his EP Love Again in May 2012. It was self-released limitedly via his official website only as physical CD format. His memoir, Hope in Front of Me: Find Purpose in Your Darkest Moments, was published on October 1, 2013.

2014-2018: Hope in Front of Me, Christmas Is Here and Rise

Gokey kicked off 2014 with the release of his new single "Hope in Front of Me" under BMG.

Gokey's second album, Hope in Front of Me, was released on June 23 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.

In late August, "Hope in Front of Me" topped both the Billboard Christian Airplay chart (lasted 3 weeks) and Mediabase Christian Adult Contemporary chart. For the week ending of September 20, it also topped the Billboard Christian AC Songs chart.

On December 5, the official lyric video for the second single "More Than You Think I Am" was released.

In the spring of 2015, Gokey joined Natalie Grant's Burn Bright tour as a special guest, followed by The Bible Tour 2015 with Steven Curtis Chapman, Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli.

"Hope in Front of Me" was nominated for Song of the Year at K-LOVE Fan Awards 2015, held on May 31 and one of award-winning songs at 2015 BMI Christian Awards, held on June 23.

In July, "More Than You Think I Am" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. In August, Gokey earned nominations for New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Hope in Front of Me" at 46th GMA Dove Awards.

On September 25, Gokey released the lead single "Lift Up Your Eyes" from his holiday album, Christmas Is Here, which was released on October 16. In October, Gokey joined NewSong's Beating Hearts Tour with Mandisa. In December, Gokey joined the 2015 K-LOVE Christmas Tour as a special guest.

Rise was released on January 13, 2017. Rise performed well commercially on the charts and on the sucess for some of its songs and received multiple award nominations, including the Grammy Awards.

2019-present: Haven't Seen It Yet and Jesus People

Gokey released "Haven't Seen It Yet" as a single, which has been a huge commercial success, reaching the top three on the Billboard Christian charts and number four in Cross Rhythms. His sixth album, Haven't Seen It Yet, was released on April 19, 2019. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and number one at Christian Airplay chart. The releases were nominated for two Grammy Award categories and the song was the winner of a Dove Award for Short Form Music Video Of The Year. He also released radio and Spanish versions of some of the songs on the album in 2020.

Later, Gokey's eighth album, Jesus People, was released on August 20, 2022, which he experimented with singing with various genres, such as Latin pop, classical music and dance-pop. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and at number 99 on the Billboard 200 chart, and managed to be successful in digital streams. The album consists of five singles that achieved commercial records, which were "We All Need Jesus", "Stand in Faith", "He Believes in You", "Agradecido" and "Do For Love". In the first week of August, Gokey released the "Stand In Faith" and "Do For Love" music videos. He also toured extensively and appears in Stand Together Tour with Mac Powell and Newsboys.

Personal life

Gokey is a Christian. He married his high school sweetheart, Sophia Martinez, on May 15, 2004. The two had been together since 1997.

On July 9, 2008, four weeks before he auditioned for American Idol, Gokey's wife died from complications during her third surgery to treat her congenital heart disease. The couple had been together for 12 years, and Gokey credited her for his success. Sophia was a fan of American Idol and encouraged Gokey to be a contestant, and Danny started a foundation in her name, Sophia's Heart Foundation, with some of her family members who are also musicians. With branches in Milwaukee, Nashville and Sacramento, the organization's goals are to provide hope and help to homeless families, provide scholarships to deserving students and operate a thriving inner-city music and arts program.

In 2011, Gokey began dating Leyicet Peralta. The two announced their engagement on December 25, 2011, on the Sophia's Heart website. They were married on January 29, 2012. Their son Daniel Emanuel was born on January 20, 2013. Their daughter Victoria Isabella was born on November 28, 2014. Their son Gabriel Daniel was born on August 29, 2017. On August 16, 2019, their fourth child, Emmanuel, was born on the birthday of Danny's first wife.

Politics

Gokey was raised in a Republican household and has publicly supported Republican politicians since 2012. He supported Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial and in the 2020 presidential election. In January 2022, Gokey appeared at the event announcing Doug Mastriano's entry into the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race.

Gokey, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, has stated that he believes the vaccine may be part of a prophecy in the Book of Revelation that "emphasizes how the whole world will be deceived by Pharmakeia." He also believes that vaccine mandates could lead to the Mark of the Beast, an end-times belief about the Antichrist espoused by many evangelical Christians.

Awards and nominations

Discography

• My Best Days (2010)
• Hope in Front of Me (2014)
• Christmas Is Here (2015)
• La Esperanza Frente a Mi (2016)
• Rise (2017)
• Haven't Seen It Yet (2019)
• The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Collection (2019)
• Jesus People (2021)

References

External links

• Official website
• Sophia's Heart Foundation (Official charity website)

Tasha Layton (born October 27, 1982) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter.

Layton had her first CCM radio hit in 2019 with her debut radio single "Love Lifting Me". However, her second radio single, "Into the Sea (It's Gonna Be OK)" released in 2020, has been labelled her breakthrough song, and has seen her elevated into the Billboard Top 5 Female Christian Artists in 2020.

In 2021, her single "Look What You've Done" became her first ten top single on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and her first number one Christian Airplay single. A Good Morning America segment introduced her as "one of the fastest rising stars in Christian music".

In 2022, her debut album "How Far" was released in May. The title track has become her first top five single on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and her second number one Christian Airplay single.

Early life and education

Layton is originally from Pauline, South Carolina. She grew up Southern Baptist and transitioned to Assemblies of God when she was young. While she was a teenager, her church had undergone a split and she had struggles with her faith. She changed her college major from music to religion and tried out multiple religions. She eventually returned to Christianity after attending a small church about an hour away. After graduation from college, she moved to California and enrolled at The King's Seminary in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California where she got her Master of Divinity degree. During that time, Layton worked as a worship leader for four years and began working as a session vocalist in the city.

Career

In 2010, she auditioned for season 9 of American Idol, reaching the third round of its Hollywood week and was sent home. Shortly after, she auditioned for and landed a background singer position for Katy Perry, and spent the next four years doing session recordings and tours. She also worked on songs used at Disneyland, Cirque du Soleil, and Nickelodeon. Afterwards, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a solo music career, and in 2013 become an instructor at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Layton signed to BEC Recordings, and on September 5, 2018, released her first single and lyric video, "I Belong to You". In October, she released the single "Love Lifting Me". "Love Lifting Me" reached the top 25 on both the Billboard Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay charts.

In July 2019, she released her debut EP entitled Love Running Wild. In April 2020, Layton released her second radio single, "Into The Sea". It reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.

In April 2021, she released the single "Look What You've Done", and on June 11, an EP of the same name. In December, the song reached number one on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.

Personal life

Layton is married to musician and producer Keith Everette Smith. They have two children.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles released to radio

As featured artist

Other charting tracks

References

External links

• Official website

Early life

Colton Dixon was born Michael Colton Dixon on October 19, 1991, to parents Michael and Teresa Dixon. He was born and raised in a middle-class family in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, along with younger sister, Schyler. His father runs a face painting/air brush company, and his family has a Jack Russell dog named Ozzy, and a cat named Chloe. Besides being a choir member throughout high school, In 2008, he was an extra during the filming of "Hannah Montana: The Movie". He graduated from Middle Tennessee Christian School in 2010. He is a devout Christian, and has sung at several worship services including at Saddleback Church. He and Schyler are part of a Christian rock band called Messenger. He released his debut album A Messenger with EMI-CMG/Sparrow Records on January 29, 2013. His musical influences include Paramore, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Lifehouse, Evanescence, Switchfoot, Skillet and The Fray.

American Idol

Overview

Colton Dixon originally auditioned in the tenth season, along with his sister Schyler, at the Nashville auditions. However, neither of them ended up in the Top 24. Dixon performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 3, 2011.

Dixon returned in season 11, but he did not plan to audition, initially planning to merely accompany his sister Schyler to her audition. The judges implored Dixon to audition as well, where he sang David Cook's "Permanent". Both he and Schyler were awarded golden tickets. Schyler was cut yet again during the Las Vegas round, which brought her to tears.

On his final judgement performance, Dixon performed Coldplay's "Fix You" and dedicated it to his sister, Schyler. On February 23, 2012, Dixon was placed in the season 11 Top 25. In the semi-finals, he performed Paramore's "Decode". He was one of the top five male vote getters and advanced into the Top 13. Guest performer on the Top 13 Results night and runner-up of American Idol season 10 Lauren Alaina named Dixon and fellow contestant Jessica Sanchez as her two favorites to win the competition. His elimination on April 19, 2012, was considered a big surprise because he had never been in the bottom three.

Performances/results

• ^Note 1 Due to the judges using their one save on Jessica Sanchez, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.

Post-Idol career

2012-14: Post-Idol and A Messenger

Following his elimination, Dixon appeared on various shows. He performed a rendition of "Everything" by Lifehouse on Live! with Kelly on April 23, 2012. He treated Access Hollywood viewers to a reprise of the same swan song. He had a guest appearance on the Today Show on April 24, 2012. He came back to The Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform Billy Joel’s "Piano Man" on April 26, 2012. Dixon and fellow contestant Elise Testone performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 27, 2012. He was invited to the White House Correspondents Dinner as a special guest of the Christian Broadcasting Network on April 28, 2012. He also started collaborating with Brandon Heath. He debuted an original song called "Never Gone" at the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2012. Colton says he wants his debut album to feature "faith-based music" without alienating a wider audience.

He released the original song he performed on the Idol tour, "Never Gone", on iTunes September 25, 2012, which is included on his debut album. His debut single entitled "You Are" hit U.S. radio airwaves on October 19, 2012, and was released on iTunes on October 30, 2012. On January 3, 2013, Dixon led the song "Jesus Paid It All" at the Passion 2013 Conference. On January 29, 2013, Dixon released his album A Messenger through Sparrow Records, which sold 22,000 copies in its first week. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, number one on the U.S. Christian Chart and number one on the U.S. Gospel Chart. Dixon and Jessica Sanchez held a concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila on February 14. Dixon and Josh Wilson are supporting Third Day on The Miracle Tour, the tour started on February 21, 2013, in Fairfax, Virginia and ends on May 19, 2013, in Orlando, Florida. Dixon's sister, Schyler, was also on the tour for some dates. Dixon appeared on the twelfth season of American Idol on March 28, 2013, on the Top 8 results show singing his new single "Love Has Come for Me". The tour will end in California per Third Day. He went on the Hits Deep Tour with TobyMac in November and December 2013.

Dixon re-released A Messenger on January 7, 2014.

2014-15: Anchor and The Calm Before the Storm

It has been announced that he plans on releasing his second album in the summer of 2014. The lead single, "More of You", was released to iTunes on June 24, 2014. On June 19, 2014, Dixon revealed that his sophomore studio album would be titled Anchor and would be released on August 19, 2014, along with the album's artwork.

On July 26, 2015, Colton announced via Twitter that he will participate in This is Not a Test Tour with tobyMac and Britt Nicole. An album, The Calm Before the Storm will be released on September 11 that will contain dual EPs, Calm, a collection of acoustic songs and Storm, a compilation of remixed tracks, that will contain songs from A Messenger and Anchor, including versions of "You Are", "Never Gone" and "More of You".

2016-2020: Identity

Dixon released a single, "All That Matters", on January 13, 2017, and his new album, Identity, was released on March 24, 2017.

Personal life

In 2012, Dixon started dating Annie Coggeshall. They became engaged in September 2015, and wed on January 8, 2016. In February 2020, they announced they were expecting their first child, expected in autumn. On August 16, 2020, they welcomed twins named Ava Dior and Athens Elizabeth.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Promotional singles

Other charting songs

Music videos

|"Can't Quit You"

Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website
• Colton Dixon on American Idol
• Colton Dixon at IMDb

Anne Wilson is an American Christian musician and songwriter. Wilson made her debut in 2021, with the release of the single "My Jesus" through Capitol Christian Music Group. "My Jesus" was Wilson's breakthrough hit, having reached number one on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Wilson also released her debut extended play, My Jesus (Live in Nashville) (2021), which reached number twelve on the Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States.

Early life

Anne Wilson was born in Lexington, Kentucky. Wilson was raised in a Christian home, and attended a Presbyterian church throughout most of her childhood.

Career

Anne Wilson signed a record deal with Capitol Christian Music Group in late 2019. On April 16, 2021, Wilson released "My Jesus" as her debut single. "My Jesus" went on to become Wilson's breakthrough hit single, peaking at number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and the Christian Airplay chart. "My Jesus" was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. On August 6, 2021, Wilson released her debut extended play titled My Jesus (Live in Nashville). The EP reached its peak at number twelve on the Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States. Wilson released "I Still Believe in Christmas" on October 29, 2021. "I Still Believe in Christmas" peaked at number 15 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Billboard named Anne Wilson the Top New Christian Artist of 2021.

On January 14, 2022, Wilson released the single "Sunday Sermons". The song peaked at number five on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Anne Wilson released her debut studio album, My Jesus, on April 22, 2022, My Jesus debuted at number one on the Top Christian Albums chart, and number 68 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, after garnering 13,000 equivalent album units in sales in its first week.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Promotional singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other charted songs

Tours

Supporting

• Big Daddy Weave - All Things New Tour (2021)
• Zach Williams - I Don't Want Christmas To End Tour (2021)
• Matthew West - Brand New Tour (2022)
• Zach Williams - Spring '22 Tour (2022)
• Crowder - My People Tour (2022)
• Phil Wickham - Behold Christmas Nights (2022)

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Lauren Ashley Daigle () (born September 9, 1991) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. After being signed to the label Centricity Music, she released her debut album, How Can It Be, in 2015. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and produced three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart ("First", "Trust in You", and "O'Lord").

Daigle's third studio album, Look Up Child, was released in September 2018. Bolstered by the pop crossover success of the single "You Say", it went on to debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the highest-charting Christian album by a woman in over 20 years, and No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart, with 115,000 album-equivalent units sold in the first week. The album's lead single, "You Say", peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has broken the record for the number of weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart at 129 weeks for any solo artist. The album and single earned Daigle two Grammy Awards.

In addition to two Grammy Awards, Daigle has won seven GMA Dove Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, and has had four No. 1 singles on both the Billboard Christian Airplay and Hot Christian Songs chart.

Early life

Daigle was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. She was influenced by zydeco, blues, and Cajun music in her environment. Her mother called her house "the music box" because she was always singing.

Daigle did not consider music seriously until contracting cytomegalovirus at age 15. This diagnosis kept her out of school for the next two years. During that time, Daigle took voice lessons that provided her with a creative outlet. During college prep school, she planned to enter the medical field and do mission work. Daigle attended a charter school and completed a year and a half of class work in six months, graduating early. She took a year off from school and did mission work in Brazil before attending Louisiana State University (LSU) for Child and Family Studies.

Music career

Career beginnings

Daigle started singing in her choir and continued to lead the choir at LSU. She tried out for American Idol in 2010 and 2012 after she was encouraged by her family to compete in the singing competition. She was cut just before the final 24 contestants in 2010, and she did not make it to Hollywood in 2011. She made it to the Hollywood round in 2012, but was cut in the first Las Vegas round.

She made her debut on North Point InsideOut's album, Hear, where she recorded "Close" and "You Alone" live at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. She later appeared on North Point Music's album North Point Beginnings where she recorded "It is Well" in 2015.

She was asked to sing background vocals on an EP for a local band called "The Assemblie" and the EP was briefly the most sold album in the US iTunes Store. After the release of the EP, Centricity Music invited her to attend a workshop. When the singer for the main event at the workshop became ill, she was asked to fill in. This led to her singing on the Jason Gray single "Nothing is Wasted". Centricity Music signed her on the label in 2013.

Daigle's first single, "Light of the World" came from the 2013 album Christmas: Joy To The World, a collection of holiday songs from various Centricity artists. Serving as Daigle's solo introduction to the Christian music scene, the single garnered an initial fanbase and much attention for Daigle. That year, Daigle was asked to be a part of the Morning Rises Fall Tour with Aaron Shust and Mikeschair. Daigle released the EP How Can It Be in September 2014.

2015-2017: How Can It Be

Daigle's debut full-length album, How Can It Be was released April 14, 2015, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. The album also broke Top 20 on the Billboard Top Albums Chart for all genres (No. 16). Daigle was named one of Christian music's break-out artists, and her album's first single "How Can It Be" was named by iTunes as one of the Top Christian songs of 2014. The single "How Can It Be" also reached Top 10 at NCA, AC Monitored, and AC Indicator. As a whole, the album logged six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. Eighteen months after its release, How Can It Be achieved Gold Record status. The album is certified platinum.

The additional singles from How Can It Be also gained success for Daigle. "First" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart, where it remained for seven weeks; "Trust in You" also reached the No. 1 spot, remaining for eight weeks. Both songs achieved the No. 1 spot on the NCA radio chart. "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.

On June 1, 2015, Daigle accepted her first award, Worship Song of the Year, for her single "How Can It Be" at the K-Love Awards. This was also the first K-Love Fan Award for her label, Centricity Music. The album How Can It Be won the 2016 Billboard Award for Top Christian Album and was nominated for the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Along with being named Best New Artist at the 2015 Dove Awards, Daigle earned awards for Song of the Year and Contemporary Song of the Year (for "How Can It Be). At the next year's ceremony, she took home the top honor of Artist of the Year, plus Songwriter of the Year, and Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (for "Trust in You"). That year she also won two K-Love Fan Awards, for Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. She received another Grammy nomination in 2017, for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, for "Trust in You". She won Female Artist of the Year at the K-Love Fan Awards in 2017 for the second year in a row.

The album's overall success resulted in the release of How Can It Be: Deluxe Edition in May 2016. The deluxe version features the original album's tracks, along with two new songs, acoustic versions of singles "First" and "Come Alive", and a live performance version of "How Can It Be".

On October 21, 2016, she released Behold: A Christmas Collection, a Christmas album. Three singles were released to Christian radio on November 25, 2016: "Jingle Bells", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "What Child Is This", with "O Holy Night" released to Christian radio the following year, November 24, 2017, and "Winter Wonderland" released the following year, October 19, 2018.

The album debuted at No. 77 on the US Billboard 200 on November 12, 2016, peaking at No. 29 on December 17, 2016. The album debuted at No. 18 on the US Billboard Christian Albums Chart on November 5, 2016, reaching No. 1 on December 31, 2016.

In 2017, she was chosen to sing, "Almost Human", for the Blade Runner 2049: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

2018-present: Look Up Child

"You Say" was released on July 13, 2018, as the lead single for her third studio album, Look Up Child. The song was released to Christian radio on July 9. The album was also available for pre-order. It was released on September 7, 2018, via Centricity Music. It was her first studio album in three years and served as a follow-up to her debut studio album, How Can It Be (2015).

"You Say" reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, where it has spent 60 weeks at No. 1, beating "Something in the Water" by Carrie Underwood for the longest reign by any solo artist in the chart's history. After becoming a huge Christian radio success (peaking at No. 1 on multiple different charts, including the Christian Airplay, where it spent 17 weeks at No. 1), the song was released to mainstream radio on January 15, 2019 by Warner Bros. From there, it reached the Adult Top 40, Adult Contemporary, and Mainstream Top 40 charts. It was the second biggest Christian song of 2018, according to Billboard. It has further reached a peak No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. "You Say" won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Look Up Child debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 with 115,000 album-equivalent units, of which 103,000 were pure album sales. It is her highest-charting album and the highest-charting Christian album overall since Hard Love by Needtobreathe reached No. 2 on the chart in 2016. The album became the highest-charting Christian album by a woman on the Billboard 200 since LeAnn Rimes' You Light Up My Life peaked at No. 1 in 1997. The album won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

As of January 2019, the album has sold 208,000 copies in the U.S.

Criticism

On November 7, 2020, Daigle sang as part of Sean Feucht's "Let Us Worship" tour protesting COVID-19 restrictions. Her participation elicited criticism from New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell, including requesting that Dick Clark Productions not book her to perform for its annual New Year's Eve television special New Year's Rockin' Eve (which has included segments broadcast from New Orleans). Daigle responded with a statement that said she was riding her bike when she saw the worship protest and "was asked to sing." She said she was "disappointed that my spontaneous participation has become part of the political discourse and I’m saddened by the divisive agendas of these times." Daigle also stated that while she had been under consideration for the program, she had not been officially part of the lineup.

Tour and other projects

In mid-2015, Daigle was a member of the Outcry Tour along with Hillsong United. She was also part of the Winter Jam Tour 2016 in the central and eastern parts of the United States.

In late 2016, she headlined her first tour, A Night With Lauren Daigle, which sold out. She joined for King and Country on their holiday tour later in the year. She was part of the Outcry Tour again in early 2017.

In October 2016, she released her first Christmas album, Behold: A Christmas Collection, and reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200. In 2017, she was featured in the song "Hard Love" by Needtobreathe for The Shack. She co-wrote and performed "Almost Human", the only original song, on the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack. The album, produced by Michael Hodges, Kayla Morrison and Ashley Culp, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Soundtrack Sales Charts.

She performed as part of Austin City Limits in 2019. She sang the national anthem at the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship in New Orleans on January 13, 2020. Earlier that month she sang at the Festival One Christian Music Festival in New Zealand, and then in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Discography

• How Can It Be (2015)
• Behold: A Christmas Collection (2016)
• Look Up Child (2018)

Awards

In other media

• Her song "Hold on to Me" was featured on 9-1-1's 5th season episode, Defend in Place.
• Her song "Rescue" was featured in the movie Redeeming Love (2022). and featured on Grey's Anatomy 15th season episode "Anybody Have a Map?" as well as Walker's 2nd season episode, Search and Rescue.

References

External links

• Official website

Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More", "You Are Everything", and "The Motions". He was nominated for five Dove Awards in 2005, two of which were for his major-label debut album, Happy. West won the 2013 American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist.

Starting as an independent musician in the late 1990s, he released three independent albums before signing with Universal South Records. With the release of his Dove Award-winning debut album, Happy, released in 2003, his first radio single, "More", stayed at No. 1 on Christian Adult Contemporary charts for nine weeks and received two Dove Award nominations. His second album, History, was followed by a 2006 re-release of the originally independent album Sellout. In 2007, his career was threatened by vocal issues that required vocal-cord surgery followed by two months of prescribed vocal rest. His third studio album, Something to Say, also enjoyed chart success with No. 1 hits "You Are Everything" and "The Motions".

In addition to his main solo career, West has worked as a songwriter for many Christian musicians and groups, such as Point of Grace, Mandisa, Natalie Grant, and Casting Crowns, as well as mainstream country acts Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Vince Gill. In 2013, his second single, "Hello, My Name Is", from the album Into the Light, was released and reached No. 1 for a career-best 17 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.

Early life

Matthew West was born on April 25, 1977, in Downers Grove, Illinois. As a child he was a fan of his hometown baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, and wanted to eventually have a career in baseball. He played baseball throughout high school at Downers Grove North High School, becoming team captain as a senior; he also performed in the school's Chamber Choir. He was hoping for a college baseball scholarship but instead ended up receiving a four-year music scholarship at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where he was a part of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter. He graduated from Millikin in 1999.

Musical career

West wrote most of his first songs in the sanctuary of his father's church while he was at home during college breaks. According to a statement by West at the 2013 Winter Jam (March 23, 2013), at a 1997 Steven Curtis Chapman at the Assembly Hall in Champaign-Urbana, West was crying profusely, prompting his friends to ask him what was wrong. He said that he was being led by Jesus to pursue a career in singing and songwriting. He was a songwriter and independent musician from 1997 to 2002, releasing three albums: September Sun (1997), Every Step of the Way (1998), and Sellout (2002). In October 1997, he went on a three-city tour to support the release of September Sun.

Just before West graduated from Millikin University in 1999, someone from the college recommended that he attend the GMA Music in the Rockies event for aspiring musicians. Although West was not interested at first, he attended after learning that other people signed him up and paid his entrance fee. He met a representative from Word Publishing at the event who took interest in him and kept in contact until he graduated. West landed in the finals of a songwriting competition and was offered a songwriting deal in July 1999, five weeks after graduating. After penning songs for well-known musicians like Billy Ray Cyrus and Rachael Lampa, he began touring the United States as an independent artist in 2000 and 2001.

On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which jeopardized his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through a window. But this time, I had a really hard time getting the window open. I started pushing up on the window really hard and my hand broke through the glass. Blood starting spewing out of my left arm everywhere and I ran down my street screaming for help. After seeing so much blood, I went into shock and just blacked out in the middle of the street. The next thing I can remember is some construction workers praying over me in Spanish and then being taken to the hospital." West was told that the chances were low of regaining the full use of his left arm, a major artery having come very close to being severed. He recovered after the accident, however, and was able to continue playing guitar and record for his first studio album.

Happy (2003-2004)

After signing with Universal South Records on August 23, 2002, West released his first non-independent studio album, Happy, on December 26, 2003. The album's producers Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser co-wrote the song "More" with West. The track was his first and most successful radio single to date, staying at No. 1 on R&R's Christian Adult Contemporary chart for a record-breaking nine weeks. It was the most played Christian AC song of 2004 and went on to be labelled the Christian Song of the Year by ASCAP. Two additional songs, "The End" and "You Know Where to Find Me", were also released as singles off the album. Beginning in late September 2004, West joined Avalon and Mark Schultz on a 40-city fall tour, which concluded at the end of November. In 2005, he was nominated for five Dove Awards, including "New Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year". He won the "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year" Dove Award for his debut album Happy.

In early 2005, he was on the WinterJam 2005 tour, hosted by NewSong, with tobyMac, Building 429, Tait, and Rachael Lampa.

History and vocal problems (2005-2007)

With Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser once again as producers, Matthew West began recording for his second studio album in early 2005. History, co-produced by West, was released on June 21, 2005, on Universal South Records. The first single off the album, "Next Thing You Know", was released June 20, a day before the album's release. The theme of the title track "History" was inspired by a R&R music news headline "Matthew West Makes History", in reference to his first album, Happy. "It's not every day you read a headline like that with your name in it that calls you a history maker," he said. Beginning on September 14, 2005, he kicked off the 30-city History 101 tour, his first headlining tour, which included guest musicians Shawn McDonald and Paul Wright. He then joined tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour, beginning on December 1, 2005, along with John Reuben, BarlowGirl, GRITS, and DJ Maj. Two additional songs were released off History as singles: "Only Grace" and the title track "History".

His independent album Sellout was re-released in 2006 on Universal South Records.

West said that he began to experience "some vocal fatigue" in April 2007. He said, "I had lost some of my vocal range, staying on higher notes and lower notes. I even began having a hard time speaking." At a vocal check-up in response to the issue, West's doctors at the Nashville Vanderbilt Voice Center discovered "hemorrhaging caused by some polyps". He was told by his doctors that vocal surgery was the only option, since a few weeks had passed. The surgery took place on May 17, 2007, a process that he said was "career threatening." Afterward, he was prescribed a two-month period of silence for vocal rest.

A video documentary titled Nothing to Say, directed and produced by Benjamin Eisner, was released in early 2008, highlighting Matthew West's time of silence and vocal recovery in 2007. In February 2008, the documentary was available exclusively in Family Christian Stores as a CD/DVD combo pack with West's album Something to Say.

Something to Say (2008-2010)

His next single "You Are Everything" was released in late 2007. The song was available as a free download from West's website. He also recorded a duet ("Christmas Makes Me Cry") with American Idol finalist Mandisa, which was released as a Christmas radio single in November 2007, from Mandisa's Christmas Joy EP.

Matthew West's album Something to Say was released on January 15, 2008. It reached No. 8 on Billboard's Top Christian albums chart, and peaked at No. 159 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it his first Billboard 200 album . It was produced by Brown Bannister, Ed Cash, and Christopher Stevens. West said in an interview that all of the album's songs had already been written and the title "Something to Say" had already been decided "months before I found out that I was going to have nothing to say." The first radio single released from the album was "You Are Everything". In March 2008, the song reached No. 1 on R&R's Christian AC chart. "Something to Say", the album's title track, was also released to radio, receiving airplay in June 2008.

Matthew West guested on tobyMac's 26-city "Boomin' Beyond Measure" tour along with Jeremy Camp. The tour ran from February 6 through March 21, 2008.

He was featured on the Billy Graham television special America's Dream: Chasing Happiness, which aired in the U.S. on March 1-9, 2008. The appearance included a world premiere of his music video for "Nothing Else", a song from History. On June 29, West hosted GMA's 2008 Gospel Dream, a televised Christian music talent competition. "The Motions" was released as his next single, placing at No. 1 on R&R's Christian AC chart in April 2009.

In 2009 he had a song on an album by country artist Jo Dee Messina, with another under consideration by American Idol finalist Danny Gokey. In December 2009, "The Motions" was Grammy-nominated for Best Gospel Song, West's first Grammy nomination.

Recent years (2010-present)

"My Own Little World", the first single from Matthew West's new album, was released on August 23, 2010. The album, The Story of Your Life, was released October 5, 2010. According to West it is a response to thousands of life stories his fans shared with him. "The first day, I got 1,000 stories. All of a sudden, I was like, 'Holy cow, something special is about to take place.' I rented a cabin in Tennessee, about 25 minutes from my house, that felt like it was out in the middle of nowhere. And I spent two months in that cabin reading 10,000 stories," the singer/songwriter reported in an interview with CBN.com.

West also starred in The Heart of Christmas. In 2011, he released a Christmas song featuring Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill entitled "Leaving Heaven".

Into the Light was released in September 2012. West's Into the Light Tour was in September, October, and November 2013. He released his sixth studio album, Live Forever, on April 28, 2015. His seventh studio album, All In, was set to release on September 22, 2017, to be immediately followed by his All In tour. His single "The Motions" was certified Platinum by RIAA.

In February 2020, West released Brand New on his own imprint, Story House Music, under a new deal with Sony's Provident Music Group. A deluxe edition followed in April 2021.

Other songwriting

In addition to his solo career, Matthew West has also written songs for other Christian bands and musicians, including Mark Schultz, Mandisa, Jump5, Sara Groves, Joy Williams, Casting Crowns, Salvador, Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, PureNRG, and Point of Grace, as well as mainstream country act Billy Ray Cyrus. Rascal Flatts recorded West's song "The Day Before You" on their album Feels Like Today. West co-wrote "Voice of a Savior" by Mandisa and "Thank You" by 33Miles, both of which were released as singles in early 2008.

Acting

West also pursues acting, with occasional appearances in Christian television shows, starting in 2009. In 2011, he made his film debut in Gary Wheeler's Christian film The Heart of Christmas co-starring Candace Cameron Bure. At the end of 2011 it reached a rating of 7.1 on IMDb after a direct-to-TV release.

Personal life

Matthew West currently lives in Nashville with his wife Emily. They married on May 10, 2003, after proposing to her in September 2002. They have two daughters, Luella Jane ("Lulu") and Delaney Ruth. The Wests own a dog named Nick.

Awards

American Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Discography

References

External links

• Official website

Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. He has released eleven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold, and two live albums. Camp's original music is a mixture of ballads and up-tempo songs with rock influence. He has won five GMA Dove Awards, has been nominated for three American Music Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2010 for his album, Speaking Louder Than Before. I Still Believe, a film based on Camp's first marriage, was released in 2020, with Camp being played by New Zealand actor KJ Apa.

Early life

Jeremy Camp was born in Lafayette, Indiana. His father Tom, the pastor at Harvest Chapel (associated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa), taught him how to play guitar. After completing high school, Camp attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California, for two years and earned an associate of theology degree and was ordained a minister. After one of the worship leaders heard him play in the kitchen of the school, he urged Camp to become a part of the worship team. Soon, he led worship and played all over Southern California.

Career

2000s

His first independent album "Burden Me" was released in 2000. In 2002, he produced his first label album "Stay" with BEC Recordings.

Camp has scored 32 No. 1 hits on Christian Radio across all formats (Contemporary Hit Radio, Hot AC, Rock, and Inspirational Charts). His album Beyond Measure contributed six back-to-back No. 1 hits, including the track "Let It Fade" which held the No 1. spot for 10 weeks on AC Radio. His first single was "Understand". He has made ten music videos: "Understand", "Walk by Faith", "Take You Back", "Tonight", "Give You Glory", "Let It Fade", "I Am Willing" (a song that was not included on any of his albums), "Speaking Louder Than Before", "The Way", and "Reckless".

Camp scored Christian music top spots for "Take You Back" and "Lay Down My Pride". He also was voted the Best Male Artist in the 2005 Reader's Choice Music Awards in the Christianity Today magazine. Camp was also ASCAP 2005 Songwriter of the Year and won the Dove Award for the Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year. In 2005, he recorded the song "Open Up Your Eyes" for the compilation release Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a September 2005 album which contained original songs written by various Christian artists for the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Camp closed the year with both Stay and Carried Me: the Worship Project being RIAA-certified as Gold.

Camp earned the top honors at the Twenty-Eighth Annual ASCAP Music Awards, winning the Songwriter of the Year award ("Take You Back" and "This Man"). "Take You Back" also earned him the Song of the Year award. Camp won two 2006 CCM Reader's Choice Awards, for Favorite Artist and Favorite Male Artist. He took part in the Dove award for Special Event Album of the Year, which went to Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He released a special edition of his hit album, Restored. Four new songs were included on Restored: The Deluxe Gold Edition as well as a letter to his fans.

Camp went back into the studio to record Beyond Measure in early 2006 and was released on October 31, 2006. Camp is also credited as producer for his wife's album, Don't Wait, which was released in September 2006. "Tonight", the first single from the album Beyond Measure, was released in mid-August, and eventually hit No. 1 on Christian contemporary hit radio. It was the 11th most played single on HR stations in 2007. "Give Me Jesus," the third single off "Beyond Measure," made it into the top 5 on Inspirational radio. The fourth single, "Give You Glory," debuted on Jewish AJ radio at No. 16. His song "Let It Fade" was the seventh most played song on HR radio in 2007. That year he also released a two-disc (CD and DVD) for his concert tour "Live Unplugged" recorded in Franklin, Tennessee.

His song "No Matter What" was the 4th most-played song on R&R magazine's Christian CHR chart for 2008. He also came out with his new studio album Speaking Louder Than Before, containing the hit lead single "There Will Be a Day". On November 17, 2009, Camp released another live album: Jeremy Camp Live. This album featured songs from all albums to date. His Speaking Louder Than Before received his first Grammy nomination.

2010s

Beyond Measure was certified as Gold by the RIAA. The worship album We Cry Out was released on August 24, 2010. Camp was also a judge for the 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

On May 20, 2011, Camp released his first book, I Still Believe. The book is about Camp's life, illuminating his childhood, the death of his first wife, and where he believes God has brought him.

Reckless was released on February 12, 2013. This is Camp's first studio album since 2008, when he released Speaking Louder Than Before. The first single released from the album was the title track, "Reckless". A video accompanied the single in February 2013. "Reckless" was followed by his second single "My God", which reached number 5 on the Christian Songs Chart. He also released an acoustic video of "My God" to his Vevo Channel in 2013.

Camp released his tenth studio album, I Will Follow, on February 3, 2015. The album's lead single, "He Knows", was released in September 2014.

Camp released his eleventh studio album, The Answer, on October 6, 2017. The album's lead single, "Word of Life", was released in June 2017.

Personal life

Camp and his first wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp (born October 7, 1979), were married on October 21, 2000. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died on February 5, 2001, when he was 23 and she was 21. Some of his early songs reflect the emotional ordeal of her illness. "I Still Believe" was the first song he wrote. "Walk by Faith" was written during their honeymoon. A film based on Camp's romance with Melissa, I Still Believe, was released in March 2020, with Camp's role being played by KJ Apa and the role of Melissa being played by Britt Robertson.

On December 15, 2003, he married Adrienne Liesching, former frontwoman for The Benjamin Gate. They have three children.

In the media

He was played by New Zealand actor KJ Apa in the 2020 biographical musical film I Still Believe, which received mixed reviews.

Discography

• Burden Me (2000)
• Stay (2002)
• Carried Me: The Worship Project (2004)
• Restored (2004)
• Beyond Measure (2006)
• Speaking Louder Than Before (2008)
• We Cry Out: The Worship Project (2010)
• Christmas: God With Us (2012)
• Reckless (2013)
• I Will Follow (2015)
• The Answer (2017)
• The Story's Not Over (2019)
• When You Speak (2021)

Awards and nominations

GMA Dove Awards

Other

References

External links

• Official website
• Jeremy Camp on PureVolume

Hillsong Worship (formerly Hillsong Live) is a praise and worship collective from Sydney, Australia and Orange County, California. They started making music in 1983 at Hillsong Church. Fifteen of their songs have appeared on the Billboard magazine charts in the US, with "What a Beautiful Name" (2016) representing their greatest success, reaching platinum in the US. The band has some notable members, including Darlene Zschech, Marty Sampson, Brooke Fraser, Reuben Morgan, and Joel Houston.

Background

The group was formed in 1983 out of Sydney, Australia, where they were located at Hillsong Church, while now they are spread across the globe. Their members have gone on to individually successful careers, the likes of Darlene Zschech, Marty Sampson, Brooke Fraser, Reuben Morgan, and Joel Houston. The group was called Hillsong Live until June 2014, when they took the name Hillsong Worship.

History

Hillsong Worship released its first album, Spirit and Truth, in 1988. Then, Show Your Glory in 1990, The Power of Your Love in 1992, Stone's Been Rolled Away in 1993, People Just Like Us in 1994, Friends in High Places in 1995, Shout to the Lord (their first album in partnership with Integrity Music as part of the Hosanna! Music series) in 1996, God Is in the House in 1996, All Things Are Possible in 1997, and Touching Heaven Changing Earth in 1998, By Your Side in 1999, For This Cause in 2000, You Are My World in 2001, Blessed in 2002, Hope in 2003, For All You've Done in 2004, God He Reigns in 2005, Mighty to Save in 2006, Saviour King in 2007, This Is Our God in 2008, Faith + Hope + Love in 2009, A Beautiful Exchange in 2010, God Is Able in 2011, Cornerstone in 2012, Glorious Ruins in 2013, No Other Name, their first as Hillsong Worship, in 2014, Open Heaven / River Wild in 2015, Let There Be Light in 2016, The Peace Project in 2017, There Is More in 2018 and Awake in 2019. All of the group's albums since 2004 have been charted in Australia.

The group has also seen twelve albums chart on the Billboard magazine charts, where there have been placements on the Christian Albums and the Heatseekers Albums charts (those were For All You've Done, God He Reigns, and Mighty to Save). Their albums Saviour King, This Is Our God, Faith + Hope + Love, A Beautiful Exchange, God Is Able, Cornerstone, Glorious Ruins, No Other Name, and Open Heaven / River Wild have charted on the Billboard 200 and Christian Albums charts. Two of their albums, For All You've Done and Open Heaven / River Wild, have reached number one on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart.

In 2018, Hillsong Worship won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song with "What a Beautiful Name".

Their albums have been recorded by the labels Hillsong Music, Sony Music, Integrity Music, Epic Records, Columbia Records, and Sparrow Records.

Notable members

The following have been or are currently members of Hillsong Worship:

• Darlene Zschech
• Geoff Bullock
• Brooke Fraser
• Joel Houston
• Reuben Morgan
• Annie Garratt
• Tarryn Stokes
• Ben Fielding
• Taya Smith

Discography

Awards

As of 2020 the group has received one Grammy Award and nine Dove Awards.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website
• New Release Today artist profile

Cody Jay Carnes is an American Christian singer, songwriter and worship pastor.

Carnes launched his solo music career in 2017 after signing with Capitol Christian Music Group, with the release of his critically acclaimed debut studio album, The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning. His second studio album, Run to the Father, was released in 2020. Run to the Father was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Carnes also featured alongside Kari Jobe and Elevation Worship on the hit single "The Blessing", which won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year at the 51st GMA Dove Awards and garnered a nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Career

In the early 2010s, Cody Carnes began making music as part of Gateway Worship, while serving as a worship pastor at Gateway Church, in Dallas, Texas. In 2014, Carnes released the extended play, All He Says I Am.

On February 24, 2017, Capitol Christian Music Group announced that Cody Carnes had signed with the label, while releasing his first single called "The Cross Has the Final Word", in the lead-up to his debut album slated for release in 2017. "The Cross Has the Final Word" debuted at No. 45 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. On April 7, 2017, Carnes released "Hold It All" as the second single from his debut album. Cody Carnes released "Til the End of Time" featuring Kari Jobe as the third single from his debut album on June 16, 2017. "Til the End of Time" debuted at No. 50 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. On July 14, 2017, Carnes released "What Freedom Feels Like" as the fourth single from his debut album, revealed to be titled The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning, and slated for release on September 15, 2017. "What Freedom Feels Like" peaked at No. 44 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning was released on September 15, 2017. The album debuted at No. 17, on the US Top Christian Albums chart. On September 14, 2018, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes released "Cover the Earth" as a standalone single. The song peaked at No. 29 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.

On January 4, 2019, Cody Carnes released "Nothing Else" as a single. "Nothing Else" peaked at No. 31 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. Carnes released his second single of the year, "Heaven Fall", on March 8, 2019. On July 26, 2019, Carnes released "Run to the Father" as a single. "Run to the Father" peaked at No. 23 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. Carnes released "Christ Be Magnified" as a single on January 1, 2020. "Christ Be Magnified" debuted at No. 45 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. Carnes released his second studio album, Run to the Father on March 13, 2020. Run to the Father debuted at No. 12 on the Top Christian Albums chart. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

On March 20, 2020, Cody Carnes alongside Kari Jobe and Elevation Worship released "The Blessing" as a single. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and No. 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. "The Blessing" won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year at the 2020 GMA Dove Awards. The song was also nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.

On May 28, 2021, Cody Carnes and Brandon Lake released "Too Good to Not Believe" as a single. "Too Good to Not Believe" peaked at No. 45 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. On August 20, 2021, Carnes alongside Hillsong Worship and Reuben Morgan released "Hope of the Ages" as a single. "Hope of the Ages" debuted at No. 49 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. On December 10, 2021, Cody Carnes released "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" as a single.

On January 3, 2022, Carnes featured on a live version of "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" released by Maverick City Music alongside Chandler Moore as a standalone single. This version of "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" reached No. 33 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. On April 15, 2022, Carnes featured on a new version of "The Commission" released by Cain. Carnes released "Be Glad" as a standalone single on July 15, 2022. On August 19, 2022, Carnes released "Good (Can't Be Anything Else)" as the lead single to his upcoming live album. On September 2, 2022, Carnes announced the release of his upcoming live album, God Is Good!, being slated for September 30, 2022, concurrently releasing "Ain't Nobody" as an instant-grat track and the second single from the album slated to impact Christian radio on September 30. "Ain't Nobody" peaked at No. 10 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. On September 30, 2022, Cody Carnes released his first live album, God Is Good!. God Is Good! debuted at No. 45 on the Top Christian Albums chart. On October 10, 2022, Cody Carnes announced his first headlining tour, dubbed the God Is Good! Tour, joined by Benjamin William Hastings as a special guest and set to visit eight cities across the United States in February 2023.

Personal life

Cody Carnes married Kari Jobe on November 21, 2014. They have two sons.

Discography

• The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning (2017)
• Run to the Father (2020)
• God Is Good! (2022)

Tours

Headlining

• God Is Good! Tour (2023)

Supporting

• Heaven Tour with Mosaic MSC, Mack Brock, and Local Sound (2018)
• Only Jesus Tour with Casting Crowns, Kari Jobe, and Jamie Kimmett (2019)
• The Blessing USA Tour with Kari Jobe (2021)
• Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Bethel Music Live in Concert (2021)
• Elevation Worship Summer Tour with Elevation Worship and Kari Jobe (2022)

Awards and nominations

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Grammy Awards

Notes

References

External links

• Official website

Philip David Wickham (born April 5, 1984) is a Contemporary Christian musician, singer and songwriter from San Diego, California. Wickham has released nine albums: Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, Singalong in 2008, Heaven & Earth in 2009, Response in 2011, Singalong 2 in 2012, The Ascension in 2013, Sing-A-Long 3 in 2015, Children of God in 2016, Living Hope in 2018, and Hymn Of Heaven in 2021. He has also led worship at Soul Survivor. His critically acclaimed single "This is Amazing Grace" became RIAA certified Platinum and topped the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay chart.

Biography

Wickham was raised in a Christian home, the second of three children (brother Evan, sister Jillian), and began leading worship for his youth group at 13 years old. In 2002, he graduated from Calvary Christian School in Vista, California. As of this date, Wickham's father is a worship leader, and both of his parents were members of Jesus movement band Parable at one time. His older brother, Evan Wickham, is also a musician, who used to serve at Calvary Chapel in Vista, and later became pastor of Park Hill Church in San Diego, California. His parents, John and Lisa (née Irwin), encouraged Wickham to learn popular praise songs and to write his own.

Wickham attends Harvest Christian Fellowship and his pastor is Greg Laurie.

Career

Albums

Wickham began a full-time music career by touring California and recording his first album, Give You My World, in 2003; after that release, Wickham signed with Simple Records. Wickham released his self-titled label debut in 2006. Wickham's second release with Simple/INO Records, Cannons, was released in 2007. Cannons was partly inspired by cannon explosions and C. S. Lewis' book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader from The Chronicles of Narnia series. Wickham stated in an interview with ChristianityToday.com that the album is "about how the universe is exploding with the glory of God, and how we are compelled to join in with its song." The 10th track from Cannons, "Jesus Lord of Heaven", has been translated into seven different languages. On August 8, 2008, Wickham released a live worship album, Singalong, recorded at Solid Rock Church in Portland, Oregon, with 3,000 present. The album was released as a free download, only available from his website, and received over 8,000 downloads within a week of being released. After the release of Singalong, his self-titled album hit No. 25 on iTunes Store Top Christian Albums sales, two years after its initial release.

Heaven & Earth, Wickham's third studio album, was released on November 17, 2009. Wickham's Christmas album Songs for Christmas was released as a digital download available on his website on October 29, 2010. Wickham's fourth full-length studio album, Response, was released on October 4, 2011. On October 30, 2012, Phil Wickham released his second live acoustic album, Singalong 2. The Ascension, Wickham's fifth studio album, was released on September 24, 2013. The album peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200, making it Wickham's highest charting album on the chart. The lead single off of this album, "This is Amazing Grace", became No. 1 on the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay Songs chart.

In February 2016, Wickham released the first single, "Your Love Awakens Me", from his album, Children of God, which was released later that year. Living Hope, Wickham's seventh full-length studio project, was released in August 2018. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, his first album to do so. On Oct 4, 2019, Wickham's 10-track holiday album, Christmas, was released along with the music video for "Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful)". Wickham toured both Texas and California with Shane & Shane that same December on their annual Christmas tour. Christmas would go on to spend 12 weeks on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, peaking at No. 24.

June 2021 saw the release of the artist's eighth studio album, the critically acclaimed and award-winning Hymn of Heaven. Featuring a guest appearance by Brandon Lake, its releases included "Battle Belongs" (No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart), "House of the Lord" (No. 1) and "Hymn of Heaven" (No. 2), along with It's Always Been You released as a promotional single. Debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States, it also entered at No. 6 on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. At the 2021 GMA Dove Awards, "Battle Belongs" was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year. The album was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. At the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, Hymn of Heaven won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year, the title track won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year, and "House of the Lord" was nominated for two GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year.

Tours

Wickham visits churches across the world to play his music. From late 2006 to early 2007, he went on the "Coming Up to Breathe" tour with MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline. In late 2007, he went on the Remedy tour with the David Crowder Band and The Myriad.

Other activities

In the mid-2010s, Wickham was one of the worship leaders present at Soul Survivor week C and Momentum Festival in the UK.

Discography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Grammy Awards

Personal life

Wickham had surgery to remove a polyp from folds of his vocal cords on April 28, 2014, after which he was prescribed a month of silence to allow the surgical site to heal. He was uncertain that he would be able to sing again, leading to identity issues and self-doubt. His spiritual revelation during these times was the basis for his 2016 album Children of God.

Further reading

• Ford, Braden (July 10, 2021). "Phil Wickham [artist profile]". NewReleaseToday.com. Retrieved June 26, 2022.

Notes

References

External links

• Official website

For King & Country, stylised as for KING & COUNTRY and formerly known as Joel & Luke as well as Austoville, is a Christian pop duo composed of Australian brothers Joel (born 5 June 1984) and Luke Smallbone (born 22 October 1986). The brothers were born in Australia and immigrated to the United States as children, settling in the Nashville area.

After releasing a short EP as Joel and Luke, in 2012 they released their debut record Crave. The band was declared by Billboard as one of the "New Artists to Watch" for 2012. American Songwriter described them as "Australia's answer to Coldplay". In 2014, they released their second studio album, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong., which won a Grammy award.

In 2018, they released Burn the Ships, which achieved gold status. The album featured four singles, including "God Only Knows", which achieved platinum status, and "Joy" and "Burn the Ships", which reached gold status. In 2020, they released a full-length Christmas album, A Drummer Boy Christmas. In 2022, they released their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For.

The band has collaborated with many artists on their work, including Dolly Parton, Timbaland, Tori Kelly, Lecrae, Needtobreathe, and others.

History

Early music career

The brothers supplied background vocals and other supporting roles for their sister and family members, Rebecca St. James, and various bands in concerts across America. Shortly after Luke graduated from high school, the brothers decided to explore the possibility of forming a band, and in 2007, they began performing as their band. They began their career as "Joel & Luke", which they later changed to "Austoville", before settling on their current name.

In 2008, "Joel & Luke" released a six-song EP titled A Tale of Two Towns. Three of those songs ("Missing", "Sane", and "Love's to Blame") appeared on Crave with slightly different melodies and lyrics. The other three songs were "Broken Lullabies", "Believe Me Now", and "Something's Gotta Give". Love's to Blame was co-written by St. James.

Rename to "for King & Country" and Crave

In 2009, they signed on with Warner Music Group with Ben Glover as their producer. They changed their name to "For King & Country", after a British battle cry. Luke said,

"We wanted a band name that carried more meaning. We were in the studio recording our debut record that Joel had the idea of All The King's Men, like the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme. Our producer overheard our conversation and swung around in his chair and said, 'What about For King & Country?' And we all felt a sense of providence at that moment. "For King and Country" was the battle cry of English soldiers willing to lay down their lives for their king and their country. And now it has become our mission, to lay down our lives for our King and our country."

In 2011, they released For King & Country: The EP. Their song "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" was released as a single and peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart. They described "Busted Heart" as "really a universal cry of humanity for something greater than ourselves...We think we've got it all sorted out, and life will deal you those blows." "Busted Heart" was the fastest-rising single of 2011 in their genre, climbing the Top 10 for weeks.

Their debut album Crave was released on 28 February 2012. The album hit No. 2 on the iTunes Top Christian & Gospel albums on its day of release and No. 42 on the overall chart. It peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart, and remained on the chart for 41 weeks. It also reached No. 128 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has received positive reviews from critics. Shortly after Crave's release, they released "The Proof of Your Love" as a single, remixed and titled "The Proof of Your Love: The Monologue Mix". The single differs from the album version with a monologue spoken by Joel from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (The Message) as the bridge instead of the guitar riff on the album version. The single reached No. 8 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart and spent 29 weeks on the chart. The band toured on the 2012 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular. In May 2012, they appeared on the Huckabee show on Fox News Channel.

Their debut hit song, "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" was featured on 28 October 2012 episode of VH1's Rehab with Dr. Drew. Among other television placements, their songs "People Change" and "Love's To Blame" have been featured on The CW's Vampire Diaries, and "Light It Up" and "Sane" have been featured on the Lifetime show Drop Dead Diva. In July 2012, they announced The Proof of Your Love Tour with Jason Castro and Dara Maclean to visit 30 cities from September through November 2012. In October 2012, they released an original Christmas song: "Baby Boy"; it reached No. 20 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. During the summer of 2013, the band was forced to take time off when the 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Luke dropped to 125 pounds (57 kg) due to an attack of ulcerative colitis. In June 2013, Joel Smallbone appeared in a non-singing role as King Xerxes in the film, The Book of Esther from Pure Flix Entertainment.

In August 2013, the band released Hope Is What We Crave: Live, a live album and DVD, both recorded at The Factory in Nashville on the last night of the band's first headlining tour. They also released "Hope Is What We Crave" as a single. It is a reworked version of "Crave" from their album. They toured with Casting Crowns starting in February 2014.

Rise in popularity

For King and Country released a new album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. on 16 September 2014. The album spent 17 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 13, and reached No. 12 on the Digital Albums Chart. The band performed their songs "Run Wild" and "Fix My Eyes" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 25 March 2015. They were part of the Winter Jam Tour 2015 in the central and eastern parts of the United States and part of Winter Jam 2016. The duo released a deluxe anniversary edition of the album on 23 October 2015, including three new songs: "Priceless", "Ceasefire" and "Wholehearted", as well as a reworked version of "It's Not Over Yet", called "The Encore".

In 2016, Curb Records acquired Warner Music Group's stake in the band's record label, Word Entertainment, thus becoming King & Country's record label.

After releasing their second album, the brothers focused much of their time on the feature film Priceless, which stars Joel in a story about human trafficking. They wrote several songs for the film, part of the reason it took four years to release their next studio album. They also wrote a song, accompanied by a music video, entitled "Ceasefire" for the 2016 adaptation of Ben-Hur; the song was used in the second official trailer for the film and released as part of the official soundtrack.

On 27 October 2017, they released Christmas: Live from Phoenix, and shortly thereafter embarked on "A Glorious Christmas" tour with Casting Crowns.

Continued success

The band announced that they had begun writing their third studio album, in January 2017. The album's lead single, "Joy", was released on 18 May 2018. It reached No. 35 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart and No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Burn the Ships was released on 5 October 2018. The brothers described it as the "most mature record that we've made just in understanding who we are as a duo, who we are as men and maybe understanding life because we are a bit older than we were last time around." Two of the songs were written about the weighty topics of addiction and suicide, and two were written to and about their wives (who sing in the final track, "Pioneers", and appear in the accompanying music video). The album contains ten songs and they released five music videos to accompany them. "Joy" was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

On 11 January 2019, "God Only Knows" was released to radio becoming the second single from the album. The song had crossover success, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at #17 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The band collaborated with Dolly Parton, who was featured on a new version of "God Only Knows". They also released new versions of the song featuring collaborations with Timbaland and Echosmith.

The Burn the Ships album won a Grammy in 2019, as did the single "God Only Knows".

In 2020, after cancelling its scheduled tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, the band performed drive-in style outdoor concerts where attendees listened and watched from their cars. The band announced they had reached over one billion digital streams of their songs.

In October 2020, the band released A Drummer Boy Christmas, a full-length Christmas album featuring collaborations with Needtobreathe and Gabby Barrett.

In 2021, Burn the Ships achieved RIAA gold certification. The band also released a deluxe edition featuring remixes and collaborations with Parton, Timbaland, Echosmith, Tori Kelly, Lecrae, and Kirk Franklin. Also in 2021, the band released "Relate", a single from their forthcoming studio album What Are We Waiting For?, which was released in March 2022. "Relate" became the band's seventh straight number one hit on the Christian Airplay chart. On 24 September 2021, the band released a single titled "For God Is with Us", which would eventually also be on What Are We Waiting For?. The song peaked at 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, which became their eighth straight single to reach the mark. The band then embarked on a fall tour titled Relate | The Fall Tour | promoting these two singles.

On 7 January 2022, the band released a promotional single titled "Unsung Hero", which is about their mom. The song peaked at 42 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. On the same date, pre-ordering for the new album started. On 18 February 2022, the band released their second promotional single from the album, titled "Love Me Like I Am". The song originally charted at 38 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

On 3 March 2022, they became the first Christian act to perform at RodeoHouston.

The band's fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For?, was released 11 March 2022. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian albums chart and #7 on the Billboard 200. One of the songs, "Broken Halos" peaked at 37 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, as a music video was released along with the song.

On 7 October 2022, the band re-released their song "Love Me Like I Am" as a single featuring American singer and actress, Jordin Sparks who was the winner of season 6 of American Idol. In addition to featuring Sparks, the song included reworked instruments. The song peaked at No. 10 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

Music and influences

SUSIE Magazine stated, "It takes only one listen to the brothers' rich, upbeat, alternative sounds and thoughtful lyrics to understand their sudden popularity."

In a 2012 interview, they described their philosophy:

"The power of music can impact our mood, emotions, our day. But when you merge the strength of music with the heart, hope and passion of the Gospel... it has the ultimate power not only to change someone's day, but to impact them for eternity. This is why we write music and sing songs - we hope that people will be moved, encouraged and stirred to live a life for Someone greater than themselves."

They cite U2, Mutemath, OneRepublic, the Beatles, Goo Goo Dolls, and Switchfoot, as well as film scores, such as those from Braveheart and Gladiator, as their musical influences. Also in a recent interview with Jesus Music, member Joel Smallbone discussed the 80's hair metal band Stryper and their early influence on the band. The interview can be found on Stryper's Facebook page.

Personal lives

Joel David Smallbone was born on 5 June 1984 and Luke James Smallbone was born on 22 October 1986. Both were born in Sydney, to David and Helen Smallbone, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991, after their father's job relocation. Their father was a music promoter, and Joel recalls, "going to these rock concerts, sitting on my father's shoulders, plugging my ears...Honestly, in a lot of ways, I feel like music chose me and as I grew older, I made a clear decision to fully lean into it." The Smallbones are the younger brothers of Christian recording artist and speaker Rebecca St. James, and the brothers-in-law of Jacob Fink, former bassist for the band Foster the People. They were raised with another sister, Libby, and three other brothers, Ben, Dan, and Josh.

On 26 June 2010, Luke married Courtney Helm. Their first child was born on 19 December 2012. They also have a son. In late 2016, Luke announced via social media that he and his wife are expecting their third child. From 2013 to 2015, Luke battled a life-threatening case of ulcerative colitis, pushing him near death and causing him to miss 40 of the band's live shows. He went into remission in 2015. He and his wife also nearly lost their two-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome in 2018; he has since made a full recovery after skull reconstruction surgery.

On 7 July 2013, Joel married Moriah Peters, who is also a recording artist, in California. They now reside in Franklin, Tennessee.

Both brothers are dual citizens of Australia and the United States.

Discography

• Crave (2012)
• Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. (2014)
• Burn the Ships (2018)
• A Drummer Boy Christmas (2020)
• What Are We Waiting For? (2022)

Other media

Film

In 2014, Joel Smallbone starred in the movie "Like A Country Song" which also starred multi-platinum selling recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus and Two And A Half Men's Jennifer Taylor. Joel Smallbone was the lead actor in a 2016 drama about human trafficking entitled Priceless, which was released in theatres in October 2016. Luke was one of the producers (together with their father) and their brother Ben directed the movie. Some of the music for the film was written by For King & Country.

In 2019, it was announced that the brothers were working on a musical under the title The Drummer Boy with the Erwin brothers, though no new information has since been released.

On November 30, 2022, the brothers announced via social media that they had made a movie with their brother Ben, called Unsung Hero, which is about their mother, but they didn't announce a release date.

Novel

A novel, Priceless: She's Worth Fighting For, based on the film Priceless, was released on 6 September 2016.

Awards and nominations

In December 2012, iTunes selected Crave as their Breakthrough Christian & Gospel Album of 2012 while at the inaugural K-LOVE Fan Awards held 1 June 2013, they collected the "Breakthrough Artist of the Year". In 2015, they won two Grammy Awards at the 57th Grammy Awards, one for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and one for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Billboard Music Awards

Grammy Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website

Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American Platinum selling, singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist from Houston, Texas who is known for making contemporary Christian music.

Biography

Wells was a founding member of Royal Tailor along with DJ Cox and Blake Hubbard while they were attending Indiana Bible College in 2004. Jarred Ingram later joined.

In 2016, Wells signed to Provident Label Group - Reunion Records as a solo artist, and he released his first solo single, "Undefeated", in May 2016. It marked a distinct shift from the glossy pop rock sound of Royal Tailor to a more electronic sound. It also featured Reach Records rapper KB and served as the soundtrack for Dude Perfect's "World Records Edition" video on YouTube. Wells released his second solo single, "Love Is Action", in August 2016 and his first solo EP, Undefeated EP, on September 12, 2016. "Love Is Action" was No. 1 on Christian Hot AC/CHR Radio for nine weeks.

In January 2017, Wells released "Hills and Valleys", which reached No. 8 on the Christian Airplay Chart and No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. The full-length Hills and Valleys was released digitally on June 23 and was released physically on July 21. The fourth single, "When We Pray", was released on October 20, 2017; it peaked at No. 7. He was featured on Crowder's "All My Hope". The single peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, becoming his first number one.

In 2018, Wells received Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song and Contemporary Christian Album of the Year, but did not win either.

In 2018, he became a worship leader at Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas.

The fifth single, "Known", was released on June 23, 2018. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his fourth Top 10 single from that chart. It was a huge success on Christian radio, reaching number one on multiple charts including Christian Airplay and Christian AC Songs. It was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. It was also nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

In late 2019, he released "Miracle", "Perfect Peace", and "Like You Love Me" leading up to Citizen of Heaven, which was released in 2020. It also featured the songs "Famous for (I Believe)", "Millionaire (Good Like That)", and "Close".

In early 2022, he released "Fake It", "Empty", and "Come Home" which were all singles leading up to the release of his 3rd studio album, titled Joy in the Morning.

Personal life

Wells married his wife Lorna Brittany (née Macey) Wells in 2011. Wells served on the staff of his father-in-law's church in Houston known as Royalwood Church until 2018. Wells and his wife Lorna started the Prisma Worship Arts School, to train musicians. They have 4 children.

Through the school, Prisma offers private coaching in piano, drums, guitar, bass, voice, violin, viola, and cello.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Other charted songs

As lead artist

As featured artist

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website