Lauren Daigle
Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Lauren Ashley Daigle was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. As a child growing up in the rich musical tapestry of Louisiana, Daigle was born with a passion for music. She could always be found singing in her home. When she went to Louisiana State University she had intentions to pursue medical and mission work, all the while singing in and, eventually, leading the choir at school. Ultimately deciding that singing was her true calling, Daigle auditioned for American Idol and sang for a local band. She accompanied the band to a Centricity Music retreat and, when the lead singer was hospitalized in an emergency, Daigle stepped into the role. Centricity Music executives were so impressed by her performance that they convinced her to move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career. She signed a deal with Centricity and performed a single on a Christmas album "Christmas: Joy to the World" (2013). The single "Light of the World" drew immediate attention and a large fan base. Daigle's first studio album "How Can It Be" (2015) debuted at the very top of the Billboard Christian Albums Chart and was nominated for a 2016 Grammy award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. A single from the album, "Trust in You" also earned a separate Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song in 2017. After releasing a second Christmas album, Daigle dropped the highly anticipated follow up to her debut album "Look Up Child" (2018). Its lead single "You Say" spent a record-breaking 60 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. Daigle's popularity transcended the Contemporary Christian genre, with "You Say" reaching number 29 on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100 and winning the 2019 Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. The album as a whole also won a Grammy in 2019 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. On May 12, 2023 Daigle released a new studio album, "Lauren Daigle". It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and number 21 on the US Billboard 200 overall.