CeCe Winans, Lauren Daigle, And Matthew West Praise God Ahead Of K-Love Fan Awards
By Movieguide® Contributor
Christian musicians CeCe Winans, Lauren Daigle, and Matthew West spoke about their experiences as CCM artists ahead of the K-Love Awards, which premieres to the public on June 3.
Artists gathered at the Grand Ole Opry House for the award ceremony, and many spoke about their time in the music industry.
Matthew West, the host for the evening, gave aspiring artists a piece of advice: “Stay humble, stay focused on the lane that God has put you in, and you’re going to have a major impact on society and culture.”
“I hope I’ve been a positive role model for other young artists who come in,” he continued. “And I’d say the biggest encouragement I can give is always put God first in your life. And don’t worry about comparing yourself to others. You know, artists can be just like everybody else on social media, where you’re comparing, ‘What does this artist have going on? How high is this song on the charts?’ And you can let that stuff rule you. And when it rules you, it robs you of the true understanding of how God is using you in life.”
Winans and Daigle performed together at the show, and both artists also shared their thoughts on how God has touched this generation.
“God has empowered them to be more than enough for this generation,” Winans explained. “I think, God is so amazing that every generation, He gives the talents, the gifts, exactly what they need. I just want the young people to be who they are, and take all the limits off. … God will take you further than what you could ever imagine.”
Daigle added, “There’s a thing called a ‘zeitgeist,’ which is where time and culture intersect. And it’s when God decides to say, ‘This is the one I have appointed. This is the one I’m calling out. Let’s go; come on. This is how we get the people ready for what’s to come.’ He sends the ones that are uniquely available, I think.”
“If you feel like God is calling you to this or that, He’s touched your life in some sort of way. Ask Him to open doors and see the places that He’ll take you,” she finished.
Movieguide® previously reported on Matthew West’s thoughts on God’s influence on his career:
Matthew West is opening up about his most recent album and how his faith has influenced his work. The album, titled Brand New, is an homage to West’s new studio, his new recording contract, and the idea of returning back to where it all started.
“On the cover of the album there’s a blue couch,” West shared in an interview with Guideposts. “The reason for that is because that blue couch is a significant moment in my life.”
The couch, which sat in his parents’ living room, was where West was sitting when he became a Christian.
“A lot of these songs are about me wanting to return to that kid on the blue couch who didn’t know much, didn’t know as much as he does now, but just knew…that God was the real author of his story,” West said.
“The heartbeat of the record [is] returning to the promises of God,” West said. “It’s like all things [are] moving forward, but also returning to the beauty of that first time faith.”
West also discussed the moment he felt God calling him to a career in music. The singer was attending a Steven Curtis Chapman concert and was surprised when Chapman informed the crowd he was sick, but would continue to perform anyway.
“I remember he was chewing on a cough drop during his show because he had a sore throat but there was something about it that I thought that was so cool, the fact that he was telling us, that he was singing through a sore throat,” West said. “I sat there at the end of the concert and I just couldn’t move. I was crying.”
“If one thing gets accomplished through the music that I put out into the world,” West said. “It would be that people…they would find that blue couch moment [and] hear God knocking at the door of their heart.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
