Lauren Daigle Named Billboard’s Top Christian Artist of the Year
By Movieguide® Contributor
Riding on the success of her newest self-titled album “Lauren Daigle,” Lauren Daigle was named Billboard’s top Christian artist of the year.
“It’s been an incredible year,” Daigle told Billboard. “New creative collaborators, new producers, new writers and most of all new friends. Our fans on the road have been so incredible and we can feel their love and their energy every single night, and for me that connection (to our music) is inspiring.”
“I am so unbelievable grateful for [my fans],” she continued. “To be able to do what I love and look forward to so much more in ’24.”
“Lauren Daigle” marked the singer’s first album-length project since 2018. It debuted at No. 1 on the top Christians album chart, with the lead single, “Thank God I Do,” finding notable success. Daigle, however, also faced backlash as the project also saw her departing from pure worship, with parts of the album being secular pop.
The singer reassured fans that her faith in Jesus is still strong and that its influence will continue to be present throughout her upcoming music. She explained that she could share more of herself by creating music that wasn’t explicitly worship.
“I felt like there was this freedom that really came out throughout the writing process,” Daigle told the Des Moines Register earlier this year. “Did this record feel vulnerable? Did I feel vulnerable sharing it? It wasn’t the intimidating vulnerability, because there’s that type of vulnerability. It was more like, ‘Oh, finally there’s freedom. I can share with the world more pieces of who I am.’ There’s a delight in that.”
During the pandemic, Daigle developed intense mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Her work on this album was a therapeutic way to address these issues, share her battle with her fans and find healing.
Along with the release of her new album, Daigle’s music projects this year included a Christmas album and a deluxe version of “Lauren Daigle.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Multi Platinum-selling artist Lauren Daigle is no stranger to ridicule from Christians and non-believers alike.
However, Daigle credited the courage she finds in God for her ability to “make a stand” for what she believes.
“I was like, God,’ I want a backbone of boldness. Give me some sort of boldness to where I can stand up for people who need to be stood up for, and where even when my peers are persecuting me, I can still make a stand,’” Daigle told The Christian Post.
Daigle also encouraged fellow believers to ask God for courage in their lives.
“If you ask God for that courage, He will give it to you. He will give you boldness; He will give you courage,” she added.
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