lauren DAIGLE
SINGER AND SONGWRITER
by Kerri Cooke Lauren Daigle is one of the hottest names in contemporary Christian music, combining pop with zydeco and blues, but few know she was born in Lake Charles before growing up in Lafayette. Daigle grew up singing and her mom nicknamed her “the music box.” However, she didn’t consider music seriously until she fell ill with cytomegalovirus at age 15. The sickness kept her homebound for the next two years. Daigle explained feeling so tired that all she could do was lie on the couch, watch TV and sleep. During this time, Daigle decided to take voice lessons. Once Daigle recovered, she graduated school and had her eyes on earning a degree in the medical field. However, she took a gap year and did mission work in Brazil.
Daigle competed in American Idol for two seasons between 2010-2012 but never made it to the finalist cut. She then attended LSU for child and family studies, where she led the choir, but eventually left college to pursue music full time. Daigle released an EP (extended play) How Can It Be in 2014 and her debut album How Can It Be in 2015. The record quickly climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. Her single How Can It Be won Song of the Year at the 2015 Dove Awards. A holiday album, Behold: A Christmas Collection followed in 2016 in which Daigle put her own unique Louisiana spin on Christmas classics. Daigle’s third album, Look Up Child was released in 2018. This record led Daigle to earn the distinction of highest-charting Christan album by a woman in more than 20 years. Four of the songs on Look Up Child reached No. 1
on various charts, including Billboard Christian Airplay and Hot Christian Songs. The album was certified platinum 2x and named Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2019. The single You Say received the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song and was certified platinum 6x. Daigle also founded The Price Fund in 2018 to honor her grandfather. The nonprofit uses donations to help support at risk children and elderly. The foundation has since expanded to support those in the arts. Lauren Daigle, Daigle’s latest album was released in 2023. In total, Daigle has won two Grammy Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards and 12 Dove Awards.
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