Natalie Grant

Known for her big voice and even bigger heart, Natalie Grant is one of modern Christian music’s biggest stars and most prominent advocates for social justice. ∙ Originally planning to be a schoolteacher, she pivoted to music after seeing the ensemble Truth perform at her church, then joined the group and spent the next two years with them on the road. ∙ Grant’s 1999 self-titled debut album included a song, “I Am Not Alone,” cowritten by Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. ∙ Her commercial breakthrough came in 2005 with Awaken, which hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart and was later certified Gold. ∙ An eight-time Grammy nominee, she was first named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association in 2006—and subsequently received the honor four more times. ∙ Both 2013’s Hurricane and 2015’s Be One went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. ∙ A dedicated philanthropist, she’s the cofounder of Abolition International—a branch of the international organization Hope for Justice—which fights against human trafficking.