Christian Grammy Winners

Musicians Kirk Franklin, Laura Story, Le'Andria Johnson, and Chris Tomlin are celebrating after scooping prestigious awards at the Grammies.

Gospel veteran Franklin scooped two awards, winning best Gospel Album for Hello Fear, and best Gospel Song for its title track.

And singer Le’Andria Johnson, a 29-year-old worship leader from Florida who shot to fame in a TV Talent show, got the gong for best Gospel/contemporary Christian music performance, for her song ‘Jesus.’

Although many Brits will be unfamiliar with Le’Andria, the same cannot be said of song writers Laura Story and Chris Tomlin, who won best Contemporary Christian music song (Laura Story, Blessings) and best Contemporary Christian music album (Chris Tomlin, And If Our God Is For Us…)

Story became well known in Christian circles after she wrote the popular worship song ‘Indescribable’, which was a huge hit, and has become a Sunday-morning staple in congregations around the world.

And Blessings seems destined to be just as popular, with a heartfelt lyrical treatment of the subject of perceived suffering.

Subverting the common conception of what it means to be ‘blessed’, Story asks: “Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops/ What if Your healing comes through tears / What if a thousand sleepless nights / Are what it takes to know You’re near / What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.”

The album was inspired by the experiences that Story went through when her husband suffered a brain tumour just a couple of years into their marriage.

Her faith was put to the test as she had to learn to see God working in the midst of family tragedy and hardship.

The Grammy Awards were overshadowed by the news of Whitney Houston’s death, and the night saw many artists pay tribute to her, with Jennifer Hudson giving an emotional rendition of her super hit ‘I Will Always Love You’. British Soul singer Adele scooped six awards, the 23-year-old had been resting her voice since surgery on her vocal chords last year, but took to the stage to belt out hit song ‘Rolling In The Deep’ to a delighted crowd.