Francesca Battistelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francesca Battistelli
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Battistelli in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francesca Battistelli |
| Born | May 18, 1985 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | CCM, pop, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Fervent, Warner Bros. |
Francesca Battistelli (born on May 18, 1985) is an American Christian singer and songwriter. She started her music journey as an independent artist. Her first album, Just a Breath, came out in 2004. Later, she signed with Fervent Records. Her first major studio album, My Paper Heart, was released in 2008.
Her first song, "I'm Letting Go", became very popular on Christian radio stations. Francesca received her first Grammy Award nomination in 2009 for her song "Free to Be Me". She later won her first Grammy Award in 2016. This award was for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for her hit "Holy Spirit".
Contents
About Francesca Battistelli
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Francesca Battistelli was born in New York City on May 18, 1985. She was the only child of parents who loved musical theater. Her mom and dad were both involved in shows. Francesca said that live musical theater always felt special to her.
When she was six, she saw a show called The Secret Garden on Broadway. After that, she knew she wanted to perform. She even thought she would be the character Mary Lennox!
At 15, Francesca joined an all-girl pop group called Bella in Orlando, Florida. They sang and danced, which she loved. After the group stopped performing, Francesca started playing the guitar. She also began writing her own songs.
Her Music Career
Francesca released her first album, Just a Breath, in 2004. This was before she signed with a big record label. In 2008, she released a small collection of songs called I'm Letting Go EP. All these songs were later part of her first major album, My Paper Heart. This album came out on July 22, 2008.
Her song "I'm Letting Go" was released to radio stations on July 15, 2008. It quickly became a top song on Christian radio. Another popular song, "Free to Be Me", was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009. Part of this song was inspired by a funny moment when she accidentally backed her car into another car!
Francesca started touring across the U.S. in 2008. She performed her own concerts and also with other bands. She played at many Christian music festivals. She also toured with famous artists like Aaron Shust and NewSong.
Her songs continued to do well. "I'm Letting Go" reached number 3 on Christian radio charts. "Free to Be Me" hit number 1 in March 2009. It stayed at the top for nine weeks!
In 2009, Francesca joined the Winter Jam 2009 tour. This is one of the biggest Christian music tours each year. Her song "It's Your Life" was featured on TV shows like Jon & Kate Plus 8 and The Biggest Loser. It was also used in the movie Soul Surfer.
Francesca toured with Winter Jam again in 2011. She released her second studio album, Hundred More Years, on March 1, 2011. Later, in 2012, she released Christmas, an album of holiday songs. Her third studio album, If We're Honest, came out in 2014.
In 2018, Francesca released "The Breakup Song". This was the first song from her fourth studio album, Own It.
Acting Roles
Besides singing, Francesca Battistelli has also acted in movies.
- In 2015, she starred in the Christian sports movie Woodlawn.
- In 2021, she appeared in the Christian drama film God's Not Dead: We the People.
Music Style
Francesca's music mixes different styles. Her sound is often described as soulful piano-pop. It has influences from jazz, rock, gospel, and R&B. She has said that she wanted to create Christian music that even people who aren't Christian could enjoy. She wanted her music to feel real and honest.
Personal Life
Francesca Battistelli is married to Matt Goodwin. He used to play drums in the band NewSong. They met while on the Winter Jam tour. They got married on August 22, 2009. Francesca and Matt live in Nashville, Tennessee, and they have seven children.
Albums
- Just a Breath (2004)
- My Paper Heart (2008)
- Hundred More Years (2011)
- Christmas (2012)
- If We're Honest (2014)
- Own It (2018)
- This Christmas (2020)
Awards and Recognition
Francesca Battistelli has won and been nominated for many awards for her music.
Grammy Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (If We're Honest) | Nominated |
| Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song ("Write Your Story") | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song ("Holy Spirit") | Won |
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | New Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year ("I'm Letting Go") | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("I'm Letting Go") | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (My Paper Heart) | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year ("Free to Be Me") | Nominated | |
| Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Free to Be Me") | Nominated | |
| Short Form Music Video of the Year ("Free to Be Me") | Won | |
| 2011 | Artist of the Year | Won |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year ("Beautiful, Beautiful") | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Beautiful, Beautiful") | Won | |
| 2012 | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Hundred More Years) | Nominated | |
| Special Event Album of the Year (The Story, various artists) | Won | |
| 2013 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Christmas Album of the Year (Christmas) | Nominated | |
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year (Christmas) | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (If We're Honest) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Song of the Year ("He Knows My Name") | Nominated |
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Spirit") | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Song of the Year ("The Breakup Song") | Nominated |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("The Breakup Song") | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Francesca Battistelli para niños
