Matt Maher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Maher
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Maher performing in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Guion Maher |
| Born | November 10, 1974 Newfoundland, Canada |
| Genres | Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Essential |
Matthew Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974) is a Canadian musician. He is a songwriter and worship leader who creates contemporary Christian music. He lives in the United States.
Matt Maher has released nine albums. Three of his albums have been in the top 25 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. Four of his songs have reached the top 25 on the Christian Songs chart. Some of his well-known songs include "Your Grace Is Enough" and "Lord I Need You". Maher has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. He won the Songwriter of the Year award in 2015.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Matt Maher was born and grew up in Newfoundland, Canada. His parents noticed his musical talent early on. He took piano lessons and learned about many different types of music. He played in concert and jazz groups. He also sang in a choir and played in a rock band.
Maher started college at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He then studied jazz piano at Arizona State University. He earned a music degree there. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel.
Matt Maher's Music Career
Matt Maher started his music career with Spirit and Song. This record label released his first three music collections. In 2007, he signed with Essential Records. His first album with this new label was Empty and Beautiful, released in 2008.
His next album, Alive Again, came out in 2009. This album reached No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart. In late 2009, Maher went on the "New Hallelujah Tour" with other artists.
Performing for Popes and Large Crowds
In April 2008, Matt Maher was asked to lead worship for thousands of people. This was during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States. He performed at a rally in Yonkers, New York. Other famous musicians like Kelly Clarkson also performed there. After this, Maher was interviewed on Fox News.
Maher also performed for nearly four million people in 2013. This was during World Youth Day 2013 in Rio, Brazil. Pope Francis was also there. Maher sang his song "Lord, I Need You". He has also participated in the National Catholic Youth Conference several times. In 2014, he sang at the March for Life.
Recent Albums and Awards
On March 17, 2015, Maher released his eighth album, Saints and Sinners. The song "Because He Lives (Amen)" was the first single from this album. He worked with members of Needtobreathe and Jon Foreman on some songs. In September 2017, his ninth album, Echoes, was released. This album earned him his ninth Grammy Award nomination.
Matt Maher has won the BMI Songwriter of the Year award twice. In 2015, he was also named NSAI Songwriter of the Year. He has been nominated for over 20 GMA Dove Awards. These nominations include "Song of the Year" and "Worship Song of the Year".
In October 2018, his song "Lord, I Need You" was certified Platinum. This means it sold over one million copies. His song "Alive and Breathing" reached the top 5 on the Christian singles chart in 2020. It also appeared on Rolling Stone's trending list.
Maher has also been part of Dallas Jenkins's The Chosen TV series. He performed "Hope For Everyone" in the 2020 Christmas special. In 2021, he sang his version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". This performance was also shown in the 2023 special.
Personal Life
Matt Maher is a practicing Catholic. He is married to Kristin Fisher. They live in Nashville, Tennessee. They have three children: one daughter and two sons.
Discography
Matt Maher has released many albums and singles throughout his career. Here are some of his main releases:
Albums
| Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
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| US | US Christian |
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| The End and the Beginning | 2001 |
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| Welcome to Life | 2003 |
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— | — |
| Overflow | 2006 |
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— | — |
| Empty & Beautiful | 2008 |
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168 | 12 |
| Alive Again | 2009 |
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128 | 6 |
| The Love in Between | 2011 |
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97 | 7 |
| All the People Said Amen | 2013 |
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88 | 5 |
| Saints and Sinners | 2015 |
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52 | 2 |
| Echoes | 2017 |
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— | 5 |
| The Advent of Christmas | 2018 |
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— | 27 |
| Alive & Breathing | 2020 |
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— | 4 |
| The Stories I Tell Myself | 2022 |
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— | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ. |
US Christ. Airplay |
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| 2008 | "Your Grace Is Enough" | 4 | Empty & Beautiful | ||
| 2009 | "Empty & Beautiful" | 47 | |||
| "Alive Again" | 12 | Alive Again | |||
| 2010 | "Hold Us Together" | 6 |
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| "Christ Is Risen" | 18 | ||||
| 2011 | "Turn Around" | 5 | The Love in Between | ||
| "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" | 23 | non-album single | |||
| 2012 | "Rise Up" | 23 | The Love in Between | ||
| 2013 | "Lord, I Need You" | 4 |
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All the People Said Amen | |
| 2014 | "All the People Said Amen" | 6 | 4 |
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| "Hope Can Change Everything" | 14 | 21 | non-album single | ||
| "Because He Lives (Amen)" | 3 | 1 |
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Saints and Sinners | |
| 2015 | "Deliverer" | 18 | 18 | ||
| 2016 | "Abide with Me" | — | 34 | ||
| "Glory (Let There Be Peace)" | 14 | 1 | non-album single | ||
| 2017 | "Your Love Defends Me" | 12 | 8 | Echoes | |
| "What a Friend" | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2018 | "Born On That Day" | 24 | 10 | The Advent of Christmas | |
| "Jingle Bells" | 48 | 34 | |||
| 2019 | "Alive & Breathing" | 5 | 1 | Alive & Breathing | |
| 2020 | "Run to the Father" | 20 | 18 | ||
| 2021 | "Joyful Noise" | — | 27 | ||
| 2022 | "Leaning" | 38 | 24 | The Stories I Tell Myself | |
| "The Stories I Tell Myself" | — | — | |||
| 2023 | "The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)" | 9 | 1 | ||
Awards and Recognition
Matt Maher has received many awards and nominations for his music.
Grammy Awards
- 2017: Nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Album for ECHOES.
- 2015: Nominated for four Grammy Awards, including:
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Saints And Sinners.
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Because He Lives (Amen)".
- 2014: Nominated for two Grammy Awards, including:
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for All The People Said Amen.
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Lord, I Need You".
GMA Canada Covenant Awards
- 2008: Won Praise And Worship Album of the Year for Empty & Beautiful.
- 2010: Won Album of the Year and Praise And Worship Album of the Year for Alive Again.
- 2010: Won Song of the Year for "Hold Us Together".
- 2011: Won Male Vocalist of the Year.
GMA Dove Awards
- 2010: Won Special Events Album of the Year for Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship.
- 2015: Won Songwriter of the Year.
- 2019: Won Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year for The Advent of Christmas.
Unity Awards
- 2003: Won Best New Artist of the Year.
- 2004: Won Praise & Worship Song of the Year for "I Love You, Lord".
- 2008: Won Best Artist of the Year.
Images for kids
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Maher performing at YC Newfoundland in 2009
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See also
In Spanish: Matt Maher para niños
