Steven Curtis Chapman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steven Curtis Chapman
Chapman performing in Atlanta, November 2004
Background information
Birth name	Steven Curtis Chapman
Born	(1962-11-21) November 21, 1962 (age 62) Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Contemporary Christian music
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter record producer actor author
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Sparrow EMI Epic PolyEast Sony BMG Provident

Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is also an actor, author, and social activist. He is known for being one of the most awarded artists in Christian music history.

Steven has released over 25 albums and won many awards. These include five Grammy Awards and 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. He has won more Dove Awards than any other artist. His seven "Artist of the Year" Dove Awards are also a record. By 2022, Steven had sold more than 16 million albums. Many of his albums have been certified Gold or Platinum. On July 27, 2024, he was invited to become a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry.

Steven's Early Life and Music Journey

Steven Curtis Chapman was born in Paducah, Kentucky. His parents are Judy and Herb Chapman. Steven's dad was a guitar teacher and owned a music store. Steven and his older brother, Herb Jr., grew up playing guitar and singing.

After high school, Steven started college to study medicine. But he soon realized his passion was music. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, a big music city. There, he worked at a music show and started writing songs. In the 1980s, a popular gospel group called The Imperials recorded one of his songs, "Built to Last." This success helped him get a songwriting deal with Sparrow Records.

First Albums and Awards

In 1987, Steven released his first album, First Hand. One song, "Weak Days," became a hit. His second album, Real Life Conversations (1988), had more hits, including the No. 1 song "His Eyes." This song won an award from the Gospel Music Association in 1989. That same year, he was named Songwriter of the Year.

Steven continued to release successful albums like More to This Life and For the Sake of the Call. These albums had many No. 1 songs and won more awards. For the Sake of the Call even earned him his first Grammy Award. These achievements made him a big name in Christian music.

Reaching a Wider Audience

In 1992, Steven's album The Great Adventure helped him reach more people. This album won him two more Grammys. After his record label was bought by EMI, they helped his music reach an even wider audience. This album became a "gold" record, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies.

Because of the album's success, Steven released a live concert recording called The Live Adventure. This earned him more awards, including Songwriter and Artist of the Year from American Songwriter magazine.

Continued Success and Christmas Albums

Steven's success continued with albums like Heaven in the Real World, Signs of Life, and Speechless. In 2000, he voiced Baloo in a video game and again in a movie in 2022.

His album Declaration (2001) and All About Love (2003) were very popular. Steven has also released four Christmas albums. He often performs at Walt Disney World and has been a guest narrator for Disney's Candlelight Processional.

Touring the World

In 2006, Steven toured many countries in Asia. His website shared that his concert for U.S. troops in South Korea was the first Christian concert for troops there. A concert in Shanghai, China, was also a special event, being one of the first public gospel music concerts open to Chinese citizens. He also visited Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Recent Music and Honors

In 2007, Steven released This Moment, which included the popular songs "Cinderella" and "Yours." In April 2008, Steven received a star on Nashville's Walk of Fame for his amazing work in Christian music.

In 2012, Steven joined Sony Music's Provident Label Group. He released his fourth Christmas album, JOY, that year. In 2013, he released The Glorious Unfolding, his first album in seven years with all new songs. This album was highly praised and reached No. 27 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

From 2014 to 2017, Steven hosted a concert series called "Sam's Place: Music for the Spirit" in Nashville. In 2019, he released Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows, which became a No. 1 album on the Billboard Bluegrass charts. On November 1, 2024, Steven was officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry. He is the only contemporary Christian musician to be a member of the Opry.

Steven's Family Life

Steven is a devoted Christian. He is married to Mary Beth Chapman. They met in college and got married in 1984. They live in Franklin, Tennessee. They have three biological children: Emily, Caleb, and Will. They also adopted three daughters from China: Shaohannah, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue.

Steven and Mary Beth have written children's books about adoption. Steven also wrote a book called Cinderella: The Love of a Daddy and His Princess. He has also written books for adults about faith. In 2016, he shared his life story in a book called Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story.

Steven's sons, Caleb and Will, have their own band called Colony House. Steven's brother-in-law, Jim Chapman, is in the country music group 4 Runner. Steven's son, Will, married singer/songwriter Jillian Edwards in 2012.

Jillian Edwards is Steven's daughter-in-law. She is shown performing in Chesterfield, Missouri in July 2015.

Remembering Maria Sue

On May 21, 2008, Steven's youngest daughter, Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman, passed away in an accident at their home. She was almost five years old. This was a very difficult time for the family.

During Maria's memorial service, the family shared their strong faith and love for each other. After the accident, the Chapman family spoke openly about their loss and how their faith helped them heal. They appeared on TV shows and in magazines to share their story. Maria was buried in the flower girl dress she planned to wear to her sister Emily's wedding.

Steven's album Beauty Will Rise is about Maria's death and how the family coped. Steven almost stopped singing, but he realized Maria would have wanted him to continue. He continues to sing "Cinderella" to honor her memory.

To honor Maria, Steven and Mary Beth started Maria's Big House of Hope.

Honorary Degree

On May 7, 2011, Steven received an honorary doctorate degree in music from Anderson University. He also gave a speech to the graduating class.

Helping Others: Activism and Charity

In the late 1990s, Steven became involved in preventing youth violence. This was after a school shooting happened at his old high school in Paducah. He dedicated a song, "With Hope," to the families affected by the shooting. He also helped create a video to teach teenagers about the signs of violence and encourage them to report any concerns.

In 2009, Steven's charity, Show Hope, finished building Maria's Big House of Hope in China. This center provides special care for orphans with special needs. It is dedicated to Maria Sue's memory. In 2009, Steven and Mary Beth received the Children's Champion Award for their work with Show Hope. In 2011, they received the Congressional Angels in Adoption award.

Steven has also supported the international charity World Vision for many years. He has helped with programs for children affected by natural disasters and has traveled to Uganda to help street children and orphans.

Steven's Music Albums

Steven has released many albums throughout his career. He has sold over 11 million albums and had 49 No. 1 radio songs.

Awards and Achievements

Steven Curtis Chapman has won many awards for his music. He has received:

• 5 Grammy Awards
• 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards (the most by any artist!)
• 7 Dove Awards for Artist of the Year (also a record!)
• An American Music Award for Favorite Inspirational Contemporary Artist in 2003.

He has been recognized for his songwriting, male vocals, and many of his albums and songs have won top honors in Christian music.

See also

In Spanish: Steven Curtis Chapman para niños