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Koryn Hawthorne
Koryn Mattanah Hawthorne (born December 26, 1997)[1][non-primary source needed] is an American contemporary Christian music and gospel singer. Hawthorne was a finalist in season 8 of NBC's singing competition The Voice, at the age of 17, as a member on Pharrell Williams's team.[2] After placing fourth on the show, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings.[3] Her debut studio album, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018, and earned her multiple awards nominations, including two Grammy nominations. CareerThe Voice (2015)Koryn Hawthorne auditioned for the eighth season of The Voice singing Emeli Sandé's "My Kind of Love".[4] Both Christina Aguilera and Pharrell Williams turned around. Hawthorne chose Aguilera as her coach. In the Battle rounds, Hawthorne faced Vance Smith, where they sang "Love Me Harder", a duet by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. Aguilera deemed Hawthorne the winner and advanced her to the Knockout rounds. During the Knockouts, Hawthorne covered "Try" but lost to her opponent Kimberly Nichole. She was then stolen by Williams, and continued the competition on his team. During the Playoffs she sang How Great Thou Art[5] but was not chosen by the public, who could only save two artists from Williams' team. Williams, who could save one of his three remaining artists, chose her. The following week, she sang Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and was saved by public voting. In the Top 10 she performed "Make It Rain" by Foy Vance, reaching the third position on iTunes and debuting at the 84th position on Hot 100.[6] The following week, she covered "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and was saved by the public. In the Top 6, Hawthorne showed her rock side by covering R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts" and Aerosmith's "Dream On". In the Top 5, after singing U2's "One" and the traditional song, "Oh Mary Don't You Weep", she was, alongside India Carney, in the bottom two. She sang Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy" for her last chance performance, being instantly saved over Carney.[7] In the finale, Hawthorne performed "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown, The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" with coach Williams and also her original song "Bright Fire", written by Williams. She finished in 4th place.[8] The Voice performances
2016–2017: Record deal and EP releaseAfter finishing in fourth place on The Voice, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings, and started working on her debut material.[9] In February 2016, she announced via Twitter she would be guest-starring on the fifth season of Mary Mary, that first aired on March 3. On the reality TV show, Hawthorne got to know producer Warryn Campbell, who would later help to produce her original material.[10] On March 6, 2016, the TV show Saints & Sinners, in which Hawthorne recorded the song Saints & Sinners for the original soundtrack, was premiered on Bounce TV.[11] In 2017, Hawthorne collaborated with Christian recording artist Branan Murphy on the single "All the Wrong Things".[12] Following the appearance on Mary Mary, Hawthorne made a guest appearance on OWN's TV show Greenleaf,[13] debuting "Won't He Do It", the lead single from her debut material. Koryn Hawthorne – EP, a four-track EP, was released on August 11, 2017. Hawthorne's vocals and delivery attracted Grammy Award-winning producers and songwriters Warryn Campbell, Makeba Riddick, Bernie Herms and Joaquin "The Bear" Bynum, who produced and penned her debut material. The EP earned Hawthorne two Stellar Gospel Music Awards nominations for New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.[14] 2018–2019: Debut album release and Grammy Awards nominationKoryn's full-length debut, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018, and reached number 1 on the Top Gospel Albums, while the album's lead single, "Won't He Do It", reached number 1 on Billboard's three main gospel charts. Hawthorne is the first woman to top four gospel charts simultaneously in five years as well as the longest number 1 female artist holder on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs Chart. Alongside Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and Rend Collective, she was one of the attractions of the Christian music's summer concert event Summer Lights Tour, which started on July 12, 2018, in Detroit and ended on July 22, 2018, in Corbin. On July 26, 2018, Aaron Cole's new single, "Down Like That", in which Koryn is featured, was released. Later this year, Hawthorne was nominated for the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards in two categories: New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year for her debut single "Won't He Do It", and won the latter. In November 2018, Hawthorne took the stage on Soul Train Awards, performing her hit single "Won't He Do It". In February 2019, the music video for "Unstoppable" was released, featuring Lecrae. Koryn Hawthorne received a nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song ("Won't He Do It") on the 61st Grammy Award. She also received seven Stellar Awards nominations and two NAACP Image Awards nominations, having won one from each award. Later this year, she was nominated for the Billboard Music Awards 2019, in three categories. In August 2019, Koryn contributed to Overcomer soundtrack with the single "Enough". Hawthorne was nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song ("Speak the Name") on the 62nd Grammy Awards, making it her second Grammy nomination. In December 2019, Koryn's debut single "Won't He Do It" was officially certified Gold. 2020–present: ‘’I AM’’On July 24, 2020, Koryn released "Pray", the lead single from her second album, which reached number 1 on Billboard's Gospel Digital Song Sales chart. On August 7, the album's second single, "Speak to Me", was released. Hawthorne's album, ‘’I AM’’, was released on September 18, 2020. For the second year in a row, Koryn Hawthorne was nominated for Billboard Top Gospel Artist category alongside Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Sunday Service Choir and Kanye West. Koryn was nominated for the Best Gospel/Inspirational Award on BET’s annual Soul Train Awards 2020, competing against long-time artists Bebe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, PJ Morton and The Clark Sisters. In February 2021, Hawthorne was nominated for the Best Gospel/Christian Album on NAACP Image Award. Koryn was also nominated for the third year in a row for the Billboard Music Awards 2021, in three categories. Her single "Speak to Me" was nominated for two categories on the 52nd GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. InfluencesHawthorne cites a variety of artists as her main influences and inspirations, including Etta James, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, among others. DiscographyStudio albums
EPs
SinglesAs lead artist
Other charted songs
Promotional singles
As featured artist
Releases from The Voice
Awards and nominationsAmerican Music Awards
Billboard Music Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Grammy Award
NAACP Image Awards
Stellar Gospel Music Awards
Soul Train Awards
References
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