Lauren Daigle

For CCM star Lauren Daigle, the artistic process can be boiled down to two elements: voice and message. As the Louisiana-born vocalist explained in an interview with Apple Music, “There’s something about taking your breath and pushing air through your lungs, and something that is intrinsic, something that in your mind becomes real. It’s like how much air you put in it becomes a sound that the world might hear.” This poetic and really rather philosophical statement perfectly sums up her unique style of CCM. Beginning with her debut album, 2015’s How Can It Be, she’s excelled at crafting swelling anthems of hope, perseverance and gratitude for God’s love that fix the spotlight squarely on her voice. It’s a commanding instrument—though subtle, too—that echoes Adele’s in how it leans on vintage soul and gospel yet also sounds resolutely modern thanks to its sharp pop instincts. Universalism is also central to Daigle’s style. While hits like “Trust in You” and the 2018 triple-platinum blockbuster “You Say” certainly reflect a childhood steeped in church hymns and choir practice, they’ve also earned her widespread crossover success—so much so, in fact, that, like Amy Grant in the early ’90s, she can be considered both a CCM and pop artist. This was cemented with the release of her second record, 2018’s Look Up Child, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart. It’s proof that everyone, whether religious or not, responds to profoundly uplifting voices that can serve as rafts when life’s waters turn stormy.