Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, February 2012: ACCLAIMED ARTIST LAURA STORY CELEBRATES DOUBLE "BLESSINGS" WITH FIRST GRAMMY® WIN AND FIRST CHILD DUE THIS FALL

ACCLAIMED ARTIST LAURA STORY CELEBRATES DOUBLE "BLESSINGS"
WITH FIRST GRAMMY® WIN AND FIRST CHILD DUE THIS FALL

NEWS SOURCE: The M Collective
February 13, 2012

Nashville, TN, February 13, 2012: Celebrated Fair Trade Services recording artist Laura Story picked up her first GRAMMY® at yesterday's awards ceremony, winning "Best Contemporary Christian Song" for her No. 1 hit "Blessings." This GRAMMY® win crowns an immensely successful period for the decorated worship leader after she garnered five Dove nominations, a No. 1 hit song and a best-selling sophomore album Blessings in less than a year's time.

"Blessings," which was released last year, was in rotation at over 100 Billboard Christian format reporting stations going No. 1 at Christian AC, Inspo and the National Audience charts for multiple weeks. Additionally, the song also held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart for 28 consecutive weeks. The critically acclaimed album, Blessings debuted at No. 4 on Soundscan's Overall chart and has remained one of Christian music's best sellers to date.

In addition, Story and her husband, Martin, recently learned they are expecting their first child, due later this year.

"What an amazing season this has been!" says Story. "Martin and I have been so thankful to find out that we are expecting, and then this GRAMMY surprise was the cherry on top! We are both humbled and so grateful to God for this and pray that any attention the song "Blessings" receives will be used by God to bring hope to others who are walking hard roads. May God's faithfulness be seen in this above all things. Thanks to all who are celebrating with us."

Story's new single, "What A Savior," is also experiencing success at Christian radio and is currently No. 17 on the Billboard Christian AC chart. Top stations and networks currently playing the song include K-LOVE, WAY-FM, KLTY/Dallas, KSBJ/Houston, Fish Atlanta/Nashville/Sacramento, KTIS/Minneapolis and JoyFM/St. Louis.

Story kicks off the "Girls Night Live Tour" with Mandisa next week in Omaha, Neb. The tour will visit over 30 cities within the next two months and will also feature special guests Anita Renfroe and Jamie Grace in select cities. For more information visit www.girlsnightlive.com

What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?, the first book by Laura Story, will release March 13 by Freeman-Smith, a division of Worthy Publishing. The 30-day devotional is based on her song, "Blessings," and contains Story's personal reflections garnered from her own journey, along with prayers, quotes and a journaling page for readers to recount how blessings have impacted their own lives.

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About Laura Story:
Laura Story, a talented worship leader and songwriter known for penning hit worship songs such as "Indescribable" made famous by Chris Tomlin, made her music debut in 2008 with her first release Great God Who Saves (INO Records). Great God Who Saves garnered her four Dove nominations in 2009, at which she took home her first award for "Inspirational Album of the Year." In 2011, she also nabbed another nomination for "Female Vocalist of the Year."

Her hit single "Mighty To Save" earned a No. 1 Soft AC/Inspo and Top 10 AC hit at Christian radio. Also in 2011, Story revealed twelve new inspirational tracks on her sophomore release titled Blessings. Story teamed up with producer Nathan Nockels (Passion, Philips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace) and delivered a worship project that exudes constant threads of pop energy and singer-songwriter warmth. The title-track immediately became a fan favorite as it topped the iTunes ® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart and held the No. 1 spot for 28 consecutive weeks. For more information on Story, please go to www.laurastorymusic.com.

For more info on Laura Story visit the JFH Artists Database.