Koryn Hawthorne

Last updated

Koryn Hawthorne
Birth nameKoryn Mattanah Hawthorne
Born (1997-12-26) December 26, 1997 (age 26) [1]
Abbeville, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Website korynhawthorne.com

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.

Contents

Career

The 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

  – Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes
StageSongOriginal ArtistDateOrderResult
Blind Auditions"My Kind of Love" Emeli Sandé March 3, 20154.2 Christina and Pharrell turned
Joined Team Christina
Battle Rounds (Top 48)"Love Me Harder" (vs. Vance Smith) Ariana Grande March 17, 20159.3Saved by Coach
Knockout Rounds (Top 32)"Try" (vs. Kimberly Nichole) Pink March 23, 201510.6Defeated
Stolen by Pharrell Williams
Live Playoffs (Top 20)"How Great Thou Art"Christian hymn April 6, 201514.6Saved by Coach
Live Top 12"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" Kelly Clarkson April 13, 201517.9Saved by Public Vote
Live Top 10"Make It Rain" Foy Vance April 20, 201519.5
Live Top 8"Girl on Fire" Alicia Keys April 27, 201521.8
Live Top 6"Everybody Hurts" R.E.M. May 4, 201523.3
"Dream On" Aerosmith 23.9
Live Semi-Finals (Top 5)"One" U2 May 11, 201525.2Bottom 2
Saved by Instant Save
"Oh Mary Don't You Weep"Traditional25.7
"If I Were a Boy" Beyoncé May 12, 201526.2
Live Finale (Final 4)"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" James Brown May 18, 201527.14th place
"We Can Work It Out" (with Pharrell Williams) The Beatles 27.6
"Bright Fire" (original song)Hawthorne27.10

2016–2017: Record deal and EP release

After 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 nomination

Koryn'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.

Influences

Hawthorne cites a variety of artists as her main influences and inspirations, including Jt, Etta James, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, among others.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
Sales
Top Gospel Albums
Unstoppable1
  • US: 100,000
I AM2
On God...6

EPs

List of EPs with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
Top Gospel Albums
Koryn Hawthorne – EP19

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist with selected chart positions
YearTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US GospelGospel DigitalGospel Airplay
2017"Won't He Do It"111Unstoppable
"Speak the Name"
(featuring Natalie Grant)
143
2019"Unstoppable"355
"Enough"2311Overcomer
(Music from and Inspired by
the Original Motion Picture)
2020"Pray"121I AM
"Speak to Me"111
2023"Cry"128On God
"Look at God"3317
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

List of singles as lead artist with selected chart positions
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
Hot Christian Songs Gospel Digital
2020"How Great"41I AM
"Know You"
(featuring Steffany Gretzinger)
10

Promotional singles

YearTítuloAlbum
2018"Down Goes Rome"Unstoppable
2023"Cut ‘Em Off"On God
List of singles as featured artist with selected chart positions
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
Hot Christian Songs Christian Airplay Songs Gospel Digital
2017"All The Wrong Things"
(Branan Murphy featuring Koryn Hawthorne)
4632Who Am I?
2018"Down Like That"
(Aaron Cole featuring Koryn Hawthorne)
Cole Season (Playlist)
2021"We All Need Jesus"
(Danny Gokey featuring Koryn Hawthorne)
3Jesus People
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Releases from The Voice

Albums
TitleDetailsPeak
positions
US
The Voice: The Complete
Season 8 Collection
85
Competition singles
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Hot R&B Songs R&B Digital SongsHot Gospel Songs Christian Digital Songs Hot Christian Songs iTunes
2015"My Kind of Love"The Voice: The Complete
Season 8 Collection
"Try"
"How Great Thou Art"177
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"34
"Make It Rain"84 [16] 223
"Girl on Fire"37
"Everybody Hurts"36
"Dream On"52
"One"60
"Oh Mary Don't You Weep"1828
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"1534
"Bright Fire (Original song)"1218
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2021Koryn HawthorneFavorite Gospel ArtistNominated

Billboard Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2019Koryn HawthorneNominated
UnstoppableTop Gospel AlbumNominated
"Won't He Do It"Top Gospel SongWon
2020Koryn HawthorneTop Gospel ArtistNominated
2021Koryn HawthorneTop Gospel ArtistNominated
I AMTop Gospel AlbumNominated
"Speak to Me"Top Gospel SongNominated

GMA Dove Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2018Koryn HawthorneNew Artist of theNominated
"Won't He Do It"Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the YearWon
2019Koryn HawthorneGospel Artist of the YearNominated
"Won't He Do It"Song of the YearNominated
"Unstoppable"Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the YearNominated
UnstoppableContemporary Gospel Album of the YearWon
2020Koryn HawthorneBest Gospel/Inspirational AwardNominated
2021"Speak to Me"Song of the YearNominated
I AmContemporary Gospel Album of the YearWon

Grammy Award

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2019"Won't He Do It"Best Gospel Performance/SongNominated
2020"Speak the Name"Best Gospel Performance/SongNominated

NAACP Image Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2019Koryn HawthorneOutstanding New ArtistNominated
UnstoppableOutstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)Won
2021I AMOutstanding Gospel/Christian AlbumNominated

Stellar Gospel Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2018Koryn HawthorneNew Artist of the YearNominated
Contemporary Female Vocalist of the YearNominated
2019Artist of the YearNominated
Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the YearNominated
Producer of the YearNominated
Contemporary Female Vocalist of the YearNominated
"Won't He Do It"Song of the YearNominated
Music Video of the YearWon
UnstoppableContemporary CD of the YearNominated

Soul Train Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2020Koryn HawthorneBest Gospel/Inspirational AwardNominated

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References

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  4. The Voice 2015 Blind Audition – Koryn Hawthorne: "My Kind of Love". March 3, 2015 via YouTube.
  5. "Abbeville native Koryn Hawthorne takes 'The Voice' to church". The Advertiser. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  6. "The Voice's Koryn Hawthorne, Sawyer Fredericks Arrive on Hot 100". Headline Planet. April 30, 2015.
  7. Norwin, Alyssa. "'The Voice' Top 4 Revealed: India Carney's Eliminated 1 Week Before Finals – Hollywood Life". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  8. "'The Voice' Season 8 Finale Recap: And the Winner Is..." buddytv.com. May 19, 2015.
  9. The Voice, The Voice 2017 - After The Voice: Craig Wayne Boyd and Koryn Hawthorne (Digital Exclusive) , retrieved February 6, 2019
  10. "Koryn Hawthorne👑 on Instagram: "Super excited to be apart of [sic] the upcoming season of @therealmarymary ! Make sure to tune in March 3rd 🙌🏽 #TeamKoryn #TeamJesus #Share"". Instagram. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  11. "Koryn Hawthorne👑 on Instagram: "Super excited to be apart of [sic] this album with these amazing artist! Go preorder the sound track for bounce tv show saints and sinners and…"". Instagram. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  12. "#FlavaInYaEar: "All the Wrong Things" Branan Murphy feat. Koryn Hawthorne - the Fly Society Podcast". Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  13. "KORYN HAWTHORNE RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE "WON'T HE DO IT"". RCA Inspiration. July 21, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  14. "RCA Inspiration Garners 18 Nominations for the 2018 Stellar Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
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