2014 Grammy Winner Mandisa Absent from Ceremony for Faith
Written by: Christi Given
Former American Idol season 5 contestant MANDISA was nominated in the Christian genre this year at the 2014 Grammy Awards. The singer was the winner of two awards for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album,” and “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song” for her single, “Overcomer.”
This year there was some media hype about the singer not attending the ceremony because of her own personal reasons. Mandisa was not the only one who was avoiding being exposed to the secular media and as mentioned from her social media, being in the world, another popular artist chose to dismiss herself from the ceremony.
Mandisa said she had been dealing with some personal struggles and wanted to focus on God. Mandisa said,
“Perhaps being alone with Him as my name was announced was protecting myself from where my flesh would have tried to drag me had I been up on that stage. It gave me time to focus.” –The Christian Post (Mandisa on Social Media)
To be clear Mandisa mentioned she wasn’t against secular platforms but felt that’s what she needed to do pertaining to this particular event. Mandisa was quoted,
“God never taught us to stay in our safe Christian bubbles’ and acknowledged that her career had opened doors ‘for me to sing about Jesus on mainstream platforms.”
‘After all, how else will people come to know Him, if not by His children? We must live, look, and speak differently so that we shine (see Matthew 5, Philippians 2, and 1 Peter 3)!
I can’t force my morality on anyone else. What I can do is live my life in such a way that reflects well on my Savior, stand firm in my values, and do all of these things in love…”
Mandisa is has also released her book, which is available now called, “Idoleyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame”
By: Mandisa Hundley (Author) & contributor Angela Elwell Hunt (FORWARD BY: Beth Moore)
The book is about Mandisa’s journey through AI and being in the limelight, dealing with her personal Christian faith, weight and more. An exerpt from her book description expresses that, “…Mandisa shows women that they can be beautiful at any size, and that healthy self-esteem and personal beauty come only when they accept themselves as a unique and much-loved woman of God’s creation.” (www.amazon.com)
From Grant’s Facebook she writes:
“We left the Grammy’s early. I’ve many thoughts about the show tonight, most of which are probably better left inside my head. But I’ll say this: I’ve never been more honored to sing about Jesus and for Jesus. And I’ve never been more sure of the path I’ve chosen…” (www.facebook.com/nataliegrantmusic)
Grant was nominated for two GRAMMYs this year, Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.
Don’t forget to watch Mandisa’s Official Music Video for “Overcomer” staring Scott Hamilton, and more!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw
Here’s Natalie Grant’s latest single from the album, “HURRICANE.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttKnLwwHlig
[Source: http://www.fuse.tv/2014/01/grammys-2014-natalie-grant%5D
[Source: http://www.amazon.com/Idoleyes-New-Perspective-Faith-Fame/dp/141431602X%5D
What do you think about these artists standing up for their faith?