Francesca Battistelli, TobyMac win GRAMMY Awards Print
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 18 February 2016 03:43 PM America/New_York

FrancescaBattistelli-2015Francesca Battistelli has taken home her very first GRAMMY Award for the song “Holy Spirit” in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category. The hit song is from the 2014 album If We’re Honest, which has garnered three total GRAMMY nominations.

Battistelli, who is anticipating the birth of her third child, was unable to attend the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which were held Monday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

"I am so honored and humbled to have been recognized with a GRAMMY award for ‘Holy Spirit,’ a song that has meant so much to me,” Battistelli said. “Many thanks to Bryan and Katie Torwalt for writing an amazing song and letting me sing it.  I pray God continues to use it to change people’s lives and draw them closer to Himself!" 
 
"Congratulations to Francesca on winning her first GRAMMY Award tonight, as this is truly a career-defining moment,” said Rod Riley, president and CEO of Word Entertainment. "Francesca is a very special part of our Word Entertainment family, and we are so proud of her. As she and her husband, Matt, are about to welcome their new baby to the world, we are so honored to stand in support of her during this special moment." 
 
Multi-Platinum-selling artist TobyMac also was recognized with his seventh career GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for This Is Not a Test (ForeFront Records).

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Albums Chart, No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 3 on the Digital Albums Chart and featured the GRAMMY-nominated No. 1 radio hit “Feel It."

TobyMac’s GRAMMY win comes at the start of his Hits Deep Tour, kicking off Feb. 18 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fellow artists Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon, Building 429, Capital Kings, Finding Favour and Hollyn will join TobyMac on the tour. 

Click here to see the list of Christian/gospel nominees.