A Night To Remember
Phew, it's been a whirlwind of a year. I can't believe it's May already...where did the first 4 months of 2011 go? I know this is long overdue, but I have to talk for a minute about the Dove Awards.
Whether you were able to watch the telecast on Easter Sunday or just heard the news on twitter, you know that it was a night full of surprises--the biggest surprise of all being my win for Artist of the Year. Literally, I was speechless. And the thing that most excited me and humbled me was knowing that YOU guys voted in that category. Yes, the industry still had a percentage of the vote, but you, the fans,
literally won that award for me, and I couldn't be more grateful and thrilled! So thank you everyone who texted or went online and cast your vote for me for Artist of the Year. I never in a million years expected to win against people like TobyMac and Chris Tomlin (I mean, are you kidding me?!), but it was you who made it possible. And that's amazing! A couple other highlights for me that night were performing in a tribute for the amazing Sandi Patty (whose songs my mom used to sing at church all the time when I was growing up) and then being handed the female vocalist of the year award from her onstage. Again, folks, speechless!
The first award that I was nominated for that night was in the pre-show (non-televised). I had just left the room where the pre-show was to go to the dressing room to feed Eli (my 7-month-old) when I got a text saying I had won the award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year! We all screamed and it scared Eli, poor guy! But it was a cool moment, and a great time for me to realize that as wonderful as an award is, my priorities are with my family. I loved the visual imagery of that moment. My band and I performed "This Is The Stuff" at the Doves, and that was a really great experience.
Here's a little backstory... my parents are theatre people (which explains my nerdy obsession with Broadway musicals). Almost 30 years ago they performed at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta (where the Doves where held this year for the first time) on the very same stage where I got to perform that night. How cool is that? I searched the halls backstage for a poster of the "King And I" (which was the show they were a part of...my mom starred opposite Yul Brynner!!! She's a legend to me!), but I couldn't find one. Still, it was an amazing feeling to be looking out onto the same seats that my mom looked out at 30 years prior to that special night. The biggest highlight, though, was probably when Steven Curtis Chapman handed me the Artist of the Year award. He could have given me the award for best outfit for all I care--just receiving an honor like that from someone I have admired and looked up to for so many years was utterly incredible. And I told him what a dream come true it was for me.
I hope this blog doesn't sound like I'm tooting my own horn, I just had to share with you a little bit of the excitement of the night and what it was like for me. Oh how could I leave this next part out?! We realized the night before the Doves that my dress wasn't altered correctly, and literally my mom, my best friend, and my manager and I woke up the morning of the show and drove to a local mall and bought an entire new ensemble--down to the earrings. I was nervous we wouldn't find anything I liked as much as my first dress, but the sequined dress turned out to be the perfect thing. But talk about "this is the stuff," huh?
Hopefully you feel like you got a glimpse of a night that I will always remember. And if you voted in the Artist of the Year category, thank you! I've always said I had the best fans in the world, and now everyone else knows it too! :)
Love you guys!
Francesca
P.S. My buddy Chris August took home three awards too! SO proud of him!!!
- Francesca's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- Tweet
-
$35.00Umbrella Hoodie
- Strangely Dim
- This Is The Stuff
- Angel By Your Side
I'm needing your prayers
I just joined so Hello! lol I love your music and the fact that you are soo real. Every word in every song speaks to me like you wouldn't believe. I'm in the middle of a rough divorce and I never thought that it would ever come to this especially when we just got married in September. I stumbled on this website and I absolutely love it! I'm only 21 and I have a lot going on I know it sounds like I'm just blabbing but your music has really inspired me to really focus on myself and let nothing get in the way of what I want to do. My passion is singing and dancing and my dream is to sing the National Anthem in front of thousands of people. I was going to go to American Idol auditions but I couldn't due to my financial situation and It has been my DREAM to be on the show, I have always been a follower of God and just now I realized that He is the only one that can help me pursue my dream. Of course I have a whole year to audition but I believe I can do it! I've just been really down lately and with you and your music I believe I can achieve anything! My family thinks I'm crazy for not auditioning and I'm kicking myself in the bottom actually :s Anyways, I know I'm just another big fan but would it be okay if you (or anyone reading this) would pray for me?! it would be greatly appriciated
~Mercedez
hey girl
so cool!you have gotten a award.continue what you do(singing).and god bless you.
o wow francesca i love
o wow francesca i love you
Beutiful Beutiful (i cant spell sorry:) is the best song you have written thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much
love always and ill keep praying for ya :):P:D
TheCrossSavedME
Dove Awards
Francesca, my family and I had the priviledge of getting to hear you perform live at the Dove Awards and you were awesome!! Everything about that night was wonderful!! You have a truly amazing voice and your song, "Beautiful, Beautiful" and "This Is The Stuff" are our favorites. My husband even plays your CD in his van with the guys from work at they travel. We wish you the best with your music and your ministry and pray that God blesses you tremendously as you give out to others. God bless you!!!
So happy for you.
I have been listening to your music for only a short time, but you have been such a big inspiration to me. I voted for you, and am glad that God has blessed you in a special way.
Gods calling
Francesca I love your music I sing them all the time and play them on guitar. They give me such motivation I know that through Christ I can do anything even with a couple dents in my finder. The other day I felt God leading me to do some local outreach or local missionary for our church I think a concert would be amazing to bring people together the church I go to is called living hope assembly of god in st marys Ohio I pray u get this message and consider maybe helping me with this congratulations on your awards you deserved it !! God bless you
Name
I'm not sure if you knew this, but your name (Francesca) means "Free." I thought this was pretty cool considering one of your first big hits was "Free to Be Me"
Thanx Francesca for the good
Thanx Francesca for the good job u doing. your muzik keeps me moving and u def deserved the awards. God Bless. .
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PROUD OF YA GIRL!!!!!!!!!!
I am sooooo proud of you. You completely deserved that award! You will are and always will be a blessing to people all over the world. I am home schooled too and you have really inspired me to go for my goals and not care what others think. You getting that award just goes to show that you have touched many peoples lives enough so that they want you to benefit from it and be truly blessed. i love how you always put your family first no matter what. Toby Mac used to be my favorite singer but then when i heard you it was like i was hearing an angel!!! you are truly gifted with music. i could never sing or write like you but God has put people into my life like you that show me i DO NOT have to be perfect. i think knowing that you don't have to be perfect can make you reach for the sky. and you have!!!
so proud of you girl!!!
love Lindsay-age 12