Natalie Grant Bio
Natalie Diane Grant (born December 21, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter, and author. She began her professional music career in the late 1990s after auditioning for the touring group Truth and moved to Nashville to pursue a solo career, releasing her debut album in 1999. Grant achieved wider success with the 2005 album Awaken, which was certified gold by the RIAA, and has continued to release music across multiple labels. She is also a noted anti-human trafficking advocate, having founded Abolition International, and lives in Nashville with her husband, Canadian producer Bernie Herms, and their three daughters.
Over more than two decades in the industry, Grant has built a steady presence in contemporary Christian music, charting albums and earning recognition from both faith-based and mainstream award bodies. Her work has often carried a message of hope, faith, and social awareness, themes she has extended into philanthropy and authorship.
Early Life and Background
Natalie Diane Grant was born on December 21, 1971, in Seattle, Washington. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was raised in an environment where music and faith played a central role. From an early age, she was involved in her local church, where she developed her vocal talents and began to sense that music would be a defining part of her life.
She later enrolled at Northwest College, now known as Northwest University, in Kirkland, Washington, where she studied to become a schoolteacher. Although she initially trained for a career in education, Grant became convinced that her musical gifts were meant to serve a wider audience. That conviction eventually led her to shift her focus away from teaching and toward a full-time path in Christian music.
During her formative years, she performed in church settings and local musical events, sharpening her stage presence and songwriting instincts. These early experiences laid the groundwork for the professional career that would soon follow once she committed fully to music.
Path to Music
Grant’s entry into the professional music world began when she auditioned for Truth, a traveling music group that toured churches and faith-based venues. The experience gave her a first taste of life on the road and introduced her to the realities of performing for a wide audience. After her time with the group, she decided to pursue a solo career.
She moved to Nashville, Tennessee, the center of the contemporary Christian music industry, and signed with Benson Records in 1997. In 1999, she released her self-titled debut album, marking the official beginning of her recording career. She later moved to Pamplin Music, where she released Stronger in 2001, and when Pamplin folded, she landed at Curb Records, a label that would become closely associated with her biggest successes.
Her transition from newcomer to established artist was shaped not only by label changes but also by a life-altering 2004 trip to India, where she and her husband witnessed the realities of human trafficking. The experience redirected her artistic focus toward songs meant to inspire, give hope, and motivate others, a shift that influenced her breakthrough work in the years that followed.
Natalie Grant Career
Early Career (1999–2003)
Grant released three albums between 1999 and 2003, beginning with her self-titled debut on Benson Records. She later acknowledged that her early marketing often emphasized her appearance rather than her music, and she has spoken about feeling that her first record did not fully represent who she was as an artist. These early projects, however, allowed her to develop her sound and gain a foothold in the Christian music scene.
Key releases during this period included Stronger in 2001 and Deeper Life in 2003, the latter being her first project with Curb Records. While these albums did not yet produce major commercial breakthroughs, they helped her build a loyal audience and refine the songwriting voice that would later define her biggest records.
Breakthrough (2005–2010)
Grant’s career-defining moment came with the release of Awaken in 2005, an album that resonated strongly with both Christian music fans and broader audiences. The project was certified gold by the RIAA and produced several of her most recognized songs, establishing her as a leading voice in contemporary Christian music.
During this period she also pursued ventures beyond recording, including writing The Real Me in 2005, a book in which she openly discussed her personal struggles, including her battle with bulimia, and how her faith helped her find recovery. She toured on the Speaking Louder Than Before tour with Bebo Norman and Jeremy Camp in 2008, expanding her reach as a live performer. In 2010, she released Love Revolution, further cementing her reputation for socially conscious, faith-driven music.
Continued Success (2011–2020)
Following her breakthrough, Grant continued to release a steady stream of albums and broaden her presence beyond music. In 2011, she toured with multi-platinum selling group MercyMe and starred in the Gospel Music Channel made-for-television movie Decision. That same period saw her take on television hosting duties, including the GSN original game show It Takes a Church, which premiered in 2014.
Her 2013 album Hurricane and her 2020 release No Stranger, led by the single My Weapon, demonstrated her continued relevance in a changing industry. Throughout this era, she balanced her recording career with philanthropy, public speaking, and writing, positioning herself as both an artist and an advocate.
Notable Works and Milestones
Signature works in Grant’s catalog include Awaken (2005), Love Revolution (2010), Hurricane (2013), and No Stranger (2020). Awaken remains her most commercially significant release, earning RIAA gold certification and producing multiple standout singles. She has also earned critical recognition, including the Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009, and a fifth win in 2012.
Natalie Grant Award Nominations
Grant has received nine Grammy Award nominations across her career, with nods coming in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020. While she has not yet taken home a Grammy, the consistent recognition from the Recording Academy reflects her sustained impact on the contemporary Christian and broader gospel music landscape. These nominations span multiple albums and underscore her standing among her peers.
Natalie Grant Awards Won
Grant has been a dominant force at the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, winning the prestigious Female Vocalist of the Year honor four consecutive years from 2006 through 2009, and again in 2012. Outside of the Dove Awards, she has been honored for her humanitarian work, receiving the 2012 Bishop Ketteler Award for Social Justice from the Sisters of Divine Providence in recognition of her efforts to combat human trafficking. These awards reflect both her musical contributions and her broader influence as an advocate.
Natalie Grant Family
Grant is married to Canadian music producer Bernie Herms, with whom she has built both a family and a long-running creative partnership. The couple has three daughters: Grace, Isabella, and Sadie. The family makes their home in Nashville, Tennessee, where Grant continues to base her music and advocacy work.
Personal Life
Beyond her music, Grant has been open about personal challenges, including a public discussion of her struggle with bulimia. She has spoken about how her faith played a central role in her recovery, and she wrote the 2005 book The Real Me: Being the Girl God Sees to share that journey with a wider audience. Her personal experiences have shaped both her artistic message and her philanthropic work, particularly her longstanding commitment to fighting human trafficking through Abolition International, the organization she founded.
Upcoming Projects
In September 2025, Grant signed with Capitol CMG and announced a holiday album titled Christmas, scheduled for release on October 3, 2025. The project signals a new chapter in her recording career and introduces her to a new label home for upcoming work.