Daigle has taken over modern Christian music with her hits like “First”, “Trust in You”, and “You Say” all reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.
Lauren Daigle writes the large majority of her songs, mostly as a co-writer alongside another producer or songwriter. As of 2019 out of three of her albums and one EP, Lauren has written or co-wrote 29 songs, and that includes any deluxe album editions or bonus tracks.
Continue reading as we unveil her early career, why she got into Christian music, and how she’s grown up to be one of the biggest musical inspirations for those who are passionate about their faith.
A Devastating Diagnosis
Lauren wasn’t always into the contemporary Christian music industry, but had displayed a passion for music from an early age. Born in 1991 on September 9th, she was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and her home life in the state had a large impact on the music she listened to from a young age.
She listened to plenty of blues songs, and had Cajun music influences as well. Her mother even once called their household “the music box” because of how often Lauren would sing.
Songwriting also seemed to be a talent that revealed itself at an early age, as Lauren apparently wrote her own first song at just 5 years old about chocolate milk.
When she was 15 years old, Daigle contracted a highly debilitating illness called infection mononucleosis, or glandular fever.
Forced to stay out of school, she explains how the diagnosis was a big shock to her life.
“I was a sophomore living life and having a blast. Then there was a big halt. Because my illness was an immune deficiency, anything that was airborne I’d catch it. If any friends were sick I couldn’t be around them, so going to school became off limits.”
While the sickness was devastating, Lauren later tells how it was actually “one of the best things that had happened to me.”
She had initially put music on a backseat before the illness, describing how she had an idea for her career that went in a different direction.
“When I got older I went to this college prep school and felt I needed to get serious, so I thought I’d go into the medical field and do mission work.”
Before long, she realized that music was her true calling.
“Then when the Lord brought me into that solitude I was like, ‘How did I get distracted from what my true passion is? I NEED to be singing.’ He really brought me through all of that season to pour in a passion for ministry and a passion for music.”
Discovering the Christian Music Scene
Singing in the choir at Louisiana State University was one of her first experiences with Christian tunes.
She eventually auditioned twice on American Idol in 2010 and 2012, failing to make it to the end. After a lack of success on the TV series, she tried her luck by singing with a worship music group called North Point InsideOut.
Record label Centricity Music signed Daigle in 2013, and ultimately released her debut EP as a solo artist in 2014, How Can It Be.
The EP had five tracks. Daigle co-wrote three of the songs. “O’Lord” and “How Can It Be” were the other two songs, the latter written by Jason Ingram, Paul Mabury, and Jeff Johnson.
Watch Jason Ingram share the story behind the making of the song below:
How Can It Be, the album version, came out in 2015, and Daigle co-wrote nine tracks and four more on the deluxe edition.
Behold: A Christmas Collection was released in 2016, but she did not write the songs as they were all traditional Christmas carols.
She co-wrote 12 songs on Look Up Child in 2018, plus a bonus track.