Koryn Hawthorne
Koryn Mattanah Hawthorne is an American contemporary Christian music and gospel singer. Hawthorne was a finalist in season 8 of NBC's singing competition The Voice, at the age of 17, as a member on Pharrell Williams's team. After placing fourth on the show, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings. Her debut studio album, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018, and earned her multiple awards nominations, including two Grammy nominations.
Early life
Hawthorne was born to Summers Dozier-Simon and Corey Hawthorne in the small town of Abbeville, Louisiana, where she grew up. She has been performing since the age of 9, when she joined an organization called Louisiana Kids, in which she would compete against other kids in her state. As she got older she continued to sing locally at nursing homes, churches, and different charity events. Before auditioning for The Voice, Hawthorne held a part-time job at Little Caesars. On May 14, 2016 Koryn became a graduate of Lighthouse Christian Preparatory High School in Abbeville.Career
2015: ''The Voice''
Koryn Hawthorne auditioned for the eighth season of The Voice singing Emeli Sandé's "My Kind of Love". Both Christina Aguilera and Williams turned around. Hawthorne chose Aguilera as her coach. In the Battle rounds, Hawthorne faced Vance Smith, where they sang "Love Me Harder", a duet by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. Hawthorne was chosen over Smith. During the Knockout rounds, she covered "Try" but lost to her opponent Kimberly Nichole. She was then stolen by Williams.During the Playoffs she sang How Great Thou Art but was not chosen by the public, who could only save two artists from Williams' team. Williams, who could save one of his three remaining artists, chose her. The following week, she sang Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger " and was saved by public voting. In the Top 10 she performed "Make It Rain" by Foy Vance, reaching the third position on iTunes and debuting at the 84th position on Hot 100. The following week, she covered "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and was saved by the public.
In the Top 6, Hawthorne showed her rock side covering R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts" and Aerosmith's "Dream On". In the Top 5, after singing U2's "One" and the traditional song, "Oh Mary Don't You Weep", she was, alongside India Carney, in the bottom two. She sang Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy" for her last chance performance, being instantly saved over Carney. In the finale, Hawthorne performed "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown, The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" with coach Williams and also her original song "Bright Fire", written by Williams. She finished in 4th place.
Throughout the competition, Hawthorne's evolution as a singer caught the attention of the coaches. Adam Levine pointed out that never before in the history of The Voice had he seen "such a drastic, incredible, unbelievable journey". Williams compared her drive to succeed to that of Beyoncé. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza declared May 6, 2015 "Koryn Hawthorne Day" and presented her with the key to the city.
| Stage | Song | Original Artist | Date | Order | Result |
| Blind Audition | "My Kind of Love" | Emeli Sandé | March 3, 2015 | 4/2 | Christina Aguilera and Pharrell Williams turned Joined Team Christina |
| Battle Rounds | "Love Me Harder" | Ariana Grande | March 17, 2015 | 9/3 | Saved by Coach |
| Knockout Rounds | "Try" | Pink | March 23, 2015 | 10/6 | Defeated Stolen by Pharrell Williams |
| Live Playoffs | "How Great Thou Art" | Christian hymn | April 6, 2015 | 6 | Bottom 3 Saved by Pharrell Williams |
| Live Top 12 | "Stronger " | Kelly Clarkson | April 13, 2015 | 9 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 10 | "Make It Rain" | Foy Vance | April 20, 2015 | 5 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 8 | "Girl on Fire" | Alicia Keys | April 27, 2015 | 8 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 6 | "Everybody Hurts" | R.E.M. | May 4, 2015 | 3 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 6 | "Dream On" | Aerosmith | May 4, 2015 | 9 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 5 and Instant Save | "One" | U2 | May 11, 2015 | 2 | Bottom 2 Saved by Instant Save |
| Live Top 5 and Instant Save | "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" | Traditional | May 11, 2015 | 7 | Bottom 2 Saved by Instant Save |
| Live Top 5 and Instant Save | "If I Were a Boy" | Beyoncé | May 12, 2015 | 2 | Bottom 2 Saved by Instant Save |
| Live Finale | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | James Brown | May 18, 2015 | 1 | 4th place |
| Live Finale | "We Can Work It Out" | The Beatles | May 18, 2015 | 6 | 4th place |
| Live Finale | "Bright Fire" | Koryn Hawthorne | May 18, 2015 | 10 | 4th place |
| Episode | Performers | Song |
| 16.4 | Team Pharrell | "Say Something” |
| 19.1 | Top 10 | "Rocket Man/Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting” |
| 20.1 | Pharrell Williams & his team | "I Don't Want to Be” |
| 21.2 | Top 8 Girls | "Wake Me Up” |
| 26.3 | Top 3 Girls | "Faithfully” |
| 28.1 | The Top 20 | "Carry On/Some Nights” |
| 28.4 | Kelly Clarkson and Koryn Hawthorne | "I’d Rather Go Blind” |
| 28.10 | Koryn Hawthorne | "Uptown Funk” |
2016–2017: Record deal and EP release
After finishing in fourth place on The Voice, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings, and started working on her debut material. In February 2016, she announced via Twitter she would be guest-starring on the fifth season of Mary Mary, that first aired on March 3. On the reality TV show, Hawthorne got to know producer Warryn Campbell, who would later help to produce her original material. On March 6, 2016, the TV show Saints & Sinners, in which Hawthorne recorded the song Saints & Sinners for the original soundtrack, was premiered on Bounce TV. In 2017, Hawthorne collaborated with Christian recording artist Branan Murphy on the single "All the Wrong Things". Following the appearance on Mary Mary, Hawthorne made a guest appearance on OWN's TV show Greenleaf, debuting "Won't He Do It", the lead single from her debut material.Koryn Hawthorne – EP, a four-track EP, was released on August 11, 2017. Hawthorne's vocals and delivery attracted Grammy Award-winning producers and songwriters Warryn Campbell, Makeba Riddick, Bernie Herms and Joaquin "The Bear" Bynum, who produced and penned her debut material. The EP earned Hawthorne two Stellar Gospel Music Awards nominations for New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.
2018–present: Debut album release and Grammy Awards nomination
Koryn's full-length debut, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018 and reached number 1 on the Top Gospel Albums, while the album's lead single, "Won't He Do It", reached number 1 on Billboard's three main gospel charts. Hawthorne is the first woman to top four gospel charts simultaneously in five years as well as the longest number 1 female artist holder on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs Chart.Alongside Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and Rend Collective, she was one of the attractions of the Christian music's summer concert event Summer Lights Tour, which started on July 12, 2018 in Detroit and ended on July 22, 2018 in Corbin.
On July 26, 2018, Aaron Cole's new single, "Down Like That", in which Koryn is featured, was released.
Later this year, Hawthorne was nominated for the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards in two categories: New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year for her debut single "Won't He Do It", and won the latter.
In November 2018, Hawthorne took the stage on Soul Train Awards, performing her hit single "Won't He Do It".
In February 2019, the music video for "Unstoppable" was released, featuring Lecrae.
Koryn Hawthorne received a nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song on the 61st Grammy Award. She also received seven Stellar Awards nominations and two NAACP Image Awards nominations, having won one from each award. Later this year, she was nominated for the Billboard Music Awards 2019, in three categories.
In August 2019, Koryn contributed to Overcomer soundtrack with the single "Enough".
Hawthorne was nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song on the 62nd Grammy Award, making it her second Grammy nomination.
In December 2019, Koryn's debut single "Won't He Do It" was officially certified Gold.
Alongside Jonathan McReynolds, Koryn Hawthorne will be the host of the 35th Stellar Awards.
On July 24, 2020, Koryn released "Pray", the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album.
Influences
Hawthorne cites a variety of artists as her main influences and inspirations, including Etta James, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, among others.Discography
Studio albums
EPs
Singles
As lead artist
Promotional singles
As featured artist
Releases from ''The Voice''
;Albums| Title | Details | Peak positions |
| Title | Details | US |
| The Voice: The Complete Season 8 Collection |
| 85 |