A gospel recording artist from the Chicago area has been recognized by one of the industry’s top awards.
“My father was a pastor, and he was extremely influential to why I do what I do today,” said artist Bobbi Lane.
Lane is a pastor’s kid from south suburban Olympia Fields and grew up singing in church. She sat down to talk with NBC Chicago’s Evrod Cassimy about her music journey.
“And who is Bobbi Lane?” Cassimy asked.
“Bobbi Lane…I wouldn’t just say one sound,” she replied. “I would say I am…there’s many aspects and assets to Bobbi Lane.”
She just released her latest single, “He Never Failed Me,” and her EP, “Unmatched Grace,” was released last year. To her surprise, that first project is being recognized by the gospel music industry’s highest honor; she received three Stellar Award nominations for her song “Light In A Dark Place.”
“You start out talking by saying ‘father at my darkest hour, there were times when I wanted to give up,'” said Cassimy. “Tell me about that darkest hour.”
“I lost my father, two years ago and that was the time the song came to me,” Lane explained. “When I was in the storm, and I couldn’t see my own way out. I didn’t even want to continue to do music. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t know if I want to wake up anymore because I was in that dark space.”
Lane has turned her pain into purpose; she and others have found healing in this song.
Sadly, her father isn’t here to see her success, but she knows he’s watching over her. Lane hopes others find comfort in the lyrics during their darkest hour.
“I would definitely tell them to not give up. I would tell them to keep pushing,” she said. “I often think if he was here today, what would I tell him? I would tell him thank you for everything that you taught me. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being a true man of God.”
The Stellar Awards are Saturday in Nashville.