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Austin French

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Austin French
Birth nameAustin Bryan French
Born (1994-02-13) February 13, 1994 (age 30)
Cordele, Georgia[1]
OriginNashville, Tennessee
GenresWorship · CCM
OccupationSinger · songwriter
InstrumentVocals · guitar[2]
Years active2014–present
LabelsFair Trade Services[3] · Awaken
Websiteaustinfrenchmusic.com

Austin Bryan French[4] (born February 13, 1994) is an American Christian musician, who plays Christian pop style contemporary worship music. He released his debut single, "Freedom Hymn", through Fair Trade Services on December 8, 2017. The song went on to receive radio play and ultimately peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.

Early and personal life

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French grew up in the small town of Cordele, Georgia. When he was young, he wished to be a contemporary Christian artist who wrote songs that "shared his faith and passion for Jesus." He formed bands learning to take his music to stages, churches, and anyone who would listen. He began touring throughout his high school years. "We would fill up the church van or my best friend's Suburban and drive, praying that we would make it to the gigs without breaking down, just to play for 10 people and then do it again every weekend we could," says Austin. He saw a passion and calling from God to share music that was "rooted in the gospel." He began leading at Journey Church, in Tifton, Georgia at the age of 18 and became the full-time worship pastor. He met his wife, Joscelyn French, at the church. He led musicians and the congregation in worship for three years.[5]

Music career

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In 2014, French was featured on the first season of the ABC TV show "Rising Star". He performed songs such as "Bless the Broken Road" and "If I Ain't Got You".[6][7] He impressed millions of viewers, including guest judges Ludacris, Kesha, and Brad Paisley, and competed his way to the finale.[8] He finished as the runner-up on the show and had the opportunity to share the stage with multi-platinum recording artist, Josh Groban.[9]

After departing from Rising Star, French began his journey into the CCM industry. He was led to his manager and CEO of One One 7, Jason Davis, a manager/partner with First Company Management. Through many writing trips to Nashville, Tennessee, Austin began to grow his ministry and develop into a true artist. His passion for ministry led him and his family to Delray Beach, Florida, serving as the worship pastor at The Avenue Church. While in Florida, French continued to write and travel to Nashville, writing songs and make friendships that would be vital to his future in the industry. After years of work, Austin signed a record deal with Fair Trade Services, a record label home for artists such as, The Newsboys, MercyMe, Phil Wickham, Laura Story, Hawk Nelson and several other successful Christian artists.[5]

French released his debut single "Freedom Hymn" on December 8, 2017.[10] A lyric video was released on September 19, 2017.[11] The single went on to enter the Billboard Hot Christian Songs Top 10, peaking at No. 8. According to Billboard, the song increased seven percent to 6.8 million impressions, and peaked at No. 7 on the Christian Airplay chart.[12] His debut album Wide Open was released on September 7, 2018 and features 12 songs, including his singles "Freedom Hymn", "Wide Open", "Why God", "Born Again", and "Good Feeling".[13] The album went on to chart on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts, at Nos. 30 and 9 respectively.[14] "Good Feeling" was featured in the teaser trailer for the 2025 Pixar film Elio.[15]

In 2024, French accompanied Christian band Big Daddy Weave for the spring leg of the band's ongoing Heaven Changes Everything tour.[16]

Discography

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Albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Christ.
[14] 		US
Heat
Wide Open[13] 30 9

Extended plays

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List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title EP details Peak chart positions
US
Christ.
[14] 		US
Heat
Wake Up Sleeper — —
Broken Home
  • Released: August 9, 2024
  • Label: Fair Trade Services/Awaken Records
  • Formats: Digital download
 — —


Singles

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Year Single Chart positions Album
US
Christ 		US
Christ Air.
2017 "Freedom Hymn"[17] 8
[18] 		7
[19] 		Wide Open
2018 "I Need a Hallelujah"[citation needed] — —
"Born Again"[20] 17
[21] 		14
[22]
2019 "Why God"[23] 27
[24] 		23
[25]
2020 "Wake Up Sleeper" 20
[26] 		14
[27] 		Wake Up Sleeper (EP)
"Rest for Your Soul" — —
"Perfect Love" — —
"Peace on Earth" — — Non-album single

Promotional singles

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Year Single Chart positions Album
US
Christ
2018 "Wide Open"[28]
(featuring Matthew West) 		— Wide Open
"(I've Got That) Good Feeling" (feat. Marina The Mermaid of The Westside Girls)[29] —

Other charted songs

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Year Single Chart positions Album
US
Christ
Digital
[30]
2019 "Born Again"
(featuring Zauntee) 		18 non-album single

Other appearances

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Year Song Album
2019 "Enough"
(Social Club Misfits featuring Austin French) 		DOOM. EP
2020 "My God Fights For Me"
(Micah Tyler featuring Austin French & Nickie Conley) 		New Today

Competition singles

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Year Single
2014 "I Don't Want to Be"[31]
"Georgia on My Mind"[32]
"If I Ain't Got You"[7]
"The House of the Rising Sun"[33]
"Love Runs Out"[34]
"Bless the Broken Road"[6]
"In Love with a Girl"[35]

Awards

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GMA Dove Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Austin French New Artist of the Year Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Austin French. "Austin French - About". Facebook. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Practice runs with my new G810RE guitar from @gopherwoodguitars and my new life from Jesus:) I'm Born again, how about you?". Facebook. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  3. ^ "Austin French - Fair Trade Services". FairTradeServices. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. ^ American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. "GOOD FEELING Work ID No.894976155 IPI No.834705239 (FRENCH AUSTIN BRYAN)". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved January 6, 2015. GOOD FEELING Work ID No. 894976155 IPI No. 834705239 (FRENCH AUSTIN BRYAN)
  5. ^ a b "Austin French". AustinFrench. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Bless the Broken Road (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. 25 August 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "If I Ain't Got You (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. 3 August 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. ^ "ARising Star Season 1 Finale Recap: And the 'Winner' Is…". TVLine. 25 August 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "Austin French, 'Rising Star': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "Austin French - Freedom Hymn Lyric Video". Facebook. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  11. ^ "Austin French - Freedom Hymn (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  12. ^ "Bethel Music's 'Moments' Bows on Top Christian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Wide Open by Austin French on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "Austin French – Chart history (Top Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  15. ^ News, GMA (July 5, 2023). "Austin French's "Good Feeling" Featured In New Disney Pixar Trailer". Gospel Music Association. Retrieved August 29, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ "Big Daddy Weave Announces Spring Heaven Changes Everything Tour". gospelmusic.org. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. ^ "Freedom Hymn - Single". iTunes. 8 December 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  18. ^ "Austin French – Freedom Hymn Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "Austin French – Freedom Hymn Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  20. ^ "Austin French – Born Again". DailyPlayMPE. 20 July 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "Austin French – Born Again Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  22. ^ "Austin French – Born Again Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  23. ^ "Why God - Single". iTunes. 25 May 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  24. ^ "Austin French – Why God Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  25. ^ "Austin French – Why God Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  26. ^ "Austin French – Wake Up Sleeper Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  27. ^ "Austin French – Wake Up Sleeper Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  28. ^ "Wide Open - Single". iTunes. 27 April 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  29. ^ "Good Feeling - Single". iTunes. 22 June 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  30. ^ "Austin French – Chart history (Christian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  31. ^ "I Don't Want To Be (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  32. ^ "Georgia on My Mind (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  33. ^ "The House of the Rising Sun (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  34. ^ "Love Runs Out (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  35. ^ "In Love With a Girl (Rising Star Performance) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
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