Dove Award winning artist Jennifer
Knapp reached a career milestone Wednesday when she received a Grammy
nomination for her critically acclaimed album Lay It Down, placing her as
the only female artist in the Best Rock Gospel Album category this year.
The Grammy nomination marks a first in Knapp’s career, and she also becomes
the first artist ever to garner the Recording Academy nod for her label,
Gotee Records.
Co-produced by Knapp and Audio Adrenaline’s Mark Stuart, Lay It Down has
generated attention at all levels since its release in early 2000.
Billboard says Knapp “proves herself to be the cream that rises to the
top–and she demonstrates she has the goods to be around for the long haul.”
CCM Magazine says Lay It Down “raises the bar artistically,” yielding a
musical sound “with smart pop-rock sensibility married to lyrics of
increased depth.” Powerhouse web retailer Amazon.com hailed Lay It Down as
one of its critically chosen 10 Best Christian & Gospel CDs of 2000. People
magazine labeled Knapp an “uncommonly literate songwriter and uniquely
expressive Christian-blues rock singer,” while the Dallas Morning News says
“Ms. Knapp just keeps getting better and better” and calls Lay It Down “one
of the year’s best.”
After nearly a year on the Christian retail chart, Lay It Down is on its way
to gold status, and has more staying power than any other Christian rock
album in 2000. The album’s single, “A Little More,” held the #1 slot on the
CHR chart for five weeks in a row, and garnered a Billboard Video Award
nomination. It eventually ended the year as the #3 CHR single for 2000,
while “Into You” was named the #10 CHR single of the year.
Knapp supported Lay It Down with live performances across North America,
Europe and Australia for most of 2000, touring with fellow artists Third Day
early in the year, and Jars of Clay later. She was featured on the covers
of Pollstar, CCM and Brio magazines, and even garnered a feature story in
the Los Angeles Times. Lay It Down’s music was also featured on episodes of
MTV’s “The Real World” and the WB Network’s “Felicity.”
Knapp is currently preparing to headline the “Back Forty Tour” with special
guests Bebo Norman and Justin McRoberts. The tour kicks off on February 22,
and will hit approximately 40 cities throughout the nation during the
spring. Detailed information on tour dates may be found atwww.jenniferknapp.com.
The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from the Staples Center
in Los Angeles on February 21. The program airs on CBS beginning at 8 p.m.
EST.
