Contemporary gospel singer Koryn Hawthorne, known for her soulful and resonant timbre, successfully combines elements of gospel and R&B in her music. She gained recognition after finishing fourth on NBC’s The Voice season eight, propelling her to the top of the gospel charts with her debut album ‘Unstoppable’ in 2018. The hit song ‘Won’t He Do It’ from the same album earned her a Grammy nomination. Hawthorne has continued her success in the gospel genre, receiving accolades such as a Dove Award nomination for ‘Speak to Me’ and achieving Top Ten positions on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart with her subsequent albums ‘I AM’ in 2020 and ‘On God’ in 2024.
Born in Abbeville, Louisiana, Koryn Hawthorne is the daughter of a minister and was introduced to music through church singing. Even during her high school years, she showcased her talent by performing at local events like festivals, nursing homes, and charity functions. At the young age of 16, she impressed the judges on The Voice with her rendition of Emeli Sandé’s ‘My Kind of Love,’ ultimately joining Pharrell Williams’ team. During her time on the show, Hawthorne received guidance from guest mentor Gwen Stefani and amazed audiences with her rendition of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Make It Rain.’ Subsequently, she signed with Maximum Artist Group in 2016 and recorded the theme song for the Bounce TV series ‘Saints & Sinners,’ followed by the release of her debut EP in 2017.
In 2018, Hawthorne made a significant impact with her first full-length album ‘Unstoppable,’ which not only dominated the Top Gospel Albums chart but also landed her a Grammy nomination for the powerful track ‘Won’t He Do It.’ Her musical journey continued with the success of the lead single ‘Pray’ from her second album ‘I AM’ in 2020, which included the acclaimed song ‘Speak to Me’ nominated at the GMA Dove Awards. She further solidified her position in the industry with the release of her third studio album ‘On God’ in February 2024, featuring the chart-topping single ‘Look at God’ co-written by Munson Steed. The album debuted impressively at number six on the Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.