Lauren Daigle Fans Disappointed After Singer Wouldn’t Call Herself a ‘Christian Artist’ in Secular Interview

LOS ANGELES — Fans of CCM artist Lauren Daigle are again expressing disappointment after the popular singer would not forthrightly consider herself a Christian artist when asked about the characterization last week on a secular radio station, and did not mention Jesus, but only talked about herself throughout the interview.

“[A]s far as your music, you’re known as more of a Christian artist,” noted Dave Styles of MYfm in Los Angeles, to which Daigle nodded. “But now, with all this mainstream, I mean, you’re here [on our station] … mainstream, hot AC.”

“What do you call yourself? How do you name yourself?” he asked. “Do you call yourself still a Christian artist even in the mainstream, or what do call yourself?”

“I feel like those labels get put on you by other people,” Daigle, most known for songs “You Say” and “How Can It Be”, replied.

“I was reading an article … and one of them’s like ‘Christian artist’ and another one is just ‘artist.’ So, I think part of me is just ‘artist’ because it encompasses everything. That’s kind of how I see myself.”

Styles asked Daigle about her thoughts now that her music has crossed over and is also being featured in the mainstream. She referred to the experience as a ride.

“While we were making the record, we were constantly in this state of studying the greats that kind of came before: Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Andrae Crouch … Lauryn Hill,” Daigle, 27, explained.

“I remember talking so much, like, let’s just make sure that we make music that we believe in that’s pure, true sound, and something that we love, and it will transcend wherever it’s supposed to go,” she continued, “but let’s make sure that it’s pure and authentic to who we are.”

Daigle outlined that she believes that the “connectibility” of her songs, in that people can relate to the experiences and feelings expressed in the lyrics, makes them have wide appeal. She stated that she reads messages on her Instagram of people who are going through struggles and want help.

“I just want to see people come together. I want to see it become something pure. And if someone is going through the worst of times, I want them to be able to hold on to the people around them and to the message of these songs and pull them out,” Daigle said.

Daigle also explained that she hears stories on the road of how her songs have impacted listeners, and sometimes fans tell her that they cry to her music.

In response to other various questions during the interview, Daigle also talked with Styles about being a “food junkie,” her lack of ear wax, and watching documentaries on the road, including “20 Feet From Stardom,” which tells the story of Michael Jackson’s background singers. She additionally discussed her love of skydiving.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie. … I love skydiving. I did it in Hawaii,” Daigle outlined. “Skydiving is amazing. [Actor] Will Smith does this whole thing where you’re like drinking with your friends the night before, you’re like, ‘Let’s go skydiving in the morning.’ You’re kind of joking, but everyone’s together, so it’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s do it.’”

“My manager and I did a 400-foot cliff jump over crocodile-infested water in Africa,” she shared.

A number of fans expressed disappointment after watching the interview, which was posted to YouTube.

“Not one mention of Jesus Christ. This was your opportunity to give God the glory He deserves, but instead you gave Him no mention at all but made it all about you,” one commenter wrote.

“Soooo many opportunities to declare the gospel and connect Jesus to the masses and she shot every single chance down,” another opined.

“I understand that people think her music was what kept them from suicide, but she could have just said that the Lord used her music to keep that person from suicide,” a third opined.

“Out of her own mouth, says she spends most of her time eating and having fun! No mention of spending time in prayer, the Bible, God or Jesus!?” another wrote.

Some commenters noted that other CCM singers and bands have likewise said that they don’t consider themselves to be a Christian artist, but just an artist who is Christian. Others worried that Daigle could go the way of Katy Perry or Amy Grant.

View the interview in full above.

As previously reported, a number of fans likewise expressed disappointment last month when Daigle stated during a secular radio show that she “can’t say one way or the other” whether or not homosexuality is sin and would prefer to just point people to the Bible to find out for themselves.

“You know, I can’t honestly answer on that, in the sense of I have too many people that I love—that they are homosexuals,” she told the Domenick Nati Show.

“I don’t know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God,” Daigle continued. “So, when people ask questions like that, that’s what my go to is. Like, I just say, ‘Read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out, let me know because I’m learning too.’”

Daigle had been asked the question due to her recent appearance on “The Ellen Degeneres Show.”

According to reports, Daigle leads worship at Andy Stanley’s North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. An “In Case You Missed It” page on the site shows others at the church performing secular music on stage at times, from Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, to Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”, to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”, to a Beatles Medley.

Stanley expressed support for Daigle on Dec. 3, simply posting to Twitter, “FTR: Our family loves @Lauren_Daigle.”

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