Tori Kelly wins two Gospel Grammys, thanks her ‘hero’ producer Kirk Franklin
Article By Tammi Baylor // Music & Awards // EEW Magazine
When former pop singer, Tori Kelly, a Christian, decided to venture into the gospel music genre, she tapped GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and composer, Kirk Franklin.
That decision turned out to be a great one and has resulted in the chart-topping singer taking home two Grammy trophies of her own.
The gifted soloist’s sophomore album, Hiding Place, produced by Franklin, won Best Gospel Album.
Her single, "Never Alone" co-written by Franklin, also won Best Gospel Performance/Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
It was a good night.
“What a wild day. I still don’t know how I was somehow able to soak the tears back into my eyes as I was walking up to accept each of these,” said 26-year-old Kelly in an Instagram post celebrating her wins.
Tori Kelly, winner of Best Gospel/Performance Song for 'Never Alone', and Best Gospel Album for 'Hiding Place', poses in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty)
“I dreamed about this since I was a kid. Never thought I would get 2 in 1 night,” she continued. “I don’t think I fully even know what happened. I just know that I’m so incredibly grateful & will never forget this feeling. All glory to God. Kirk Franklin, you’re my hero.”
With the help of the 49-year-old CEO of Fo Yo Soul Recordings, who seems to turn to gold everything he touches, Kelly is living a childhood dream and spreading the love of Jesus through her music.
During her Grammys acceptance speech, she said he “just took me under his wing, and really just saw the passion that I had for gospel, and just for the Lord.”
Kelly also told Franklin, “Kirk, I love you so much. I’m sharing this with you.”
In an interview with The Associated Press, Kelly gave it up in a big way for Franklin. “Kirk is an amazing producer, songwriter, hype man—like, he does everything,” she said. “And I think working with him was so cool, because he’s just been in this industry for so long. I felt like, okay, I want to just learn everything I can from him, and I think I kind of soaked it in like a sponge.”