Jamie Grace

With one listen to Jamie Grace's highly anticipated sophomore album, it's readily evident she's a multi-faceted artist with an abundance of talent. As the song titles reveal, the exuberant young singer-songwriter is a "Fighter," "Just A Friend," and "Every Bit of Lovely," but it's the album title that best encapsulates this season in the GRAMMY®-nominee's life. She is Ready To Fly.

"The entire concept of Ready To Fly is being ready even when you don't know your future," says Jamie. "I wrote the title track the night before I turned 18. I was crying out, wondering what God's plan for me was. I started to doubt so many things but as I randomly began singing the lyrics to Ready to Fly, I realized I don't have to have my whole life figured out to start my journey. This record is about waiting, yet while you're waiting being ready to move - ready to fly - when the timing is right."

Much has happened to the young Georgia native since she was discovered by GRAMMY® winner and Billboard 200 No. 1 artist TobyMac and subsequently signed to his label, Gotee Records. Jamie went from sitting on the floor of her dorm room writing love songs to sharing those songs with the world. As she did, it didn't take long for people to fall in love with Jamie Grace and her indomitable spirit. Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome when she was only 11, Jamie has refused to be defined by her challenges and has excelled in a highly competitive field on the strength of her intuitive songwriting, vibrant stage presence and loads of quirky charm.

Her debut album, One Song at a Time, earned Jamie the 2012 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year and the hit single "Hold Me" earned her both GRAMMY® and Dove nominations. She's appeared on such high profile media outlets as "The View" and her YouTube channel has surpassed 16 million views. The momentum continues with "Beautiful Day," the first single from Ready To Fly, which has briskly ascended the charts since its release.

"I'm just pumped that people are already excited about 'Beautiful Day' and that they are playing it," Jamie says, but she admits to being a little worried about what music biz insiders refer to as the sophomore slump. "This is scary, you have your whole life to write your first record and then you get to your second record and you've got one to three years, so it's totally different. It was a little intimidating, but then there were days when I thought, 'This is so fun!' I was just excited because the songs were sounding really good. I felt very confident while I was in the studio recording this album."

"Fighter" is an inspirational look at individuals who are facing challenges yet leaning on faith and persevering. Though the verses profile a hard-working dad, a struggling single mom and a young girl with cancer, the resilience and inspiration that Jamie sings about are qualities that she exudes in abundance. "The Waiting" is a poignant ballad Jamie co-wrote with Natalie Grant and her sister Morgan that Jamie started when a close friend was in a coma. Fueled by a strong undercurrent of hope, the song focuses on our patience being tried and tested. "Do Life Big" is a joyous anthem that again captures Jamie's vivacious approach to life and her art.

As sunny and effervescent as much of the album is, there's also a strong foundation that reflects this season in the young artist's life. "I've definitely matured," says Jamie. "This music comes from a deeper place. It's going to be really cool to share a little bit more of my diary pages, but I am also excited because there are a lot of songs on the record still that are giddy and show my dorky personality."

Happy, hopeful and passionate are qualities that describe Jamie Grace. As she's grown from a talented teen into an accomplished young woman, Jamie stands amazed at the events of her life so far.

"I'm so happy that I've gotten to do so much and I want to keep going, but if I have to stop, I could honestly say that I've done way more than what I was expecting. It's an honor to get to do what I do, and I want to do it for the rest of my life."