Austin French

Austin French returned to the spotlight in 2017, presenting a lively blend of contemporary Christian pop laced with soulful touches after claiming second place on the television competition Rising Star. His opening single, “Freedom Hymn,” climbed into the upper ranks of the Billboard Christian Songs chart.

Raised in Cordele, Georgia, French resolved during eighth grade to pursue a career as a contemporary Christian artist following his experience at a faith-based music camp. He soon assembled groups and took them on the road throughout his high school years. In his final year of 2012, he advanced through multiple audition stages for the second season of NBC’s The Voice before being eliminated in the last round of blind auditions, preventing an on-air appearance. At eighteen he began serving as a worship leader, initially in Tifton, Georgia, and later in Delray Beach, Florida.

French secured a place on the debut—and ultimately sole—season of ABC’s Rising Star in 2014. Josh Groban hosted the program, whose celebrity judges included Kesha, Ludacris, and Brad Paisley. French advanced to the finale and finished as runner-up. Over the following years he participated in songwriting sessions in Nashville while maintaining his church duties.

In 2017 French signed with Fair Trade Services and issued his first single, “Freedom Hymn,” that December. His debut full-length album, Wide Open, arrived in September 2018. The project featured both “Freedom Hymn” and the follow-up single “Born Again,” each appearing on Billboard’s Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. Wide Open entered the Christian Top 40 and also registered on the Heatseekers chart, where it reached number 16.