Tony Cummings looks at the life and ministry of Nashville-based singer/songwriter LEANNA CRAWFORD

Leanna Crawford

Ever since Leanna Crawford scored her first Cross Rhythms radio hit in 2020 with "Funeral" - a self-written song about finding our identity in Christ ("So, I'm throwing a funeral, funeral for the old me/I'm throwing a funeral, funeral for who I used to be/The new has come, the old has gone/Praise the Lord I'm moving on") - listeners have been aware of Leanna's exceptional singing and songwriting talent.

Born and raised in Stanwood, Washington, Crawford was homeschooled by her mother, a former teacher, along with her two sisters and brother. Music was in her blood and at college gained a music business degree at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. Pivotal in Leanna's spiritual journey was a mission trip in 2012 where she felt God calling her into music ministry. The following year Crawford won Praise 106.5's Music Search with her song "Moment By Moment" and a recording was produced by Dove Award-winning producer Ed Cash.

But it was relocating to Nashville and being signed two Storey house collective by CCM big hitter Matthew West that put her into the Christian music fast stream. She toured with artists like West, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Matt Maher and 10th Ave North and had a stream of international Christian radio hits which included "What You Can't Forget" (2021), "Simple" (2022) and "I Know A Place" and "Make It Through" (2023) showing that her consummate songwriting craft and appealing voice make her one of the Nashville seems most respected talents. Her Christmas single "We Sing (Joy To The World)" is a duet with Seph "Counting My Blessings" Schlueter.

Her first album 'Still Waters' was released through Provident Label Group and peaked at 46 on the Billboard Top Current Album Sales listing. Talking to journalist Timothy Yap, Leanna said about her debut, "My prayer for whoever hears this record is that they feel a little less alone. I think it's beautiful when we bring things to light. God uses our testimony to encourage others, whether that's anxiety or depression, or just the valley that you're walking through. My prayer is that when you hear these songs, you hear these words, the music, that you're encouraged, that you're reminded that you are loved. There's a lot of chaos in the world, and I pray that you're reminded that the Lord is your shepherd and he leads you beside still waters."