Ellie Holcomb, a Dove Award-winning Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) recording artist who was named the Gospel Music Association’s (GMA) 2014 New Artist of the Year, performed at the Indiana Pacers’ “Faith Night” earlier this month (Jan. 5).
Taking the stage after the Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 116-150, Holcomb performed an hour-long set featuring a combination of songs from her Dove Award-winning studio and children’s albums.
“I love it being able to play for events like the Pacers’ Faith Night because I love community,” Holcomb told ChurchLeaders. “I think sports and music are two things that bring people together, and so when they marry those two things in one night, it feels really special.” Holcomb shared that she loves to play for people that might not have ever heard of her but who stick around after the game and end up becoming fans.
Because Holcomb was able to welcome Pacers’ fans to a new year, ChurchLeaders asked her what her most memorable moment in 2023 was. The mother of three, who is married to Drew of the Americana band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, replied that this past fall was the first time that all of her kids were in school and that it has been amazing to watch them grow in this new season of life.
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The stay-at-home mom said that she has been using the extra alone time to spend more time with God through prayer and meditation. “I am so very grateful to have that time,” she said.
Holcomb said her word for 2024 is “stillness” and that she intends (she uses the word “intentions” in lieu of “resolutions“) to take a pause before making decisions—”to try to get to a place of being still and listening.” She also intends to take each of her kids on a “mama date” each month.
Later this year, Holcomb will be joining her friend Lauren Daigle for Daigle’s 2024 “The Kaleidoscope Tour.” The two wrote Daigle’s song “Be Okay,” which was released on Daigle’s 2023 self-titled album.
Holcomb shared the emotional story of how the song was created. “There was a parent who reached out and let me know that their little girl was in hospice and was losing her battle with cancer,” she said. “The mother shared that her little girl was a huge fan of my music and was reaching out to see if I could just send her a video.”
The song “Be Okay” was inspired by Holcomb’s correspondence with the 11-year-old. “Her story and heart captured my heart,” Holcomb said, sharing that she started writing the song while she was on a plane heading to meet Daigle for a writing session. “It was so beautiful because we were able to finish the song and send it to [the little girl] before she went home to be with God,” Holcomb added.
 recording artist who was named the Gospel Music Association’s (GMA) 2014 New Artist of the Year, performed at the Indiana Pacers’ “Faith Night” earlier this month.){kind=link}