A natural-born performer, Christa Black’s life embodies the entirety of the modern artist. Popular blog author, multi-platinum-selling songwriter, and captivating performer, Christa has traveled the world and shared the stage with renowned artists from the Jonas Brothers and Michael W. Smith to Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Knapp.

Photo by Breezy Baldwin

While Christa’s effortless singing and accomplished violin and songwriting abilities have attracted critical acclaim, she is much more than just a musician. Her blog has inspired thousands to believe in themselves, challenging many to pursue freedom from addictions, eating disorders, shame, and self-hatred.

Christa’s newly released book God Loves Ugly chronicles her personal journey out of destructive cycles into a life of freedom. Unashamedly transparent, she describes her painful struggle to find personal peace from insecurity, self-hatred, sexual abuse, depression, and eating disorders. She takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, exposing the negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions that can lead to paths of bondage.  Her conversational style and light-hearted storytelling will leave you laughing at her mistakes, challenged by her teaching, and crying with her pain, inviting the reader into practical steps towards healing and freedom.

Photo by Anna Smith

Christa began her songwriting career during one of the most difficult times in her life.  In a desert treatment facility for eating disorders, she admitted herself for forty days and picked up an old guitar, writing songs that helped cope with the pain of her addictions.  Songwriting for personal therapy led to writing for others, and her songs–including the multi-platinum-selling songs God Loves Uglyand Was I The Only One recorded by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks–have inspired listeners to explore places of their heart they might have fought to ignore.

“Music evokes so much emotion.  It can bring happiness, pain, joy, anger, or peace.  I want to be so much more than just another songwriter–striving to write another hit song.  If I can write a song that brings life and is full of the freedom and insight i’m now living in, I might just be able to be a ray of sunshine into someone’s darkest time–in the 3 minutes it takes them to listen.”

Photo by Steven Taylor

Her book coincides with her album God Loves Ugly, pairing each chapter with a song that represents each topic addressed.

“So many people get the microphone and have nothing relevant to say.  In fact, I lived that way for a lot of my life–desiring fame and recognition out of insecurity and a need for approval.  But it’s so much more than that now.  This book, this music–I want people knowing their worth and value, and that it’s their absolute right to live full and free.”

An avid communicator, Christa’s speaking is as dynamic as her singing.  Her passion for releasing people towards wholeness and freedom is evident in everything she does, whether it be singing in front of thousands of people, speaking to large groups, writing a song that reflects her heart, or taking a stranger out to coffee and hearing their story.

Photo by Steven Taylor

“I took the long way around the mountain–hacking through uncharted territory and finding out the hard way how to make it to the other side of freedom.  My goal in all I do is to take what i’ve learned–the good and the bad–and show people the shortcuts I’ve learned navigating through life.  Basically, I hope I’m the sister you never had–but always wished you did.”

Christa now lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, or ‘Studhubs’ as she likes to call him, Lucas Gifford.