13TH ANNUAL WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS: Voting Starts Monday 12/2 | Tickets On Sale - Live Ceremony 4/8
NRT Christian Music News Update
Grace Graber Celebrates 20 Years of Hawk Nelson's 'Letters to the President' with "California"
Graber's cover continues to position her as the new voice of Christian punk
 

Grace Graber Celebrates 20 Years of Hawk Nelson's 'Letters to the President' with
   

Posted: July 14, 2024, 5:00 PM | Category: New Releases
Artist Tags: Grace Graber
Source: Mary Nikkel Media

Christian punk artist Grace Graber has released her own take on Hawk Nelson's "California" in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Letters to the President, the album that originally held the punk-rock staple. You can stream the song here.

The moment is the latest in a string of full-circle milestones for the singer and songwriter, who has often attributed a Hawk Nelson song with saving her life when she was a suicidal teenager struggling with PTSD. Specifically, the album Letters to the President was pivotal for her.

"When I was 16 years old, I had the chance to sing with Hawk Nelson," Grace Graber recalls. "This show was my first chance to really tell all of the guys about the impact they had made on me. I got in the meet-and-greet line, and I walked up to them, essentially crying. I told them how much God had moved in my life since that song saved my life. And I was like, 'My biggest dream one day is to sing with you.' And I remember Jason just looked straight up at me, and he said, 'Well, let's make that dream come true!'"

The very next night, Grace took the stage with Hawk Nelson to sing with them during "California." She says, "After I got off stage, I immediately thought to myself, if God can do that, He can do anything. And if my wildest dream came true at 16, what else might He have for me? So 'California' has very big significance for me because that was the song that God used to knock all of my biggest dreams out of the park, making way for what He would do with me in the future."

In the years since then, Grace Graber has become an outspoken social media advocate for mental health, breathing hope into the lives of teenagers in a position like the one she was once in. Her Conversations EP captured national attention with its musings on the intersection of faith and mental health. With her upcoming album, The Breakthrough, those themes will be drawn from an even deeper well of redemption. Songs like recently released "Grace of God" put the testimony Grace has lived on bold display.

The thread of God's faithfulness through ties back to Hawk Nelson has been a consistent throughline. Founding Hawk Nelson singer Jason Dunn sang with Grace Graber on her track "This One's For You." She has worked with several other former members of Hawk Nelson in the studio.

For Grace, it all started with Letters to the President. Her take on the sunny summer anthem "California" pays homage to the band's long-term impact.

"My hope is that every member of Hawk Nelson knows how loved and cherished they are, how much impact they had," Grace concludes. "This song is my love letter to Hawk Nelson."

Stream "California" by Grace Graber now here.

 


 


More Christian Music News Headlines View All News Add News

ADVERTISEMENT

for KING + COUNTRY Releases Concert Album
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Van Zant Releases First New Album in Two Decades
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Katy Nichole Launches Viral Hit
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Jason Lovins Band Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Upcoming Album
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Maddi Jane Releases New EP
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Skillet Surprises Fans with Upcoming Book
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Colton Dixon Announced As Co-Grand Marshal for Christmas Parade
Saturday, November 23, 2024
MercyMe Announces Spring 2025 Tour
Saturday, November 23, 2024
VIDEO PREMIERE: Niki Lou Savich "Home"
Thursday, November 21, 2024
View All News

Christian Music, Facebook Christian Music, Twitter Christian Music, YouTube Christian Music, Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

13TH ANNUAL WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS: Voting Starts Monday 12/2 | Tickets On Sale - Live Ceremony 4/8

Christian Music

©2024 NewReleaseToday
A Division Of NRT Media Inc.

 

Secure
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Discover New Artists
New This Week
Coming Soon
Playlists
Free Music
Album Reviews

NEWS
New Music
Movies / Media
Events
Tours
General

PODCASTS
NRT Now Podcast
NRT Podcast Network

VIDEOS
Music Videos
Exclusives

EXCLUSIVES
Articles
Devotionals
Interviews
Concert Reviews
We Love Awards

MORE INFO
RSS
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Advertising
Staff
New Music Email
Contact

RESOURCES
Music Studies
Artist Training

CONNECT
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube