FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI
Artist Most Likely To Break Out in 20092. Family Force 53. Brandon Heath
Profile By Grace S. Cartwright
At just 23-years-old, Francesca Battistelli could potentially retire from the music industry. After all, the effervescent singer/songwriter has already garnered an impressive five Dove nods and two chart topping singles off her debut, My Paper Heart (Fervent). Still, it doesn’t look like she’s planning to stop making her mark on the music world quite yet. She has too much to do! Her jaunty first single, “I’m Letting Go,” dropped to radio in early 2008, with her debut following in July. Since then, the second single, “Free to Be Me,” has been turning heads and positioning Battistelli as a notable rising talent.
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During her short career thus far, she’s also managed to share the stage with everyone from tobyMac to Newsong. Still, the girl behind the huge smile appeals to fans for more than her Sara Barielles-esque vocals. She’s a role model for teen girls, delighting moms everywhere with wholesome, quality music for their daughters. Additionally, Francesca remains the “girl next door,” with a humble graciousness and a ready laugh. Giving fans a small glimpse into her heart, Francesca shares what she loves most about her life as an artist and the things she looks forward to when coming home.
HOME SWEET HOME
With her rigorous travel schedule, Francesca doesn’t get home to her native Orlando, Fla., too often. “I love meeting new people and seeing new cities! The airports and the new hotels; that’s the tough part, but it’s worth it. I love cooking and eating healthy, and that’s difficult on the road.” Now a Nashville resident, when she does manage to get some time at home, she says the first thing she does is “laundry! And I pretend I wasn’t living out a of suitcase!”
FAMILY MATTERS
Clearly grounded, Francesca has a strong support system behind her. “My family lives in Florida. I grew up in Orlando, right near Disneyworld,” she says. “I love my family and my friends! I have great support, and I couldn’t do it without them for sure.”
BEHIND THE SCENES
When asked about her favorite memory involving a fan, Francesca remembers, “There are so many great moments. I don’t know how I can pick just one! There was this little girl [when] I played a festival in Atlanta last summer, and her dad had her sitting up on this ledge so she could see me, and she was singing every word. At that point my record hadn’t come out, and it was really cool to see this little girl impacted by my music.”
FREE TO BE ME
Mothers of teens across the nation are toting their daughters to shows and belting out her tunes in the car because of her positive messages to young women. Always candid, she shares, “I think all women—especially young women— deal with insecurity about how we look or the gifts and talents that we have or don’t have. We want to compare ourselves to others. It’s not God’s best for us, and He created us uniquely. We are wonderful and beautiful just the way we are.”
A THANKFUL HEART
Francesca’s voice simply cannot contain her joy when it comes to her fans. She says if there’s one thing she wants to tell her fans, it would be, “Thank you, thank you! Without them, I wouldn’t be here, so I am so thankful.”
For more information on Francesca Battistelli, visit francescamusic.com.
To listen to an exclusive Readers’ Choice podcast interview with Francesca, visit our podcast page.
For a complete list of 2009 Readers’ Choice winners, log on to CCMmagazine.com/readerschoice09winners.
