Christian singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb celebrated a magnificent 2014 as she received tons of accolades for her album As Sure as the Sun. Now, just a few months into 2015, she is looking to build on that success by touring with some high profile names, writing new music, and using her gift of music to further the gospel. Holcomb chatted with BC about what she is currently up to.

The singer said 2014 was a blessing and year she is grateful for because so many opportunities opened up. She was even recognized at the Dove Awards, winning "New Artist of the Year."

"Honestly, it is so humbling and it is such and honor. Just to even be a part of knowing what music has meant to me and how it's ministered to me, and in a lot of ways been a shield over me in seasons and on nights when I didn't know what to hang on to," she said. "To hear and see that maybe I could have contributed to that body of work is such an honor. I still can't believe that it happened. It's a little too good to be true."

Last year, Holcomb had the opportunity to perform and play shows with two huge artists in Christian music, Amy Grant and David Crowder. Getting to tour and play shows with them was a learning experience that Holcomb could never forget. The singer admitted she was "giddy" and revealed her initial excitement as "Really God, I can't believe this is happening now."

She continued, "I learned a ton from both of them. From Crowder, he is literally salt of the earth. He basically tours on the road, and it's like a family. He has been set free by Jesus. There is no pretense; he is exactly the person that God made him to be. "

Holcomb then explained that Grant is one of the most gracious people that she ever met. One example of this was a show they played on Holcomb's 32^nd birthday. Grant wrote her a birthday song and left it on her voicemail. The venue was decked out with flowers, balloons, and happy birthday signs. After the concert, the whole tour sang for her and had a cake and party.

"I learned graciousness from Amy and family from Crowder," said Holcomb. Also most importantly, she said David Crowder's beard is even more impressive in person and he "passed his beard glory" down to the rest of the band.

At the time of the interview Holcomb had just appeared on the radio show Sam's Place, hosted by Steve Curtis Chapman. The recently resurrected show takes place monthly at the famed Ryman Auditorium. The singer explained that "Sam" was one of the original guys who opened up the Ryman in the late 1800s. It was originally a church, and then was converted to a venue with the intention of always keeping it churchy. The "Sam's Place" show transforms the Ryman auditorium back into a church, and part of the proceeds go to Show Hope. "There's a sense of purpose to it, it is missions oriented," she stated.

She equated it to the "Grand Ole Opry for Christian music."

(Photo : Merge PR)

One of Holcomb's next big events occurs this spring when she heads out on tour with Third Day. Touring with Third Day will help her push her music out to a wider audience as she gets to perform to perhaps many people who have not heard the music before.

"One of my favorite things about getting to do this and travel to so many different churches across the country is you get to see people everywhere," said Holcomb. "It is such an amazing thing for me to see people all over the country getting together and enjoying and singing together to Jesus. I'm really looking forward to even just watching the show."

She wants these people to be able to grasp the message in her music, and wants to share her heart with them.

"A lot of time I'm just singing God's word and asking Him, 'Okay Lord, I believe you are good but help my unbelief. Help me to believe this promise is true'. I didn't believe for a lot of years that it was okay not to be okay. There has been so much freedom in my life. Where there's truth there's freedom."

With this being said, she is being honest about some of the struggles in life. "My heart would be to just refresh the hearts of saints. If there are people who are struggling or are weary or wounded, they would know that they are not alone."

(Photo : Merge PR)

Holcomb's music is powerful as she admittedly searches to dig into this message of "we are not alone." With that being said, she is often lumped together into the "CCM" genre of music although she wades the waters of indie and folk pop.

"I never thought that I'd be any kind of artist, I always wrote songs for myself, so basically I'm really selfish," she said with a laugh. "I was writing songs as prayers. When I was writing for this record I had no idea...I wasn't planning on releasing anything. Never thought anyone but family would hear them."

She continued, "It's really personal and real" because of this vulnerability that she thought would only be between her and God. This left her in the unique position of figuring out where he music belonged as sometimes she played with rock bands, and other times more pop artists.

Holcomb felt out of place but God told her, "I need Britt Nicole to be Britt Nicole. I need Tenth Avenue North to be Tenth Avenue North. I need Michael W. Smith to be Smitty, Amy to be Amy... and I need you to be you because no one else can be you. I made you just like you are." This was something that set her free and was just the right spark of motivation to continue on in whatever route God lead her to go.

Check back with BREATHEcast tomorrow for part two with Ellie Holcomb as she speaks about her unique approach to writing, fan testimonies, and new music.

The 32-year-old mother is also in her husband's band Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, and her father, Brown Bannister is an accomplished music producer. Aside from last year's full length, she released two EP's, Magnolia and With You Now.