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Lauren Daigle on the red carpet for the 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards at Allen Arena, Lipscomb University on Oct. 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.
Annette Holloway/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesLauren Daigle's Look Up Child logs its milestone 100th week at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, extending its record for the most time atop the tally in the list's 41-year history.
On the survey dated Aug. 28, the release returns to the summit with 5,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Aug. 19, according to MRC Data.
Daigle's third full-length arrived at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart dated Sept. 22, 2018, with 115,000 units. It concurrently started at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, boasting the largest week for a Christian music album since the latter began ranking by equivalent album units in late 2014.
The set has earned 1.9 million equivalent album units to-date, including 800,000 in album sales. It has been bolstered by the multi-genre hit "You Say," which dominated the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs list for a record 132 weeks. The song also led Christian Airplay for 17 frames and crossed over for a two-week stay atop Adult Contemporary.
As Look Up Child claims its 100th week at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums, Billboard caught up with Daigle for her reaction, as well as to find out what new music she has planned.
Lauren, first, a big congratulations. This album arrived before most of us knew what "pandemic" meant. As the album was released in what was essentially a different world, and as it's still No. 1, why do you think it has resonated?
The thing that is so special about music is that it really can be timeless. Throughout the record-making process for Look Up Child, I remember saying I just wanted it to be a timeless body of work. I want it to be something that even in 20 years, 30 years, people can still pull up and listen to.
I think that's the beauty of music as a whole. It can impact you in one way for a certain season or period of time, and then it can mean something completely different in seasons or years that follow.
It can be the same exact song, but it just hits you a different way due to whatever your circumstances are. I think that's what this record is doing for people. It's bringing them to a place of home that they remembered back in 2018, reflecting on good memories and good moments. They're finding a sense of home in the lyrics and in the sentiment of the record. I feel like when tragedy strikes or when chaos strikes, it's a beautiful thing to return home and to remind yourself that there is still good out there, and I think that's what people are doing with this record.
Did you have any idea at all that the album would be so successful, and what's the best part of that? Many listeners may have heard their first faith-based album because of your work.
This kind of successful, no. I guess it all depends on what your level of success is and what success means to you. If we're talking about charts, I would definitely say that this record surprised.
But when you're making a record, you hope that it would be something that's palatable, and tangible, and livable with people. To see these charts and to see the things that have come from the [commercial] success of this record is really beautiful because it means people are still holding onto it or finding it for the first time.
It's amazing to me,. It really blows my mind. I would say I had desired that it would be successful, but to see how effective it has become has been really beautiful. The best part of that is seeing how people have used the album and how it's walked with them through a really difficult time or beautiful season. That's the best part of this type of an accomplishment.
Are you writing or recording or planning a follow-up album?
Plans on the new record … yes, I've been writing and I'm in the process of seeing what the theme is going to be. Like, what are some elements that stand out from the songs I have written? But I still have a ways to go. The goal would be 2022 that a new record drops, but we shall see. I am writing, but we're about to go on tour so I'm taking a pause from writing and then I'll start back up.
PETA has called on Cage The Elephant to temporarily change their name ahead of their upcoming NFL halftime performance in Munich later this week.
The band are scheduled to perform during the New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions game this Sunday (November 15).
Ahead of the show, PETA has asked Cage The Elephant to change their name across their social media accounts to Free The Elephant for one week.
According to a press release from the animal rights group, an elephant named Okha “has spent most of her life forced to perform in the circus under the threat of punishment”. The organisation is now seeking support to “help retire her to a reputable sanctuary”.
PETA also alleges that Okha is “currently being hauled around in a trailer with an exhibitor, Brian Franzen”, who supposedly “has a history of felony cruelty to animals charges” and “was caught on camera yanking and striking an elephant with a bullhook”.
In a letter addressed to Cage The Elephant, PETA wrote: “There ain’t no rest for Okha. We think you’d agree that she deserves the chance to spend her remaining years in peace with care, dignity, and respect.
“Lending a rendition of your iconic name for a short while could… help us come a little closer to ending animal cruelty in circuses.”
PETA added that it has already held more than “30 demonstrations on Okha’s behalf, contacted venues hosting animal acts, and rallied tens of thousands of supporters to call for her retirement”.
The group is also asking the public to “call on venues to stop hosting circuses that use animals and help retire Okha to a reputable sanctuary where she could roam expansive habitats, forage, receive expert veterinary care, and have the companionship of other elephants”.
Cage The Elephant have not yet made a public statement about the request, and NME has reached out to the band for a response. Franzen has also not issued a public response to the allegations made by PETA.
The request follows a previous approach by PETA to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, asking him to temporarily adopt the name ‘Robert Plant Wool’ to help promote alternatives to sheep’s wool.
PETA has also previously urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Mario Kart World character Cow, claiming that its current appearance encourages animal cruelty.
Meanwhile, Cage The Elephant recently revealed details of their upcoming album ‘Dying In Reverse’, which is set to arrive on February 5, 2027, through Big Loud Rock. Fans can pre-order the record here.
The band are also preparing for a UK and European tour in 2027. You can check out the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
