Word Entertainment came out on top during Friday’s GRAMMY nominee announcements, receiving more Contemporary Christian nominations than any other company. Claiming multiple nods in the two Contemporary Christian categories, Francesca Battistelli and For King & Country, Needtobreathe and Natalie Grant were among the nominees.

“These nominations are a huge statement for our artists and an exciting recognition of their work,” Word Entertainment President and CEO Rod Riley said. “I am extremely proud of our artists and our team.”

Francesca Battistelli, who has been previously nominated, claimed two nominations for If We’re Honest (Best Contemporary Christian Album) and “Write Your Story” (Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song).

“I am floored!” said Battistelli, who was also the Gospel Music Association Dove Award Winning Artist of the Year. “What an amazing honor. For this new music to be recognized by my peers is just incredible. It’s true what they say—just being nominated for a GRAMMY is a huge privilege.”

Australian duo For King & Country (Fervent Records) received two nominations—Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. (Best Contemporary Christian Album) and “Messengers”—Lecrae, featuring For King & Country (Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song). The brother duo, who received a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year a year ago, has scored significant victories throughout the year, including a top 15 Billboard 200 album debut and a No. 1 multiformat single.

“We remember when our debut album was about to release, someone asked us what our hopes and dreams were,” the brothers said in a statement. “We first wanted people to be impacted by the hope of music, but also had the distant dream of being nominated for one of music’s most prestigious honors. Today, three years onward, to be nominated for two GRAMMYs by a group of people we call friends is truly a gift.”

Needtobreathe, the Atlantic/Word Records band that recently appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, received its first GRAMMY nomination in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category for “Multiplied,” which spent 29 weeks on the chart at NCA, peaked at No. 5 and remained in the top five for four weeks straight. “Multiplied” previously was nominated for Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year at the 45th Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Natalie Grant received her third career GRAMMY nod. Grant, who claimed the Dove Award Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years, was nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian Album category for Hurricane (Curb Records).

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. Artists from other labels who received GRAMMY nominations include MercyMe (Fair Trade Services), Royal Tailor (Essential Records) and Erica Campbell (My Block/eOne)

Click here for the complete list of nominees.

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