Singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson has reached a career milestone, as his highest charting album to date happened this week. Counting Stars enters at #6 on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart and strong early support last week led to the project debuting at #1 on iTunes Christian Albums Chart.
Media has embraced Counting Stars as Peterson’s best project to date with JesusFreakHideout.com saying, Counting Stars is another success for Andrew Peterson, and the last five songs prove the artist can stretch beyond his comfort zone. Blogcritics.org and Seattle Post-Intelligencer rave, Counting Stars is an all-embracing music any lover of Christian folk gospel and contemporary music would warm to. NewReleaseTuesday.com adds, Andrew Peterson has been described as “one of the most thoughtful, poetic and lyrical songwriters of his generation.” And nowhere is that accolade more evident (and deserving) than on his latest release. And the CD even made USA Today’s playlist when “Planting Trees” was listed in Brian Mansfield’s 10 intriguing tracks for the week of July 19th.
Peterson has long been an industry favorite with his thoughtful lyrics and warm vocals, which made Counting Stars immediately connect with listeners through the themes of family and relationships. “Dancing In The Minefields”, a heartwarming song about the beauty and trials of marriage, is the second single from the CD and goes for adds at radio September 3rd. The video, produced and directed by Grant Howard, has had more than 40,000 views in just three weeks and is already having a powerful impact on viewers.
“In December of 2009 my wife and I celebrated fifteen years of marriage,” explains Peterson. “Three days later, we got in a silly argument and I wrote this song after she went to bed. Marriage, see, was God’s idea. It’s one of the most potent metaphors in all of Scripture for the way God loves us and the way we’re to let ourselves be loved by Him. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. To the contrary, it’s fraught with peril. Any good marriage involves a thousand deaths to self—the good news is, a godly marriage involves at least as many resurrections. We lay our lives down and enter this perilous dance with another human being who has done the same. Why should we expect to emerge unscathed? The wounds bear testimony to the great power of grace. If I had had any idea what I was getting into fifteen years ago I wouldn’t have walked the aisle—I’d have run down it.“
Peterson is winding down from a two-week promotional trip in support of Counting Stars, which took him to twelve radio stations in several states and Peterson met with such outlets as KLTY/Dallas, TX; Moody/Chicago, IL; KXOJ/Tulsa, OK and KHZR/St. Louis, MO. Peterson has also made several media appearances recently on LeSea’s Broadcasting’s Harvest Showand taped Live From Studio B, TBN/1 Music Village, FOX 17/TN Mornings and upcoming interviews with Nashville’s TV outlets, WKRN-TV/ABC and WSMV-TV/Better Nashville. Additional coverage for Counting Stars includes Worship Leader Magazine (September issue), HJ Live! (July review), ChristianMusicToday.com (July review), StereoTruth.net (July review) and upcoming features with YouthWalk Magazine, Christian Manifesto and CornerStonefaith.com.
Upon Peterson’s return to Nashville on August 6, he will host Hutchmoot 2010, a three-day conference for lovers of story, art, and music, featuring acclaimed author Walt Wangerin, Jr. as the keynote speaker. The event, an extension of Peterson’s Rabbit Room community, sold out in three weeks. On the opening night, Peterson will perform a CD release concert in support of Counting Stars for the attendees.
About Andrew Peterson
Peterson began his career in 1996 and signed with his first label, Watershed/Essential records in 1999. His first CD, Carried Along made CCM magazine’s list of Top Ten albums of 2000. In 2004, Peterson received his first Dove nomination for “Family Man” for Country Recorded Song of the Year. Peterson’s first project for Centricity Music in 2008, Resurrection Letters, Volume II, became the highest Billboard charting album of his career. Since 2004, Peterson has toured with several Nashville musicians and artists on his annual Christmas tour, Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ that will launch this year on December 2nd. Peterson has also authored three children’s books, The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats, On the Edge of the Sea of Darkness and the 2010 Christy Award winner for Young Adult Fiction, North! Or Be Eaten. For updates about Andrew Peterson please visit www.andrew-peterson.com or www.rabbitroom.com.
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