Question Time!
Question Time!
1.CCG: How has the death of your grandmother helped construct your faith?
Danielle: As you know, my latest song "Always With You" is dedicated to my grandmother who passed away from cancer this past April. The title of the song originated from a medal I had bought my grandmother a few days before she was diagnosed at a church in Quebec that said "Toujours Avec Toi" (Always With You). The meaning of the medal took on a whole new level once I knew she was going to pass away. I tend to believe everything happens for a reason. God has a plan that we may not always understand, but with time, the reason eventually unfolds. I can’t lie, initially the impending death of my grandmother had me questioning my faith. When my grandmother was first diagnosed with cancer, I was frustrated and angry with God. I had recently lost my grandfather and now I was witnessing another person I had been extremely close to suffer and be pulled away from me. All at a time when I felt I needed her most. I was trying to find the good in losing someone who was not only my grandmother, but my best friend and one of the strongest women I had ever known. I had been visiting every day for years and as much as I want to say I went to help them, they also helped me. I was literally losing a piece of me that had always given me a sense of purpose. How could that be construed into anything positive? Then I finally came to this conclusion. It was a gift from God that she would now be reunited with my grandfather who she had been married to for 67 years; it was a gift from God that she was out of her suffering; it was a gift from God that I got to visit her almost every day while she was alive; and it was a gift from God that I had such an amazing grandmother at all. Watching how strong her faith remained while she bravely entertained everyone with her bubbly personality until the last day, I realized that she believed no matter what that God was still with her which also meant God is also always with me and therefore, always with all of us.
2. CCG: How did you get into the Christian entertainment world?
Danielle: When I thought about my personality, the messages I wanted to send and who I wanted to be as an artist, Christian music simply made sense. My public experience with music actually began in church. When I was age 5 I began playing piano and singing in church for my school's Christmas events. Church was always a place of comfort for me. Once I entered high school, I became more private about my religious beliefs, but my attitude and my core values never changed. So when the opportunity arose, even though I was initially planning on singing Pop music, I chose Christian music instead. Although, the selection of Christian music over Pop was also influenced by special individuals whom I have met on my musical journey over the years. As I mentioned, I believe everything happens for a reason. God places specific people in our lives, so we can reach our goals according to his plan. I truly believe God placed my friends from the Christian Music Industry in my life not only so I could push myself, but also to make me realize my full potential was beyond what I had for my own plans.