Nashville, Tennessee) –March 21, 2011 –That Christy Sutherland is on the brink of major artist breakthrough has 
never been more evident than in the radio release this week of her newest single, “He Grew The Tree.â€
The poignantly stirring ballad is a song with a special history. It was recorded in the 80’s by country superstar, Barbara Mandrell. It was Mandrell who, in fact, encouraged her daughter-in-law Christy Sutherland to revive “He Grew The Tree†for Sutherland’s forthcoming new gospel album—Greater Still –and was even gracious enough to go in studio to co-produce the album with Christy.
Notes Barbara: “‘He Grew The Tree’ is one of my top 5 favorite songs. I was the first artist to record it and I cannot think of anything better than having Christy record it—and asking me to produce it! Christy’s stellar vocals and immense songwriting talent have made my job of producing a pure joy. I could not be more proud of her new single or of her upcoming album!â€
Gospel radio’s major influencers will this week get a preview of “He Grew The Tree†–in a specially bannered Christy Sutherland priority mailing that will include a personally handwritten note from Barbara Mandrell. The impact at radio is expected to be a strong promotional set-up for the release of Sutherland’s new studio album in early summer.
The heartwarming element of ‘family ties’ to her latest single are not lost on Christy. She notes: “I remember listening to Barbara’s recording of ‘He Grew The Tree’ as a young girl—never dreaming that one day I would be recording the same song with Barbara producing!  We never know what God has in store.â€
Christy married Matt Dudney—now her manager—and the son of Barbara Mandrell and husband Ken Dudney—in July of 2006. In the five years of their creative partnership Christy has emerged as a major new presence in Christian music— presenting an amazing world-class vocal talent that transcends genres from southern gospel to contemporary and country inspirational formats. She has appeared on a wide range of national television from CBN’s “700 Club,†to TBN’s “Praise the Lord,†to globally televised Easter and Christmas Specials from The Crystal Cathedral’s ‘Hour of Power.’
The Easter Special from Crystal Cathedral will air in April.
With a win in 2009 for ‘Southern Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year’ in the Visionary Awards, Christy Sutherland came back in 2010 with a Diamond Award as ‘Christian Country Female Artist of the Year.’ Her guest star billing over the past three years in the Louise Mandrell Christmas Specials staged at Nashville brought her in front of a diverse audience of new listeners. Christy recently has broadened her reach even further in taping her first Gaither Homecoming special.
A gifted songwriter, major artists such as Sandi Patty, Rizen, The Greenes and Kim Hopper have recorded her songs. The Triumphant Quartet scored a Top 5 hit with her song, Somebody Died For Me. Christy’s God Is In This Place was published in a popular Word Music worship choral and her Cry In The Dark was picked up by Lifeway for a major Christmas musical. During the past four years, more than 40 recordings have been done of Christy Sutherland songs.
Christy Sutherland is already proven as an artist with a remarkable ‘reach’ in a career that has only the realms of greatness to be achieved in the future.
“He Grew The Tree†will be the focal point of special national radio promotions throughout April and May as a lead in to the new album release. Christy Sutherland will be the subject of a major spring promotional media/marketing campaign with national television, radio, and print being set.
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