record_label free to be me
Francesca Battistelli ( born May 18 , 1985 ) is an American Christian musician , singer - songwriter , and recording artist from New York City , New York . She was originally an independent artist and had released an independent ___MASK45___ , " Just a Breath ", in 2004 . Her first ___MASK74___ on ___MASK12___ , " My Paper Heart ", was released on July 22 , 2008 . Her first single , " I ' m Letting Go ", was released to radio stations in spring of 2008 and has charted on national Christian CHR charts since then . The song was the 16th most played song of 2008 on Christian radio stations according to R & R magazine . Battistelli received her first Grammy Award nomination in 2009 , for Best Gospel Performance with her single , " Free to Be Me ". She later received her first Grammy Award in 2016 at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance / Song with her single , " Holy Spirit " from her ___MASK45___ " If We ' re Honest ". `` Free to Be Me '' was released as the second single from CCM singer Francesca Battistelli ' s major ___MASK44___ debut album , My Paper Heart , in January 2009 . The song was certified Gold in the U . S . by the RIAA on April 21 , 2014 . ___MASK12___ is a contemporary Christian music record label based in Nashville , Tennessee . Fervent was bought by Word Records in 2005 .