There are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who have the desire to work within the music industry. For some people, they want to be the talented artist that shares music with the world, some want to be the producer that makes all the beautiful sounds come together, the writers who put pen to paper and make words flow together, or even the management.

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At the end of the day, there are multiple ways to find a career in the music industry but there are still tons of people who haven't made it to the glory stage. Michigan is one of the lucky states that has seen many of its natives or others will significant ties have success in music.

Most of them are from Detroit or have gone through Motown Records but everyone once in a while, somebody who has no connection to either makes sounds in the business. That's exactly what happened when Jess Russ won her first grammy at the 2025 awards show.

Jess Russ is a Christian songwriter from Alabama who spent her undergraduate years at Concordia University Ann Arbor as a music education major, a member of the women's lacrosse team, and an organizer for the student life events. She would graduate in 2020 and instantly went to work creating a masterpiece.

Herself and 3 other writers took days writing “That’s My King” which would have vocals provided by the legendary CeCe Winans. The song would go on to win the 2025 Grammy award for the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. Russ shares the award with singer CeCe Winans and other songwriters Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble and Lloyd Nicks.

The award was announced during the live ceremony on Sunday February 2nd and all 4 of the writers and the singer were there to accept the award. Here is what Jess Russ had to say while accepting the award and shortly after:

This song was written by a bunch of strangers who became family in a room, and the room was full of joy, God is kind.

 

I’m fighting back tears, but we’re doing all right, we wrote the song four years ago, almost to the day. It’s taken a journey for sure. ... And thank you, CeCe Winans. I mean, she’s a legend. I weep like a baby every time I hear ‘Alabaster Box’ still, and so does my mom. We just are grateful that she decided that this was a song she wanted to carry.

Russ now lives in Nashville, Tennesse working as a creative specialist at Integrity Music but now one of her biggest dreams has come true. She can now not only be a walking testimony but continue to accomplish more of her goals as he strives for greatness.

2025 Grammys Red Carpet Photo Gallery

See fashion photos from the 2025 Grammys red carpet (Feb. 2).

Gallery Credit: Jacklyn Krol

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