Don't worry, Christian music fans, Stacie Orrico isn't going all "Jennifer Knapp" on us and disappearing indefinitely. In fact, after a nearly three-year hiatus, she's back and feeling better than ever with a brand new, R&B infused single, "I'm Not Missing You," the first preview from her upcoming disc, Beautiful Awakening.
But as exciting as that news is for everyone who's been patiently waiting, the question remains: Where exactly has Stacie been all this time?
Well, after the whirlwind success that came with the release of her self-titled album, which garnered hit singles "Stuck" and "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" the young singer was exhausted. And really, who could blame her? This girl was everywhere - from MTV's Total Request Live to the Grammy Awards to summer music festivals and appearances to print ads that appeared in Vogue. When she wasn't performing or posing for a photo op, she was probably on an airplane for one of her international tours.
So instead of trying to work on fumes and make another album half-heartedly, Orrico took time for a little R&R with her family in Seattle and friends in Malibu. Rumor has it; she even landed a "regular" job as a waitress (bet that was fun for fans that stopped in for dinner those nights).
And now after resting up, Stacie is confident that her time away from the scene provided the creative boost she needed, something fans will soon be able to decide for themselves with the summer release of Beautiful Awakening. "My time away from the music scene enabled me to reflect on the experiences of the Stacie Orrico project and prepared me to channel my growth into this new album," she says. "I can't wait to share new stories of my life in a more soulful and personal body of work. Stories of love, heartbreak, coming of age, growing pains and the true joy that can be found in the process - in the journey of this thing we call life!"
So while it remains to be seen if fans will still be "stuck" on Stacie, we predict it won't be long before they regain their fervor.