The Red Clay Strays have released their third studio album, Grateful, and their title-track summarises where the band is currently at. The 2026 ACM Group Of The Year tell their story of rising up through the industry, from their Alabama roots to their headline arena shows. With their gratitude directed towards Him, the track carries a heavenly peace, attesting their success to the unrelenting belief and support of God.

‘Grateful’ is a gospel-fuelled book-end to the album. Following a similar ilk of ‘Demons In Your Choir’, the track feels like a full-circle conclusion. Boasting powerful choral voices that delicately support the verses and add gumption to the chorus, ‘Grateful’ is as much about the lyrics as it is about the feeling it evokes. It would be as at home in a church service as it would be on a record player in the living room.

Serving as an anthemic conclusion to the band’s three-part journey, Grateful as an album - and, in particular, ‘Grateful’ as a track - demonstrates The Red Clay Strays humility and deep-seated appreciation for where they’re from and what they’ve achieved.

Referencing times of struggle and hardship, The Red Clay Strays acknowledge that their resilience was heavily powered by their faith, “Can't count all the times You showed up in my life and brought me through”.

There is an element of self-deprecation, dismissing their worth and praising the compassion that God has demonstrated for whatever wrong paths they may have got lost down, “For the mercy You've shown me / And though I'm undeserving, You still give me all I need”. There is no mention of their own hard-work, grit and determination. This is a prayer to their most faithful, thanking Him for His unconditional love.

When a simple ‘thanks be to God’ won’t cut it, ‘Grateful’ is there to deliver.

Frontman, Brandon Coleman, spoke about the project, explaining that it completes a representation of their journey. “Moment of Truth was about having faith in dark times, while Made By These Moments was about realising those struggles shaped who you are," he said. "Now we're at a point where we're grateful.”

“Whenever I'm broken, whenever I've sinned
Whenever I'm hopeless, wherever I've been
You've always been with me, reeling me in
Through all of my failings, again and again

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The Good Lord's forgiveness, oh, it brings me to my knees
Through the good and the bad times, He still gives me a song to sing
Lord, I'm grateful, grateful
Oh, I'm grateful, I'm grateful

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Whenever I stumble, and when I fall down
Whenever I'm humbled, when I'm lost, and when I'm found
I know I can trust You, no matter what the world may do
Can't count all the times You showed up in my life and brought me through

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The Good Lord's forgiveness, oh, it brings me to my knees
Through the good and the bad times, He still gives me a song to sing
And Lord, I'm grateful, I'm grateful
For what the Good Lord's done, I'm
Grateful, oh, I'm grateful

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When I sit at my table
And eat the food that You put there
With my loved ones all around me
Not one empty chair
That's when my heart gets so thankful
For the mercy You've shown me
And though I'm undeserving, You still give me all I need

-

Lord, I'm grateful, oh, I'm grateful
For what the Good Lord's done, I'm
Grateful, oh, I'm grateful
For what the Good Lord's done, I'm
Grateful, oh, I'm grateful
Lord, I'm grateful, I'm grateful"

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