“It was Really, Really Painful”: Anne Wilson Shares the Moving Inspiration Behind Her New Song, ‘God Story’

Ahead of the arrival of her brand new single, ‘God Story’, on Friday (June 20th), Anne Wilson has opened up to fans about the moving, bittersweet inspiration behind the track.

The ‘My Jesus’ hitmaker continues to blur the lines between country and Contemporary Christian music, with her 2024 effort, REBEL, drawing widespread plaudits for the ease and sincerity with which Wilson navigates the two landscapes.

Following the expanded REBEL (Revisited) project, which dropped in April and featured acoustic renditions of fan-favourites from the album, including ‘The Cross’ with Chris Tomlin, ‘Country Gold’ with Jordan Davis and ‘Praying Woman’ with Lainey Wilson, Anne Wilson is now preparing to launch her next chapter with ‘God Story’.

In a heartwarming new video, the Kentucky native explains where the uplifting, joyful ode to the ways in which God has guided her and offered her comfort during the hard times, as well as delivering an abundance of wonderful blessings, came from.

Anne Wilson endearingly reflects on how, initially, she never thought her career would pivot around music, “Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut, and my dream was to work for NASA. I thought for sure by now, at 23 years old, that I would be on my way to becoming an astronaut - but God had very different plans for my life”.

The ‘Rain in the Rearview’ crooner then touches on the moment that changed everything, “When I was 15, I went through a really tragic time. I lost my brother Jacob in a car accident, and it was the most devastating time of my entire life. I'll never forget the day that me and my family found out that he had passed away, and just this reality that I wasn't going to see him again until Heaven. It was really, really painful. But in the midst of all of that, God started to open doors for me and started to show me what he was going to do with my life. And for me, it was getting to have a platform to share the gospel and to spread the love of Jesus”.

It was a viral video of Anne Wilson singing publicly for the first time at her brother's funeral, with Wilson performing a stirring version of Hillsong Worship's ‘What a Beautiful Name’, that first caught the attention of Capitol Christian Music Group.

Anne Wilson recalls how, despite the heartbreak and grief that consumed her at the time, God had a bigger plan, “And slowly but surely, I moved to Nashville and got a record deal and started putting out music. And honestly, I can look back now at 23 years old and say that my entire life has been a ‘God Story’. My entire life, God has been writing a story that was far greater than anything I could have ever imagined”, before concluding, “And he can do the very same thing for you”.

Last night (Monday, June 16th), the ‘Milestones’ singer-songwriter performed the live debut of ‘God Story’ at an exclusive Capitol Christian Music Group event in Nashville.

Anne Wilson continues to cement herself as a key figure in both the modern country and Contemporary Christian scene, with the soul-stirring ‘God Story’ set to add another boost of momentum to Wilson's ascent as she readies for her third studio album.

Since venturing into Music City, Anne Wilson has received support from across the country world. Just last week, for instance, Wilson shared a touching note of gratitude to Lainey Wilson - who is no relation, despite having the same last name - thanking her for sending over a gift box containing the latter's new Wrangler collaboration.

Later this summer, Anne Wilson embarks on one of the biggest tours of the year, with Wilson opening for Morgan Wallen on his I'm the Problem dates in Seattle and Santa Clara.

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