It’s honky-tonking, beer-drinking, hell-raising music but the lyrics of country melodies are also often deeply spiritual. Whether it’s Hank Williams’ gospel infused “I Saw the Light” or Vince Gill’s eulogy for a friend and brother in “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” country music lyrics are filled with references to God, faith and the Bible.
It’s no surprise that some of the genre’s biggest stars were happy to share their favorite Bible verses for a new book titled Country Faith.
Compiled by Deborah Evans Price, a writer for Billboard magazine, the book includes 56 reflections from stars including Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood and Miranda Lambert. Price simply asked the singers which Bible verse meant the most to them and why.
For some, narrowing the choices to one or two verses proved difficult.
Price said she asked country superstar Carrie Underwood to participate in the book while talking with the singer at a party during her Blown Away tour.
“I told her about this book and she said, ‘That’s so hard … I kind of like the whole book,’” Price said.
Underwood finally selected Romans 8:38-39 - “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
She told Price the verses offer encouragement that no matter what, God’s love endures.
Country music legend Charlie Daniels said he has always found comfort in Psalm 91:14-16 - “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
“I picked it because I travel so much,” Daniels said while on tour in Kentucky earlier this month. “It’s a song of protection. … When you do 100,000 miles of travel a year, you need a lot of protection.”
Daniels said he has traveled to many unsafe locations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, to perform for the troops.
He said Psalm 91 is something “I like to have at my fingertips.”
“These are not just pretty words but promises of God …. like in the 91st Psalm, his faithful promises are my armor,” Daniels said.
Daniels, now 77, was born in North Carolina and was raised on bluegrass, country, rhythm and blues and gospel music.
“If you were born in the South at that time, gospel [music] was a natural part of your life,” Daniels said. “Some of the first music I ever sang was gospel.”
While Daniels is known for his fiery fiddle playing and rebel country hits like “Uneasy Rider,” “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” gospel songs have been a constant presence in his career. He said when folks come to see the Charlie Daniels Band perform they expect to hear their old favorites, including, of course, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” But he saves space in the lineup for songs of the band’s choosing.
One gospel song that’s a fan favorite is “How Great Thou Art.”
Daniels said the Bible has influenced his life and music.
“It’s had a much bigger role in later years than in my early life, that’s for sure,” he said. “Itry to run every aspect of my life through my faith. I’m not always successful at it. I make a lot of mistakes, but I try to make it seven days a week.”
Price has been in Nashville, Tenn., 30 years covering the music that made the city famous. Her job as a journalist was a plus in reaching out to country music stars for Country Faith. She said she was surprised by how deeply these individuals related to the Bible and how much specific verses meant to them.
“There were people coming up with Scriptures I was not familiar with and that’s the coolest thing. I feel like doing this book was a gift for me. It helped me to know Scripture better,” she said. “It went beyond being a neat assignment to being something really personal that made an impact on me.”
Price, who has written about Christian musicians for years, said country artists don’t often have the same platform to sing and speak so openly about their faith. So for many, this book was special.
“It gave them the opportunity to speak about the Bible and what it means to them,” she said.
Price said she interviewed some stars and wrote their entries, but others wanted to write their own, including Paisley.
“He writes about ‘Those Crazy Christians’ and how what has really inspired him has been Christians putting their faith in action,” she said.
Rodney Atkins also wrote his entry.
“What he wrote just made my cry,” she said. “He’s talking about not praying little prayers and I just thought that’s something people need to hear.”
The book, published by Zondervan, will be in stores and available online Nov. 5. Word Records is releasing a companion album featuring songs by some of the featured artists, including Josh Turner, who wrote the foreword to the book and also has an entry.
Religion, Pages 12 on 10/26/2013