The writer behind one of the most successful worship songs in the last decade was this close to releasing a 20-song country music album.
Cory Asbury is a name that many people know as a Christian artist. He joined the super popular Bethel Music collective in 2015, and then he wrote and released the song “Reckless Love” in 2018, and it was a massive success. So much so that he was soon experiencing and intertwined with the inner workings of the Christian music industry.
In a TikTok from later last year, Asbury revealed that he was very taken back by the things that he witnessed in the gospel space of the music world:
“I saw some things that I did not expect to see immediately. The one thing, that main thing that connected me to God, worship, felt tainted. I didn’t really know what foundation to stand on. Subconsciously, I think it almost became a goal of mine to tear down this industry that I was seeing this perversion and this evil in.”
Then, Cory Asbury had agreed with his label to put together a 20-song country music record. But something did feel right with the bad blood between he and Forrest Frank so Asbury decided to spend a week or so with the “GOOD DAY” singer, and when he got back… he had a sudden realization:
“To be fully transparent, I am in a label deal that paid me a lot of money to deliver a country album. Many of y’all have seen that music and have been blessed by that music. You know, I wrote probably 80 songs in that vein and was ready to release 20 of those. And when I got home from that trip, I looked at my wife and with tears in my eyes (and) soberly just said, ‘It’s not the time to release that music right now; it’s time to make Jesus music.’”
@coryasburyJesus gave me a song to sing, and I’m returning to the place where it all began—His heart, His presence, His nearness. It’s all that matters. Thanks for being patient with me. Love y’all ❤️❤️♬ Overcome – Skott
Earlier this week, Cory Asbury returned to TikTok for another update, explaining more of the why behind why he bailed on the country project. Once again, he touched on how how strange and weird it felt to make money from worship music and the gospel. He also found the Christian music scene to be off-putting, and apparently saw things that made him consider retiring from being an artist altogether:
“I was really thrown off by the dirtiness of the industry. Honestly, the sin in it was rampant. The biggest names, stuff that you would never want to see, I was seeing it. I was like, ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with this.'”
Instead, he decided to pivot in career direction, and started working on a country music album.
Asbury says that his label had given him half a million dollars to deliver nearly two dozen country songs. And he did just that… but as soon as it came time to start finalizing the project, he felt as though he was given direction from God to turn back to worship music:
“I had taken a $500,000 advance for a 20 song country album. And it was pretty much done… the Lord whispers to my spirit in an instant and says, ‘Be done, stop running. Move on to what you’re supposed to do. What you were made to do. What you were created to do.'”
So he listened to the Lord, and texted his wife to say that they’d need to give back the money that was given to them by the label. They both were in agreement, and Asbury says label couldn’t believe he was willing to walk away from something that was so close to being done:
“Years ago I wrote a song about a love that leaves the 99 to chase down the one. I didn’t know then that I would be the one. That He’d come find me again — gently, kindly — and call me back to the place it all started.”
@coryasburyYears ago I wrote a song about a love that leaves the 99 to chase down the one. I didn’t know then that I would be the one. That He’d come find me again — gently, kindly — and call me back to the place it all started.
Now, Cory Asbury is coming back to worship music with an album that he hopes can help people who have been disappointed or let down by the church. As for the country project that he put together… it may never see the light of day, and Asbury seems to be at peace with that.
