Anne Wilson has a foot in both the country and Christian contemporary genres, so she’s got a unique perspective on the difference between the fan bases.
She got her start in the Christian music scene and has slowly started to cross over into the country music genre. She even opened for some stops on Morgan Wallen‘s I’m the Problem Tour.
Country fans and Christian fans have plenty in common. But during a conversation at the Taste of Country Nights studio, Wilson pointed to one major way in which they’re different.
“I get pushback more from the Christian side than I do the country side,” the singer admitted.
“The country side is like ‘Hey, come on in. We love your faith. We love you talking about what you believe in,'” Wilson elaborates. “But the Christian side is a lot more judgmental. It can feel like ‘Oh, you’ve [toured] with Morgan Wallen. You’ve changed.'”
She might be just 23 years old, but Wilson handles hard-hitting subjects like this one with confidence and grace.
“I try to just let that roll off my shoulder and not think about it,” she says.
“I don’t have to prove myself to anyone. I’m just gonna do what I’m gonna do and I’m gonna be myself, authentically, whether I’m opening for Morgan Wallen or I’m playing my own show at a theater or arena,” Wilson goes on to say.
As for her time opening for Wallen this past summer? Wilson says “It was a really cool experience.”
“It was my first time playing stadiums,” she added. “He was so sweet. He’s so talented and so gifted.”
Morgan Wallen + Anne Wilson’s Friendship Goes Deeper Than Just Touring Together
Wilson’s brother Jacob was killed in a car accident in 2017, and she says that Wallen’s music helped her through the tragedy.
Read More: How Morgan Wallen Helped Anne Wilson In Her Time of Grief
“When I was writing music, I would go to my farm in Kentucky and sit by my brother’s grave site,” she previously told Taste of Country. “I would sit and listen to Morgan Wallen, and this was when he was just coming out with music.”
Specifically, Wilson cited Wallen’s Dangerous album as a project that impacted her.
Wilson’s brother’s death is what spurred her to pursue music professionally. She’d never sang in public before her family asked her to sing at Jacob’s funeral, and she chose to perform “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong Worship.
Not only did the emotional performance comfort her grieving family, but it also revealed to Wilson — and others — her gift for music, and her calling to use it to foster faith and healing.
Where is Anne Wilson From?
Wilson was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky.
Where is Morgan Wallen From?
A little town outside of Knoxville, hidden by dogwood trees, called Sneedville, Tennessee.
11 Country Stars Who Speak Out About Their Faith
When it comes to country music, you don’t have to search for too hard to find songs that bring Jesus in.
Country stars tend to be bold in speaking out about their faith and the struggles they’ve had trying to walk that straight and narrow path to find God.
It’s also no surprise that many of fans’ favorite artists have either released Christian-leaning songs or have collaborated with gospel-singing neighbors.
We’ve rounded up several country singers who have unapologetically spoken to their faith for the world to see and who spread the Gospel, one song at a time.
Gallery Credit: Jess Rose
100 Faith-Filled Country Songs to Lift Your Soul
One thing country music has never shied away from is songs about faith. From Bible belt gospel tracks to songs thanking Jesus for His blessings in life, country music has written about it all. Here are 100 faith-filled country songs that will set your thoughts on Heaven above.
