Country music has often been associated with bar songs such as Garth Brooks’ “Friends In Low Places,” womanizing tunes such as George Strait’s “All My Exes Live In Texas,” or two-stepping tunes like Dwight Yoakam’s “Guitars, Cadillacs and Hillbilly Music.” From the very beginning however, the roots of country music have also been steeped in gospel music. Early in the twentieth century, A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, his brother Ezra Carter, and Ezra’s wife Maybelle Carter (mother of June Carter), established the legacy for the musical Carter family, whose music influenced bluegrass, country, and southern gospel music for generations. It was A.P. Carter who penned the classic gospel tune, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

It was the connection between country artists and their faith that inspired producers Teddy Gentry (of the music group Alabama) and Michael Curtis to come up with the idea for a CD to present country artists singing modern worship songs. The Time Life record label liked their idea, and in the nick of time to add to your Christmas shopping list, Songs 4 Worship Country was released.  The recording features some of country music’s biggest names, Rascal Flatts, Ricky Scaggs, The Oak Ridge Boys, Collin Raye, Charlie Daniels and Diamond Rio. The project also features the beautiful voice of Linda Davis, and a spectacular performance by Rebecca Lynn Howard singing “God Is In The House.”

Last month, Michael Curtis spoke to me from his studio, Major Mac, in Killen, Alabama where some of Songs 4 Worship Country was recorded, the majority being recorded at Sound Shop in Nashville.  “My original vision was to do it (the CD) live at Ryman Auditorium (in Nashville). There is a history between the Ryman, the church and faith. After getting together with Time Life, and sharing the vision, we decided that a studio album might be best,” says Curtis.

Curtis explains, “I thought that it was time to record modern worship, using country artists. Teddy Gentry is a good buddy of mine, and he asked around to see who might be interested in doing the CD. Once we got the artists (in place), we started marrying the songs to them.”

As you scan the impressive roster of artists, one might be tempted to say that Charlie Daniels has come a long way since 1979 when he recorded his smash hit, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Daniels teamed up with Curtis and Gentry to record Rich Mullin’s “Awesome God,” for this CD, and delivers it with the same energy and enthusiasm that country music fans have grown accustomed to hearing over the years.

Curtis tells me, “From the time that we talked about doing this (CD), I could hear Charlie Daniels singing, “Awesome God.” He was not that familiar with worship music (in a recording context), but was familiar with classic hymns and traditional gospel music.

“He (Daniels) asked me, ‘Mike, how would you do this?’ I said, just like Charlie Daniels would, if you were going into a studio to cut a Charlie Daniel’s track. That’s how I hear you doing this song.’  He asked me to let him pray about it, then, he got together with his guitar player in a motel room (to work on the song). He sent me a tape, which was pretty well the way that I had heard it in my head,” says the producer.

“When you hear Charlie Daniels do “Awesome God,” it is still “Awesome God,” but it is also (the way) Charlie Daniels performs,” says Curtis, before adding, “You ought to hear that man do “How Great Thou Art,” in his concerts. He’ll go out there right in front of those southern rock fans, stop in the middle of the show, and do a breathtaking, “How Great Thou Art.”