More than forty years since his debut album, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith isn’t resting on his laurels. With his newest music, including the hit singles “Arms Around the Sun” and “Your Love Is a Flood,” the “Place in This World” singer continues to reinvent and refocus for modern audiences.
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Smith spoke about the “calling” to make new music.
“I don’t need to make another record, but I feel called to make this one,” he said.
“Your Love Is a Flood” specifically is about “the overwhelming grace of God,” he explained, “and how, even in the hard times, I wake up every day knowing I’m loved.”
His confidence, he says, comes from knowing he is loved by God, regardless of whether or not he’s sold a single record (he’s sold 18 million, by the way).
“My identity is not being Michael W. Smith the artist,” he said. “The things that are near and dear and more important to me are, first and foremost, my relationship with the Lord. Then my family—my wife, my kids, my grandkids—and my friends that I walk through life with.”
Early success brought its own challenges, including pride and self-fulfillment. When “Place in This World” first reached the top of the Billboard charts, Smith was at the center of mainstream media attention, even appearing in People magazine as one of its “Most Beautiful People” and receiving the American Music Award for Best New Adult Contemporary Artist in 1992. Looking back, he admitted he wished he had learned true contentment earlier in life.
“Back in the day, it was about how many records we sold, what awards we won,” he said. “I was young, kind of immature. I got caught up in it. I wish I could go back and talk to that younger version of myself.”
Now, he knows that “God doesn’t share His glory with anybody.” It was a piece of advice he received from a friend that continues to guide his life today.
“Now, every night before I go on stage, I pray, ‘Let my posture be sure. Let me walk out in humility.’”
As he dove into modern worship with his albums Worship, Worship Again, and Surrounded, Smith also began pouring more into younger artists—a mentor role he continues today.
“There’s a lot of great stuff happening,” he said. “But I also see this surge of fame, and I worry about that. If you’re not grounded, it can consume you.”
Smith will continue to introduce new music to audiences on his fall Beyond the Far Horizon Tour, which will take him to more than 10 cities before he gears up for his Every Christmas solo tour and Christmas Together with Amy Grant and CeCe Winans.
“We all know Christmas is, hands down, my favorite time of year, and getting to tour with Amy always makes it even more special—but this year, we’re taking it to the next level!” he told Billboard.
“We’re beyond excited to have our dear friend CeCe Winans join us. After so many years of touring together, adding CeCe’s incredible voice and spirit to the mix feels like the ultimate Christmas gift. To say that the three of us are thrilled about this tour is simply an understatement.”