Matthew West Nearly Switched from Christian Music to Country: 'I Was Discouraged'

Audio By Carbonatix

Christian singer Matthew West has 39 No. 1 songs to his credit as an artist and songwriter, but he says there was a time early in his career when he was disillusioned with the path he was on – and he nearly switched from Christian music to country.

At the time, West had already landed a few hits on the radio. He had even written a song for Rascal Flatts, a country group with multiple awards in the genre. West was battling discouragement when he received a phone call from a publisher on Nashville’s Music Row who essentially said: We think you're a hit country songwriter – do you want to do that full-time?

“That started to tickle my ears because I love country music,” West told Crosswalk Headlines.

Today, such a career change sounds almost unthinkable for one of Christian music’s most prolific hitmakers. West will release his 14th studio album, "Jesus Is King," Sept. 25 – and has helped pen numerous hits for other artists in the CCM field. He even helped Leanna Crawford and Anne Wilson get their start.

But back then, West was seriously considering walking away from his career as a Christian artist.

“I was discouraged. … The thought of, like, ‘Well, maybe I could just have an easier life. I could just drink coffee all day. I wouldn't go on the road anymore. I would just sit in a songwriting room and write country songs.’ … I was going to let my music career in Christian music just kind of fall by the wayside.”

West signed the songwriting deal with the publisher. Then he felt God tugging at his heart.

“I signed my name on that contract – and right when I got in my car and drove home, I felt it in my gut, in my heart, and this is specifically what I felt like God said to me, ‘Matthew, you've just released yourself from something that I haven't released you from yet. I have more for you, and you're chasing the wrong thing.’

“I went back into that office, and I talked to that publisher, and I said, ‘Listen, I'm a Christian’ – and I just kind of shared my faith. And I said: I know this might sound crazy, but I feel like I've signed this under false pretenses, and I'm supposed to do Christian music. I'm supposed to tell people about Jesus with my music. And if you want to tear the deal up or what, I don't know what we do from here."

“And the coolest thing is, they said: Whatever it is you're passionate about, we will champion it. So you go and do what you do."

“And we partnered together for 12 years after that, and they were okay with me not chasing country music. They thought I was going to spend 95 percent of my time writing country music, and it wound up being 5 percent of my time.”

West remembers the “floodgates” opening in the Christian music industry for him after he made the decision to stay, as if God was affirming that he had chosen the right path.

“Two weeks after making that decision, I got a call from Casting Crowns, and I had never met them before. And the lead singer from Casting Crowns says, ‘I've heard a couple of songs that you put on the radio, and they've touched me.’”

Casting Crowns wanted to write songs with West.

“We've probably written 25 Casting Crowns songs since then. So it was like God showing me, ‘See, don't release yourself from something just because you think there's an easier path.’ And I'm forever thankful for that lesson that God taught me that day.”

Through that experience, he also learned the difference between a “dream” and a “calling,” he says.

“The world talks a lot about chasing your dreams, but what I've learned is when you're chasing a dream and things start to get difficult – I'm more likely to let go of a dream – but when I know that there's something deeper than a dream, and that is God's calling on my life, then I can lean on Scripture that says I don't have to grow weary in well-doing because I know there's a purpose behind it."

“And if a song doesn't succeed, that's not going to make me quit because I know that God had a plan to use me. I'm using my gifts for Him. I'm telling the world about Jesus. There's so much more at stake here than just entertaining people. And so I think that's ultimately what drives me to keep doing this, and what drives me to do this for purposes beyond financial gain.”

That same lesson, West said, is found on his upcoming album, "Jesus Is King."

“Am I going to follow my plan, or am I going to surrender my plans to the King who has a better plan for me?”

Photo Credit: ©StoryHouseCollective

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.