101 Hymns Old and New by Secular Country Artists

If your congregation is looking for positive new ways to incorporate contemporary culture into Sunday services, music is a great choice. Some churches already offer more relaxed, casual worship services that start at later times.

Recently, I compiled a playlist of pop, rock, and country songs about God, faith, and church. As a result, several readers requested another faith-based playlist. Therefore, I offer this collection of both old and new hymns by over 40 modern country artists, including George Jones, Blake Shelton, and Faith Hill. (A hymn is a religious song, typically one which praises God.)

Whether you're using this songlist for yourself or your congregation, there's a godsend of inspiration in these tunes. Enjoy!

One of the most recognizable praise songs in the English language, this simple hymn provides testimony that forgiveness and redemption are possible through God. The hymn became a Christian standard in both a capella and musically acompanied versions since its first publication in 1779. It has since crossed over to secular audiences.

More recent versions of the hymn have replaced the line "that saved a wretch like me" with text such as "that saved and strengthened me," "saved a soul like me," or "that saved and set me free." However, Alan Jackson's 2013 rendition is true to the original.

Reba relied heavily on her faith to get her through a 2015 divorce that was not her idea. Her husband and manager of 26 years not only left her but also began dating the couple's close friend.

In 2017, Reba released her first contemporary Christian CD filled with both new tunes and old favorites. This basic, uptempo hymn from the mid-18th century celebrates Jesus' sweet forgiveness.

Rory Lee Feek and his wife, Joey Feek, were a dynamic country duo until cervical cancer took Joey in 2016. Rory had been a songwriter for Clay Walker, Blake Shelton, and other top country artists. The couple's singing career took off in 2008 when they placed third in Country Music Television's (CMT's) talent competition, Can You Duet.

Joey + Rory released gospel albums in both 2013 and 2016. Their delivery of this beautiful hymn is particularly bittersweet.

Vince Gill started writing this Grammy Award-winning song in 1995 to recognize the memory of country music star Keith Whitley, although he didn't complete it until his older brother died years later. The ballad describes the sorrow that loved ones on earth feel at the passing of a beleaguered soul.

It contrasts that grief with the elation that the deceased must be feeling upon entering Heaven:

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done.
Go to Heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son.

This 2014 Grammy Award-winning song topped both the Christian and country music charts. It describes the strong, life-changing influence of the narrator's baptism. Carrie's powerful ability to cross genres was displayed first in 2005 with her memorable song, "Jesus Take the Wheel."

Co-written by Blake Shelton just a month following his divorce from Miranda Lambert, this song of faith was released in 2016. It portrays trouble-imbued times in a man's life and how he leans on Jesus for love and support:

I'm standing in my Savior's shadow
Grace will lead to where I'm free.
I take His hand, we walk together
And His light shines on me.

This gospel song was recorded by country artists from Elvis to Johnny Cash to Glen Campbell. In 1981, Merle Haggard added his touching version. The hymn describes a narrator's walk in a garden, side-by-side with Jesus who and provides soothing comfort unlike anything else.

In arising from the water at his baptism, the man in this contemporary hymn feels utterly transformed. The 2012 song acknowledges how he made mistakes and had been a lost soul. However, when he handed it all over to the Lord, he felt whole and completely changed.

Once an African American spiritual, this hymn was popularized in 2000 by Alison Krauss who has a voice so inspired she certainly must be hiding wings and a halo. The song describes relying on God to show one the way during times of hardship.

Multiple lyrical versions of this old hymn exist. However, the one that Randy Travis released in 2003 depictssa grieving man standing at a window watching his mother's body being taken away in a hearse. Although he will miss her, he knows that heaven waits to receive her with open arms.

Randy Travis has released several spiritual albums.

This is such a FUN song—yep, you read that right!

The narrator declares in this 1972 song that he and Jesus are BFFs. Even though he was once "a sinner," "a drunk," and "a loser," he's finally found forgiveness through Christ. They have their own thing going. He says that he and Jesus have it all worked out.

This gorgeous 2004 song is from the Passion of the Christ movie CD. Its lyrics feature Jesus and his mother conversing as he faces crucifixion.

This praise song from 1992 is full of positive energy. The guy in the song describes how he has been tempted by the dark side of life and given in. He's been burned by the heat.

But whereas many others fall by the wayside, our narrator is a one-time loser who is about to win thanks to the redemption he has found through Jesus. He explains that God can make winners of us all.

This modern1989 hymn captures the sorrow, fear, and confusion that was felt by many when Jesus was crucified. It is told from the perspective of one of the women who hid. However, she rejoiced to discover that He was indeed alive and that she was forgiven.

The woman in this hymn from 1968 is singing hallelujah because this world is simply her dressing room, and she's getting reading to go to Heaven! Crying tears of joy, she's looking forward to her eternal trip.

Who would imagine that the same country band who sang "Devil Went Down to Georgia" would record a contemporary Christian album of hymns?

In this simple hymn, released in 2002, the narrator urges you to kneel at the cross. Give up your idols. Let your cares fall away. Come as you are, and Jesus will meet you there.

This 2003 song likens temptation to a long black train, with Satan as the locomotive's engineer. Sinners climb aboard for their journey to nowhere while others cling to the Lord and refuse to get their tickets punched.

With God in his life, the narrator in this 2012 hymn feels he can withstand any storm clouds and rain that come his way. Whatever troubles threaten him, he is unafraid because he is standing on the rock of His love.

There are so many biblical allusions in this 2002 country hymn—particularly to the Book of Revelation. The hymn refers to the the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse, the "man goin' 'round takin' names," and the trumpets of 100 million angels on judgment day.

This 2014 song asks searching questions:

What do you want? What do you need?
What have you done? Do you want to be free?
Are you losing the battle?

Then it assures you that the Master is waiting to come in to your heart, if you'll just let him in.