Category: Southern Gospel

Anthem Edition releases new song “He Is Who He Is”

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

AMY TURNER

Anthem Edition has released “He Is Who He Is,” their first song of 2026. The new track from Sonlite Records arrives while the title song from their 2025 album, Promises Kept, continues to chart on Southern Gospel airplay.

Mark Mathes wrote “He Is Who He Is.” The song features a classic quartet sound with bluegrass elements. David Johnson plays banjo on the opening chorus.

Tim Rackley, the group’s lead singer, described the song’s appeal and message. “‘He Is Who He Is’ is a fun song to sing, and will be a favourite for everyone that loves quartet music,” he said. “It also has a powerful message in it, because He says ‘I AM WHO I AM’ and ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ (Exodus 3:14), and in Malachi 3:6 He confirms: ‘For I, the Lord, do not change.'”

The opening chorus includes these lyrics:

He is who He is, He was who He was

He did what He did, He still does what He does

The Alpha, Omega, the Babe from Bethlehem

The Spring of Living Water, and He is the Great I Am

Piano, pedal steel and electric guitar follow the opening chorus. The song contains two verses and multiple choruses.

The song is available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL.

Doug Roark and Tim Rackley founded Anthem Edition in 2003 as a trio called The Old Paths. The trio became a quartet and gained national attention. The group signed with Sonlite Records, part of Crossroad Music, in 2012. Their album Right Now produced two number one hits and earned them a Singing News Fan Award for Favourite New Quartet.

The group stopped touring in 2015 and returned in 2017. They changed their name to Anthem Edition in late 2022. Andrew Utech joined as bass vocalist at that time. Cameron Edens joined as tenor in the fall of 2023.

StowTown Records partners with The Craguns on release of new album

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

The Craguns have begun a partnership with StowTown Records. Their first album with the label, Steadfast Love, is now available.

For the past decade, The Craguns have shared the Gospel through their music ministry. The family has performed on many prominent stages across the country. Their warm vocal harmony has become a recognizable part of their music.

Jordan Cragun spoke about working with StowTown Records. “We are honoured to partner with one of the premier record labels in gospel music to help take these songs to the world,” he said. “We are so excited about this new music and truly believe this is one of the strongest collections of lyrics we’ve ever brought together on a single record.”

Steadfast Love contains 12 songs. Wayne Haun produced the album. He has received multiple GRAMMY® nominations and has won Dove Awards. The album includes songs written by Dallas Holm, Sue C. Smith and Stuart Hamblen.

The song “Faithful” was released to radio in January. Joel Lindsey and Caleb Collins wrote it together. The song begins with a gentle introduction and builds into harmonies. The album ends with “My Faith Still Holds,” written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Wayne Haun is both the producer and a StowTown label executive. He shared his thoughts about The Craguns. “I’m always excited to work with new young talent, and The Craguns are already proving they’re a force to be reckoned with,” he said. “Their blend is that unexplainable musical phenomenon that happens when a family sings together. Couple that with their ability to communicate these powerful lyrics and a long-lasting career is well on its way.”

Jordan Cragun thanked Wayne Haun for his work. “We have to give a huge shoutout to Wayne Haun for his incredible production on this album,” he said. He added, “Our deepest desire is that this record would be a blessing to every listener and serve as a reminder, each time they listen, of God’s steadfast love.”

Sony/Provident distributes the album exclusively. Steadfast Love is available at digital and retail outlets worldwide.

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – February 2026

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of February 2026! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (January.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

This MonthLast MonthSong TitleArtistLabel
16That Somebody Was MeGuardiansDaywind/New Day
23The Only Way He Knew HowJeff & Sheri EasterGaither Music/Capitol Christian
316When My Feet Touch The Streets Of GoldLeFevre QuartetDaywind/New Day
41Joy Is Gonna ComeErwinsStowTown/Provident-Sony
59The ChurchJoseph HabedankDaywind/New Day
64Every Promise Made Is A Promise KeptAnthem EditionSonlite/Crossroads
75I Will Glory In The CrossJim & Melissa BradyDaywind/New Day
820Let The Church Be An OceanMercy’s WellIndependent
910One MoreWilliamsonsREAL Southern Gospel Records
1011I Got SavedTrueSongDaywind/New Day
117I Know It’s YouScotty InmanDaywind/New Day
1213Seed In The GroundSound StreetSonlite/Crossroads
1312Cleft Of The RockKramersStowTown/Provident-Sony
1414The DayHeart 2 HeartARS/New Day
1523Say SomethingTim Menzies (with Ben Isaacs and Sonya Isaacs Yeary)ARS/New Day
1625Just One Drop Of BloodRight Road QuartetBig Picture Records/New Day
1721I’m With The BandSteve Ladd (with Michael and Ronnie Booth)Big Picture Records/New Day
1819Oh, What A MomentErnie HaaseStowTown/Provident-Sony
19—Hard Trials Will Soon Be OverGaither Vocal BandSpring House Music Group
20—Walking Each Other HomeGordon Mote (With Teddy Gentry & Randy Owen)New Haven/Provident-Sony
218When Believers Will Be LeavingDown East BoysSonlite/Crossroads
2218In The RoomLauren TalleyHorizon/Crossroads
2328Behind My PraiseBrian Free & AssuranceDaywind/New Day
2417Back To Our RootsDerrick Loudermilk BandIndependent
2524Big GodMaster’s VoiceIndependent
26—That’s Who He Is11th HourSonlite/Crossroads
2715The WellTaylorsStowTown/Provident-Sony
28—We’ll Understand It Better By And ByCollingsworth FamilyGaither Music/Capitol Christian
292I Speak JesusKaren Peck & New RiverDaywind/New Day
30—Days Like ThisZane & Donna KingStowTown/Provident-Sony

Exciting changes in Legacy Five’s lineup

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

DAVID INGRAM

Legacy Five announced Monday it has hired a new tenor vocalist and pianist as the group enters what founder Scott Fowler called “an exciting new chapter.”

Caleb Ozee, 22, will take over tenor duties while Philip Kolb joins as pianist, the group said in a statement.

Ozee acknowledged the legacy of previous tenors who have sung with the quartet. “There have been many wonderful tenors to sing in this group, and I am thankful to be a small part of that legacy,” he said.

Kolb said joining Legacy Five fulfills a longtime aspiration. He cited Roger Bennett, who helped establish the group’s piano style, as a major influence.

“To occupy the position that my piano hero, Roger Bennett, created is a gift that only God could give,” Kolb said.

Fowler, who founded the group, said the personnel changes represent an opportunity for growth. “I used to say, I hate change. Because change can be challenging and expensive,” Fowler said. “But I have come to embrace change.”

He said he and current members Jon and Jake are optimistic about the quartet’s future with the new additions.

The group has not yet announced tour dates featuring the new lineup.

Poet Voices adds former Kingdom Heirs vocalist

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

DAVID INGRAM

Lauren Harris (Courtesy PoetVoices.net, 2026)

Southern gospel’s Poet Voices is welcoming vocalist Loren Harris to its lineup, the group announced.

Harris left the Kingdom Heirs in fall 2023 to pursue solo ministry but said he missed quartet singing. After discussions with Phil Cross and Donnie Henderson last October, Harris accepted their invitation.

“Once you have quartet in your blood, it’s just hard to replace,” Harris said.

He joins Cross, Henderson, Casey Armstrong and Jeff Snyder. The group is releasing a tribute album featuring gospel songs by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Phil Cross said he’s never been more excited about The Poet Voices’ future.