On Feb. 6, 2024, a gathering of 25 top Contemporary Christian, Gospel and country music artists took place just south of Nashville, at World Wide Stages in Spring Hill, Tenn.
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Led by 45-time GMA Dove Awards winner Michael W. Smith and GMA Dove Award winner Darlene Zschech, the artists came together to create the upcoming album House of Worship, a collaborative work that reimagines classic worship songs as duets meant to bridge generations.
The album features Brenton Brown, Brian and Jenn Johnson, Brian Doerksen, CeCe Winans, Charity Gayle, Chris Brown of Elevation Worship, Christy Nockels, Chris McClarney, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, Zschech, Ed Cash of We The Kingdom, Hillary Scott of Lady A, Israel Houghton, Josh Baldwin, Kari Jobe, Leeland Mooring, Martin Smith, Matt Redman, Smith, Mitch Wong, Naomi Raine, Pat Barrett, Paul Baloche and Tim Hughes.
House of Worship is set for release in January 2026 through The Fuel Music.
The first single from the project brings together Zschech and 17-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans for a new rendition of Zschech’s 1994 hit “Shout To The Lord,” which Zschech originally recorded with Hillsong Music.“Every song is a prayer rising, not from artists, but from sons and daughters crying out to God together.”
“Every song is a prayer rising, not from artists, but from sons and daughters crying out to God together,” Zschech told Billboard in a statement.
The new project was recorded and filmed in-the-round at World Wide Stages, with all 25 artists together in the same room. Executive produced by Smith and Zschech, and produced by Paul Mabury (Lauren Daigle, Cory Asbury) and John Hartley (Twila Paris, Leigh Nash), the album also features a top-shelf lineup of musicians, including Smith on piano, Mabury on drums, Dwan Hill on keyboard, and Stu Garrard on guitar.
“When we were in the process of planning the House Of Worship recording, our goal was to pull together a few of our friends in the worship community to join us in singing some of the best loved worship songs of all time,” Smith tells Billboard in a statement. “What took us all by surprise was the level of response from worship leaders from around the world who quickly let us know they were in! They also committed to staying through the recording and joined the circle of worship for each song. The presence of the Spirit, mixed with the unity of purpose and spontaneity, was so beautiful to be a part of.”
House of Worship is also in negotiations now for a national theatrical release to coincide with the release of the album.