I’ve been enjoying Andy Chrisman’s podcast, 1 Degree of Andy, where he sits down with artists, writers, and musicians who helped shape contemporary Christian music. In this episode, Andy talks with Gary Chapman, a longtime Christian singer, songwriter, musician, and television personality.
Who’s Andy Chrisman?
Andy spent years as one of the lead voices of 4HIM, the powerhouse vocal group that defined a good chunk of ’90s CCM. These days he’s a worship pastor and hosts the radio show “Worship with Andy Chrisman,” heard on 500-plus stations. His podcast, “1 Degree of Andy,” reconnects listeners with the Christian singers and songwriters they grew up on, asking the “where are they now?” question and digging into what these artists have learned through the highs and lows since. Andy’s been in the industry for four decades, so when he says he knows just about everybody, he means it. That makes for conversations that go deeper than the usual interview.
Who’s Gary Chapman?
Gary Chapman is a singer, songwriter, and longtime fixture in both Christian and country music. He wrote “Father’s Eyes” (Amy Grant’s breakout hit and, remarkably, the very first song he ever had recorded), notched a number one country single with “Finally,” and hosted TV’s “Prime Time Country” back in the day. He was married to Amy Grant for 17 years. For a generation of worship leaders and music fans, Gary was larger than life, the guy who’d say the thing nobody else would say. He’s now 66, writing more than ever, and as candid as they come.
What you’ll find out if you listen:
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- The honest backstory of his marriage to Amy Grant, the divorce, and what Gary calls “the best story of forgiveness and reconciliation I’m aware of”
- How he came to forgive Vince Gill years later, and the unforgettable moment that followed
- The beautiful, only-God-could-script-it story of both his daughters’ weddings
- His blunt take on getting “canceled” by the Christian music world long before cancel culture had a name
- How streaming gutted the royalty income that was supposed to be his retirement (the numbers will make you wince and laugh)
- His daily cold-plunge habit, why he’s in better shape at 66 than at 30, and the one thing that gets him through the freezing water
- The remarkable account of his father’s final two weeks, and the moment that changed Gary from believing to knowing
- Why he’s convinced something big is coming for the church, and why he wants to be “up to my eyeballs in it”
This is a candid and grace-filled conversation. If you’re a CCM fan you’ll enjoy the history. If you’ve ever needed to forgive someone, you’ll appreciate the honesty. And if you love hymns, you’ll be especially moved by the way Gary talks about the songs that carried his father home.
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