In the mid-’90s, Michael W. Smith was packing out massive venues in cities across the country on his landmark “I’ll Lead You Home Tour.” A catwalk snaked out into the middle of the arena, complete with a conveyer belt that delivered Smith straight to the heart of the audience each night. In support of his GRAMMY®-winning album, the headlining trek boasted some of the biggest production of Smith’s career to date. Yet, at the end of the evening, it wasn’t the smoke and the lights that concertgoers remembered.
At one point during the set, Smith would emerge at the edge of the stage under the glow of a simple spotlight. From there, he sat down at his signature piano for a selection of unaccompanied songs. That was the one moment the majority of fans claimed as their favorite long after the house lights came up.
“People want to hear the song that changed their life,” the hitmaker observes. “It’s still all about the song.”
Smith continues to find this to be true. The father of five spent the better part of 2023 traversing the globe, bringing his songs to life on countless international stages, thanks — in part — to the widespread success of “Waymaker.” Although numerous artists recorded the worship anthem written by Nigerian-born artist Sinach, it was Smith’s version that quickly became well-known given the significant amount of radio play it received.
“It’s a really special song, and it was probably destined for greatness anyway, but I think it became bigger than anybody ever expected because it landed right in the middle of a pandemic,” he offers. “Everybody knows it all around the world — from Vietnam to Mexico City to Poland. In Rome, they were singing it in Italian and English at the same time. It literally takes your breath away when people start singing it in their own language. It’s so overwhelming.”
The only other song that even comes close to having a similar effect is “Agnus Dei,” an original Smith initially wrote for 1990’s “Go West Young Man” and a selection that, more than a decade later, formed the foundation for his first worship collection — a celebrated album that became one of the most unexpected surprises of his tenure.
“That’s the record I thought would be the least successful record of my career,” admits Smith, who just released his sixth full-length Christmas project at the end of 2023. “I’m the pop guy, but people still know every single song from that first worship album.” Incidentally, “Worship” is now double-Platinum.
While in Europe last year, Smith watched in amazement as older selections from “Worship” he felt had run their course in America evolved into some of the biggest moments in his concerts overseas. “I go into ‘Awesome God,’ and in Europe, it’s like we’re playing ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles,” Smith shares. “They explode. They’re just standing on their feet, and it was exhilarating.”
Even 40 years in, Smith remains invigorated by the live experience. This spring, he’ll embark on the “FOREVER Tour,” bringing both his beloved worship standards and his chart-topping hits to theaters and auditoriums in 21 markets. While tour plans were still being finalized at the time of our interview, Smith says that simple, yet pivotal, moment on the “I’ll Lead You Home Tour” nearly three decades ago shapes his approach to structuring his live shows today. Once he nails down the journey he wants to lead audience members on, he says he’ll let the lighting director take the reins on the visuals while he tackles the difficult task of narrowing down the setlist.
“I still kind of struggle with what to sing, honestly, because I’ve got over 300 songs. So that’s the challenge as an artist. I’ve gotten myself in a pickle,” he says, smiling. “I was talking to [a producer friend] about it today, and he said, ‘You’re like four different artists.’ And I go, ‘Yeah, that’s a blessing and a curse.’”
His friend isn’t wrong. Smith is like multiple artists rolled into one. While he’s best known for his core CCM material, his pop melodies have also achieved notable crossover success through the years. Meanwhile, his aforementioned “Worship” album launched the West Virginia native into an entirely fresh, unforeseen sphere; and his instrumental arrangements across his discography continue to be some of his most-requested work.
“Obviously, I think it would’ve been over a long time ago if I didn’t figure out how to make it work,” Smith admits, “but I’m definitely in reinventing mode again for this tour.”
Smith has morphed into a master of reinvention, maintaining one of the longest careers of any artist in Christian music. That’s one reason why the CCM icon was stunned to be the recipient of two recent K-LOVE Fan Awards: one in 2021 for “Waymaker,” and a second in 2022 for his book, “The Way of the Father.”
“I never expected to win any other award,” the three-time GRAMMY®-winner confesses. “I think as you grow up, you get wiser. And you just go, ‘Hey, it’s not about me, and it’s not about accumulating all these accolades.’ I’m certainly grateful, but I don’t think about it, and I don’t expect it. And then when I do win, I’m shocked.”
This is coming from an artist who’s garnered numerous Gold and Platinum certifications, 45 GMA Dove Awards, an American Music Award and more than 15 million albums sold. He’s personal friends with Bono and former president George W. Bush, as well as his father before him and the late Billy Graham. Amy Grant — who gave him his first touring opportunity — remains one of his closest confidants. Yet, Smith will quickly tell you despite his list of accomplishments and impressive rolodex, he still harbors insecurities and doubts like anyone else.
“The thing is, you can’t compare yourself. That’s where the devil works, really,” Smith sagely asserts. “He likes to whisper, ‘Oh, you should be back in arenas. Look at those people over there. Look at what they’re doing.’ You have to kill those lies.”
His secret to squelching the fabricated truths of the enemy? Remembering the why behind the music.
“It’s bigger than me just being an artist. It’s what the success has allowed me to do, like fighting the AIDS crisis with Bono — all the relationship stuff,” Smith shares. “Now I’m fathering young artists. To me, it’s the other things that feather off of having a hit or being successful. It’s what you do with the platform you’re given and how you connect people.”
Regardless of the fact that Smith has a veritable arsenal of hits, including “Friends,” “Place In This World,” “Above All” and many, many others, the award winner says he never crafts a song with the end result in mind. “I’ve been wrong in the past. I’ve written songs that didn’t connect, but you have to take some risks,” he offers. “I’ve never tried to write a hit song. I’ve never tried to write a song for Christian radio. When you get in that frame of mind, then I think it’s manufactured a little bit. It doesn’t feel authentic.”
Perhaps that’s why Smith has been able to sustain a marathon instead of a sprint. His authenticity. His relationships. His focus. And at 66, he still has aspirations — many of which include collaboration. In fact, he confides he’d love to work with Barbra Streisand, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his musical hero, John Williams. “He’s influenced my music more than anybody else,” he remarks of Williams. “He’s 91, and he’s still scoring films.”
As for where his secret ambitions will take him next, Smith isn’t sure. But he’s certain his creative well is full. “I’m kind of itching to get back in the studio. This happens to me every few years. I kind of dry up, and I think it’s over and I’m going to retire, but it always comes back. You think I would learn after 40 years,” he says. “I just feel like there’s something that’s about to be birthed, and it’s pretty exciting. I feel like it’s going to be new and wonderful.”
