Anne Wilson, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, stands as one of Nashville’s most inspiring young trailblazers, seamlessly blending the heart of contemporary Christian music with the soul of Country on her new album ‘Rebel.’
Her journey began amidst tragedy, finding her musical calling at the tender age of 15 when she delivered a stirring rendition of ‘What a Beautiful Name’ at her brother’s funeral—a moment of faith that resonated deeply and soon went viral. With her debut single ‘My Jesus’ in 2021, Wilson emerged as a shining star, melding personal conviction with infectious roots energy. The track soared to the top of Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart, earning GOLD certification and the distinction of being the first debut female solo artist in chart history to achieve such a feat. ASCAP crowned it the 2022 Christian Music Awards Song of the Year, solidifying Wilson’s place as a rising force in the industry.
Accolades continued to pour in as Wilson garnered a GRAMMY nomination for her debut album ‘My Jesus’ in 2022, becoming the sole female nominee in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. Her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2021 marked a milestone in her career, followed by a whirlwind of live performances—150 shows in 2022 alone. Her bestselling book, ‘My Jesus: From Heartache To Hope,’ resonated with readers seeking inspiration and solace whilst her uplifting anthem ‘Hey Girl,’ sparked the creation of Hey Girl Nation—a community fostering connection and promoting self-worth among fans. Anne Wilson is 22 years old! What a whirlwind the last seven years of her life has been, culminating in the release of her debut Country album, ‘Rebel,’ tomorrow. (April 19th)
‘Rebel’ is a powerful fusion of faith, resilience, and Southern charm, showcased across its diverse tracks. Opening with the bombastic declaration of ‘Rebel,’ Wilson’s vocals soar alongside bold instrumentation, setting the tone for an album rooted in conviction. Tracks like ‘Rain in the Rearview’ and ‘Strong’ exemplify Wilson’s ability to blend anthemic melodies with heartfelt lyrics, reminiscent of country icons like Carrie Underwood and Tenille Townes. “Tell me, how much hurt can a heart take,” Wilson sings on the former with a very Dolly-esque tremor in her vocals as the song builds to a huge chorus about finding the strength to over come hard times. Wilson even references knowing what Carrie Underwood was feeling when she sang ‘Jesus Take the Wheel,’ whilst ‘Strong’ finds her in defiant mood. “The world’s gonna try and break me but I know the one who makes me strong,’ she sings.
‘God and Country’ channels the spirit of ‘Twice the Speed of Life’ era Sugarland with its lively tempo and soulful delivery, celebrating the values close to Wilson’s heart whilst the collaboration with the other Wilson, Lainey, on ‘Praying Woman’ delivers a bluesy anthem honouring the resilience of women and their unwavering faith. The clever twist on ‘Songs About Whiskey,’ meanwhile, offers a refreshing perspective, infusing traditional country themes with spiritual depth on a bar room, honky tonk song about Jesus! Wilson sings that she’s heard songs about drinking, one night regrets and nicotine but switches things on their head in saying, “that’s why I sing songs about Jesus and not songs about whiskey.” Clever. Clever. Clever.
Mid-album standout ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ showcases Wilson’s vocal prowess and introspective songwriting, while ‘The Cross’ featuring Chris Tomlin, one of the biggest Christian artists in the world right now after his recent sold out shows at the Bridgestone arena in Nashville, delivers a poignant message of redemption and hope. There’s a nice mix of power and restraint on the former, which flows through loud and quiet moments that put you in mind of a song like Carrie Underwood’s ‘Something in the Water’. A great guitar solo and gospel choir heralds the song’s final third as Wilson takes us to church before taking us home. ‘My Father’s Daughter’ and ‘Red Flag,’ meanwhile, offer intimate glimpses into Wilson’s personal life and values, enriched by tender melodies and heartfelt lyrics. The latter, in particular, is another song where you can hear the Dolly Parton meets Caylee Hammack-esque tremor in her voice as Wilson sings about the qualities women need in their men. “He’s a no go if he doesn’t go to church,” she sings whilst also throwing in other qualities like hunting, fishing and respecting the Stars and Stripes. ‘Red Flag’ is a very Lainey Wilson style, anthemic southern Rock adjacent song that will sound great live and resonate with women everywhere, not just in the southern bible belt community in which the song was birthed.
‘Country Gold’ with Jordan Davis delivers modern country-pop, celebrating rural life and family values with a polished yet authentic sound whilst ‘Southern Gospel’ brings infectious energy and joyous spirit and ‘Dirt Roads in Heaven’ and ‘3:16’ offer moments of reflection and worship. ‘Country Gold’ paints an idyllic picture of rural life and all the benefits that come with it rather than focusing on the realities of economic misfortunes, the lack of education and problems with addiction and medication that haunt many rural areas across the southern states of America. It is one of the rare moments on this slick and impactful album where Wilson might have crossed the line – straying away from her own personal beliefs into something a little more twee and harder to swallow but redemption comes swiftly on ‘Southern Gospel,’ which is by-far-and-away the best song on ‘Rebel.’ A funky, uptempo song about small towns, rural life and all characters and idiosyncratic quirks that come with it. ‘Southern Gospel’ references redneck role models, churches, teachers and the six week pregnant and the six week sober! “Mind your biscuits and pass the gravy,” Wilson sings on a song would have felt very at home on Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Same Trailer, Different Park’ album if you take out the references to religion. It’s a joyous, funny, uplifting song that’s not overtly religious meaning it might possibly be the best song to release to Country radio whilst other songs, like ‘The Cross’ or ‘3:16’ can go the Christian route.
Closing the album down with ‘Out of the Bluegrass’ Wilson pays homage to her roots and journey, embracing her faith and the path that led her to Nashville. Here we find Wilson singing about home and the things she loves about it as well as how she moved away from Kentucky to chase her dreams. “Turns out I ain’t my biggest believer” she sings, paying tribute to Jesus for her talent as the song progresses in big country bluegrass fashion. “I won’t forget where I come from,” she insists, laying a marker down for the future as she closes down this album in style.
With its blend of country, gospel, and bluegrass influences ‘Rebel’ stands as a testament to Anne Wilson’s talent and unwavering devotion, offering listeners a captivating journey through faith, resilience, and the intricacies of the Southern soul. The duality of the album, in its ability to resonate with Country fans and members of the Christian community alike, is a fascinating and unique exploration of the link between the two worlds. Whilst atheists and agnostics might struggle with some of the lyrics and the ‘worshipful’ nature of the tone at times across ‘Rebel’ there are still enough songs, like ‘Red Flag,’ ‘Southern Gospel’ and ‘Rain in the Rearview’ that are secular enough to make their way onto playlists around the world and be enjoyed for their uplifting positivity rather than any deeper religious meaning. Anne Wilson, at just 22 years old, has stamped her mark on the music industry in a bold and yet humble fashion. This young rebel (all the puns intended) has a glittering career ahead of her and this album is just the next step in her journey.
Tracklist: 1. Rebel 2. Rain in the Rearview 3. Strong 4. God and Country 5. Praying Woman 6. Songs About Whiskey 7. Sinner’s Prayer 8. The Cross 9. My Father’s Daughter 10. Red Flag 11. Country Gold 12. Southern Gospel 13. Dirt Roads in Heaven 14. 3:16 15. Milestones 16. Out of the Bluegrass Record Label: Release Date: April 19th Buy ‘Rebel’ right here.
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