Last night at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards, Zach Williams and Dolly Parton won the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song award for their number 1 hit, “There Was Jesus.” This marks Dolly’s 11th Grammy win, including her Lifetime Achievement Award and MusiCares Person of the Year Award. This is Zach Williams' second GRAMMY win. Dolly said,
“Thank you Jesus, thank you Zach Williams, and thank you to the GRAMMYS and all of our fans. I am very humbled but proud.”
In September, the duet hit number 1 on the following Christian charts: Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. In the earliest stages of this collaboration, Dolly was very touched by the lyrics and said,
“When I heard the song, I thought it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard. I was at that time, wanting to do something more uplifting, and I feel like it was a Godsend.”
See a full list of winners from 83 categories who were honored at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards.
"There Was Jesus" by Zach Williams and Dolly hit number 1 on the following Christian charts - Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. This leap marks Dolly's first No. 1 in the genre. It also puts her in a category all her own as she is the first artist to have topped the Adult Contemporary, Christian AC Songs, Christian Airplay, Country Airplay and Dance/Mix Show Airplay radio charts. Dolly said,
“Well praise the Lord and thank you Jesus I guess is what I say first. I am just so happy that this has touched the lives of so many people. So proud to be a part of it, so proud of Zach Williams, and we hope that you continue to be blessed by this wonderful song. I know I am.”
The new music video for "There Was Jesus" from GRAMMY Award®-winning artists Zach Williams and Dolly Parton makes its debut today. The single is also now at Christian and Country radio.
Last November, Zach and Dolly shared their stunning duet with the world when they performed "There Was Jesus" at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards. Since their epic performance, the song has gained extraordinary momentum and has become Williams' most consumed song to date along with the title track from his 2019 album, “Rescue Story.”
"When I first heard 'There Was Jesus,' it was one of the best songs I'd ever heard," Parton shares about being featured on the song. She continues, "I loved Zach's voice, and at that time I wanted to do something more uplifting. I felt like it was a Godsend, so I thought yes, this is my record and I'm going to sing with him on it! I'm really proud of how it turned out. I think people are going to get a blessing out of it. I know I have."
Regarding Williams' experience working with Dolly Parton, from recording the song to performing it live on the CMA Awards to ultimately filming the music video, he says,
"Dolly has been a champion since day one of this song. I never thought in a million years this would happen, and the entire experience working with her has truly been an honor and a privilege. I cannot wait to share the song and video with all of you."
For more information, visit ZachWilliamsMusic.com.
Building on the unprecedented success of his Grammy® -winning "Chainbreaker" album, GMA Dove Award® Artist of the Year, Zach Williams, has released his highly anticipated sophomore project, "Rescue Story." Zach is especially thrilled to have collaborated with world-famous country music icon, Dolly Parton, on the soul-stirring ballad "There Was Jesus."
Written by Zach, Jonathan Smith and Casey Beathard, “There Was Jesus” is a reflection on Zach’s journey. He said,
“I’m looking back at 20 years ago when I had no idea that God was in the moment, that He was even with me through some of the hard things that have gone on in my life. Now I can see that He had His hand in everything I was doing.”
Zach knew the moment they finished writing the song he wanted to see if Dolly would consider singing it with him. His team got to work and sent the song to Dolly’s manager. She loved it, and arrangements were made for the duo to meet in the studio a few weeks later to record the song. Zach recalls, “It was a really cool moment, just to have the privilege to record a song with Dolly Parton. Working with Dolly was a true honor. She has a way of making you feel like you are the only person in the room. She is so down-to-earth and genuine, and I can’t wait for people to hear that in the song.”
“There Was Jesus” will be released as a single in early 2020. "Rescue Story" is distributed by Sony/Provident and is available at digital and retail outlets worldwide.
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU0P19V_EFs" height="1600"]
