Matthew West Talks ‘Jesus Is King’ and Helping Young Christian Artists Find Their Voice

Matthew West almost walked away from Christian music for a different dream. Now, 14 albums later, he shares what changed his mind and why Jesus Is King became a deeply personal call to surrender control and put Christ back on the throne.

from GodTube.com and Michael Foust

Updated Aug 26, 2026

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Matthew West is back with a new album, Jesus Is King, a deeply personal project centered on surrender, grace and putting Christ on the throne of his life. In this interview with Crosswalk Talk's Michael Foust, the Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning artist shares the heart behind the new music and why he says he needed its message as much as anyone. West also discusses his passion for championing the next generation of Christian artists, including Anne Wilson and Leanna Crawford. Plus, he reveals why he nearly walked away from Christian music for a career in country songwriting – and what changed his mind.

This video originally appeared on GodTube.com

Photo Credit: ©GodTube / Matthew West

Originally published August 26, 2026.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.

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