On Feb. 6, 2024, a group of 25 leading Contemporary Christian, Gospel, and country artists came together just outside Nashville at World Wide Stages in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Guided by 45-time GMA Dove Awards winner Michael W. Smith and fellow Dove Award recipient Darlene Zschech, the artists joined forces to record House of Worship, a collaborative album reimagining beloved worship songs as duets designed to connect different generations of listeners.
The record includes contributions from Brenton Brown, Brian and Jenn Johnson, Brian Doerksen, CeCe Winans, Charity Gayle, Chris Brown of Elevation Worship, Christy Nockels, Chris McClarney, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, Zschech, Ed Cash of We The Kingdom, Hillary Scott of Lady A, Israel Houghton, Josh Baldwin, Leeland Mooring, Martin Smith, Matt Redman, Smith, Mitch Wong, Naomi Raine, Pat Barrett, Paul Baloche, and Tim Hughes.
House of Worship is scheduled for release in January 2026 through The Fuel Music.
The first single pairs Zschech with 17-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans for a brand-new version of Zschech’s 1994 classic Shout To The Lord, which she originally recorded with Hillsong Music.
“Every song is a prayer rising, not from artists, but from sons and daughters crying out to God together,” Zschech told Billboard in a statement.
The project was both recorded and filmed in-the-round at World Wide Stages, with all 25 artists gathered in one space. Smith and Zschech served as executive producers, while production was handled by Paul Mabury (Lauren Daigle, Cory Asbury) and John Hartley (Twila Paris, Leigh Nash). The sessions also featured standout musicians, including Smith on piano, Mabury on drums, Dwan Hill on keyboards, and Stu Garrard on guitar.
“When we were in the process of planning the House of Worship recording, our goal was to invite a few of our friends in the worship community to join us in singing some of the best-loved worship songs of all time,” Smith told Billboard. “What surprised us all was the overwhelming response from worship leaders worldwide who immediately said yes. They stayed for the entire recording, joining the circle of worship for every song. The presence of the Spirit, combined with the unity and spontaneity in that room, was something wonderful to experience.”
Plans are also underway for a national theatrical release of House of Worship to coincide with the album’s debut.
