About this episode

Steven Curtis Chapman discusses his new song for America's 250th birthday and reflects on themes of gratitude and division in America.

Steven Curtis Chapman grew up watching his grandfather Ruble Rudd — a Purple Heart World War II veteran who came home with shrapnel permanently lodged in his leg, the only survivor of his platoon — live out a quiet, grateful patriotism that never left him. That legacy is at the heart of a new song Steven wrote for America's 250th birthday, a reimagining of America the Beautiful with the same chorus and new verses, recorded with country singer Chris Janson and debuted at the Grand Ole Opry on July 31, 2024 — the same night Ricky Skaggs walked out to invite Steven to become the Opry's newest member. Gratitude, division, and what happens when algorithms keep feeding us reasons to fight: Steven shares why he felt compelled to write a song that names the thing tearing America apart — including a lyric about algorithms that he was not sure belonged in a patriotic song but knew he had to say — and why his prayer for it is simply that people would lay down their weapons long enough to be grateful. He also opens up about the song Cinderella never becoming a number one because some Christian radio stations did not consider it a Christian song, why I Will Be…

People in this episode

Guest: Steven Curtis Chapman

Topics covered

• gratitude
• patriotism
• music
• American history
• Christianity
• division
• algorithms

Keywords

• Steven Curtis Chapman
• gratitude
• patriotism
• America at 250
• music
• algorithms
• Christian radio

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grand Ole Opry

Books & works: America the Beautiful, Cinderella, I Will Be Here

More episodes of Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

• Tenroc Was Driving a Church Van When God Told Him to Make an Album · July 16, 2026 · 10 min
• The Warfare Between Science and God Was Always a Myth · July 14, 2026 · 13 min
• The 24-Year-Old Who Ditched Her Smartphone and Never Looked Back · July 9, 2026 · 13 min
• Why Leanna Crawford Is Thankful for Every No God Ever Gave Her · July 7, 2026 · 19 min
• Perpetua Died at 22, What Her Story Says to Christians Today · July 2, 2026 · 20 min
• Bella Taylor Smith, The Voice Australia Winner Who Chose Ministry · June 30, 2026 · 12 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews podcast page.