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There Was Jesus
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| "There Was Jesus" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton | ||||
| from the album Rescue Story | ||||
| Released | October 3, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:43 | |||
| Label | Provident Label Group | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Jonathan Smith | |||
| Zach Williams singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Dolly Parton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"There Was Jesus" is a song written by Christian rock musician Zach Williams, Jonathan Smith, and country music songwriter Casey Beathard. A Williams duet with country legend Dolly Parton, it was released on October 3, 2019, as the second single from his album, Rescue Story.[1] It won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 2021 Grammy Awards. "There Was Jesus" received nominations for the GMA Dove Award Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 2021 GMA Dove Awards.
Background
[edit]Williams wrote "There Was Jesus" with Casey Beathard and Jonathan Smith, who also produced the song. About the song's inspiration, Williams said the song is about "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." He said he knew the moment they finished writing the song he wanted to see if Parton would consider recording it with him. Williams's team reached out to Parton's manager. When Parton heard the song she loved it. Arrangements were made for the duo to meet in the studio a few weeks later to record it. In a press release Williams recalled, "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."[2]
Live performances
[edit]Williams and Parton performed the song live for the first time at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards on November 13, 2019.[3]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Won | [4] |
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Christian Song | Nominated | [5] | |
| GMA Dove Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [6] | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated |
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "There Was Jesus - Single by Zach Williams & Dolly Parton". iTunes. Apple. October 3, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Featured On Zach Williams' New Song "There Was Jesus"". DollyParton.com. Dolly Parton. October 4, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ Staff, The Boot. "WATCH: Dolly Parton Sings Faith-Filled Medley With For King & Country, Zach Williams at 2019 CMA Awards". The Boot. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ Warner, Denise (November 24, 2020). "2021 Grammy Nominations: See the Full List | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Longs, Herb (April 29, 2021). "Billboard Music Awards Announce 2021 Nominees For Top Christian/Gospel Artist, Song & Album - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Grein, Paul (August 11, 2021). "2021 GMA Dove Award Nominees: Full List | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Christian Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "Christian Airplay Songs - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "Christian AC Songs - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "WAY-FM Top 20 Songs". WAY-FM. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Zach Williams & Dolly Parton – There Was Jesus". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
There Was Jesus
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Background and development
Writing and inspiration
"There Was Jesus" was co-written by Zach Williams, Nashville songwriter Casey Beathard, and producer Jonathan Smith during a collaborative session focused on Williams' personal testimony.[10][11] In this process, Williams shared intimate stories from his life, including his battles with addiction to drugs and alcohol that began in his mid-teens, leading to the loss of a college basketball scholarship and early departure from high school.[12] The song's core inspiration stems from Williams' reflection on two decades of profound struggles, marked by a rock 'n' roll lifestyle in his band Zach Williams & The Reformation, which disbanded in 2012 after years of touring and personal turmoil.[10][12] Having drifted from his Christian upbringing, Williams hit a low point at age 33 during a 2012 European tour in Spain, where a desperate prayer in a hotel room led to his recommitment to faith, transforming his path from secular rock music to contemporary Christian artistry.[12] This redemption narrative underscores the song's central theme: the unwavering presence of Jesus amid waiting, searching, healing, and hurting.[13] The lyrics emerged organically from Williams' testimony of grace and forgiveness, emphasizing how divine companionship endured through his life's crashes and rebuilds, ultimately fostering gratitude for a renewed purpose in ministry and music.[13][12] Drafted prior to its inclusion on Williams' 2019 album Rescue Story, the track captures this introspective journey without delving into specific production elements at the time.[10] Williams envisioned it as a duet early on, later enlisting Dolly Parton to amplify its message of enduring faith.[10]Recording and collaboration
The recording of "There Was Jesus" was produced by Jonathan Smith, a frequent collaborator with Zach Williams who also co-wrote the track and managed the instrumentation and arrangement. The sessions took place in early 2019 at Gnome Studios, Love Shack Recording Studio, and Right Path Studios in the Nashville area.[14][15] Williams recorded his lead vocals first during the production process. To secure Dolly Parton's participation, Williams' team sent a demo of the song to her manager, who shared it with her; Parton agreed swiftly to contribute, citing the song's alignment with her interest in faith-based material, and recorded her harmony vocals remotely without meeting Williams in person.[10]Musical composition
Lyrics and themes
"There Was Jesus" follows a verse-chorus structure, with verses narrating personal struggles and triumphs, while the chorus repeats the refrain "There was Jesus" to emphasize divine constancy.[16] The duet alternates lead vocals between Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, allowing each artist to convey reflective verses that build to shared choruses, enhancing the song's theme of mutual recognition of faith's role in life's journey.[17] The song's core themes revolve around redemption through faith and the unwavering presence of God amid personal trials and joys. Williams draws from his own experiences of hardship to illustrate overcoming adversity with divine support.[13] This narrative extends to broader depictions of God's companionship in moments of failure, loneliness, and healing, portraying faith as a source of resilience and hope that permeates both sorrow and celebration.[18] Parton complements this by reflecting on life's milestones where faith moved mountains, as in her comment on mustard seed faith.[18] Poetically, the lyrics employ a simple, narrative-driven style that evokes biblical allusions to divine companionship, such as themes of guidance through highs and lows reminiscent of Psalm 23, without direct scriptural quotations.[16] This approach creates an intimate, storytelling tone that invites listeners to recall their own encounters with faith's subtle presence.[17]Style and production
"There Was Jesus" is a contemporary Christian music track infused with country gospel elements, performed at a tempo of approximately 77 beats per minute in the key of Ab major.[19][20] The song earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song in 2021, highlighting its blend of inspirational lyrics with accessible, heartfelt melodies. The arrangement centers on acoustic guitar as the primary driver, supported by piano, strings, bass, and subtle percussion and drums that provide a gentle, building rhythm without overpowering the vocals.[21] Dolly Parton's distinctive twangy delivery introduces a classic country texture, complementing Zach Williams' more robust, rock-influenced tone to create a dynamic duet.[22] Produced by Jonathan Smith, the track clocks in at 3:44 and features polished recording that emphasizes emotional intimacy and anthemic swells through vocal interplay.[23][24] This production approach reinforces the song's themes of unwavering faith by maintaining a warm, reflective soundscape.[25]Release and promotion
Single release
"There Was Jesus" was released on October 3, 2019, as the second single from Zach Williams' second studio album, Rescue Story.[26][27] The full album followed one day later on October 4, 2019, through Provident Label Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.[28] The single was distributed in digital download and streaming formats, alongside targeted radio airplay on Christian and country stations to leverage its duet with Dolly Parton.[26][29][30] As track 4 on Rescue Story, "There Was Jesus" helped establish the album's thematic focus on Williams' personal testimony of redemption and faith.[28][12]Marketing efforts
Following its October 2019 single release as part of the album Rescue Story, "There Was Jesus" received a targeted radio push to Christian Adult Contemporary (AC) and country stations, where it quickly gained traction and eventually topped the Billboard Christian Airplay chart in September 2020.[31] Partnerships with outlets like CCM Magazine and iHeartRadio supported premieres and airplay, with CCM Magazine highlighting the collaboration shortly after launch and iHeartRadio featuring the track in its contemporary Christian programming.[32][33] Digital campaigns amplified awareness through teaser clips shared on social media platforms in the lead-up to the October release, building anticipation for the duet's faith-centered message. Williams complemented these efforts with testimony videos that connected his personal redemption story to the song's themes of unwavering divine presence, shared across his official channels to engage fans emotionally.[34] Cross-promotion extended to streaming services, where the track was prominently featured in faith-based playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, contributing to its viral spread and sustained streams. In early 2020, the single tied into announcements for Williams' Rescue Story Tour, integrating performances of the song into tour marketing to drive ticket sales and deepen audience connection.[35][36]Media appearances
Music video
The official performance edit music video for "There Was Jesus" was released on March 11, 2021. It premiered on platforms including YouTube and VEVO, where it has garnered over 4 million views as of November 2025.[37] This performance edit follows the official music video released in April 2020.[9] The video features alternating performance shots of Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, who were filmed separately due to geographical distance. This visual presentation emphasizes the song's themes of faith and divine presence amid hardship.[37] Production was faith-focused, prioritizing emotional delivery through intimate performance elements to convey spiritual resilience.[38]Live performances
The debut live performance of "There Was Jesus" took place at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards on November 13, 2019, where Dolly Parton and Zach Williams delivered a duet as part of a faith-themed medley that also included "God Only Knows" with for King & Country and Parton's "Faith."[39] The arrangement featured acoustic instrumentation, emphasizing the song's gospel-country blend, and marked Parton's first appearance at the CMA Awards in over a decade, her previous performance having been in 2004.[39][40] The rendition concluded the medley to a standing ovation from the audience at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, underscoring its emotional resonance.[39] Following the CMA debut, Williams performed solo versions of the song during his Rescue Story Tour in late 2019 and early 2020, often incorporating it into church and venue setlists as a powerful closer that highlighted themes of faith and redemption.https://musicrow.com/2019/11/zach-williams-to-continue-the-rescue-story-tour-in-march/ The tour, which included stops at churches like Calvary Baptist in Joplin, Missouri, was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, after which Williams shared intimate solo renditions, such as a live session recorded for Crosswalk in late March 2020.[41] No further joint performances with Parton occurred after the CMA event, attributed to their divergent schedules amid Williams' touring commitments and Parton's focus on other projects.[42] The live renditions of "There Was Jesus" played a key role in bridging Christian and country music audiences, with the CMA performance exemplifying faith-infused country that resonated across genres and set a precedent for similar crossovers.[43] Williams' solo outings on the tour further amplified this impact, closing shows on an uplifting note and fostering communal worship experiences for diverse crowds.Commercial performance
Chart performance
"There Was Jesus" experienced strong performance on the United States Christian music charts following its release in October 2019. On the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, the duet debuted at number 17 and climbed to a peak position of number two, where it held for 12 consecutive weeks between May and August 2020 before descending; it remained on the chart for a total of 52 weeks.[44] The track also entered the top 10 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart in July 2020, ascending to number one for the chart dated September 12, 2020, marking Dolly Parton's first number-one hit on that ranking.[45][3] In addition to its airplay success, the song topped both the Billboard Christian AC Monitored and Christian AC Indicator charts in September 2020, while reaching number three on the Christian AC Airplay chart in August 2020 and entering the top 40 overall on the Christian AC ranking.[46][47] Outside the primary Christian formats, the single received limited crossover play but did not achieve significant peaks on broader genre charts.| Chart (2019–2020) | Peak | Weeks at Peak | Total Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Christian Songs (Billboard) | 2 | 12 | 52 |
| Christian Airplay (Billboard) | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| Christian AC Airplay (Billboard) | 3 | N/A | N/A |