For many country artists, their first taste of performing was in a church. But there are several who actually were Christian singers first, before making the leap to country music. We found four artists who started out as Christian singers.
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1. Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus
Before there was Rascal Flatts, Jay DeMarcus was actually a successful Christian artist. DeMarcus was a founder of the band East to West, which he formed with Neal Coomer. They released two albums, and had several hits at Christian radio, including "Prince of Peace," which was a No. 1 hit for them.
The group disbanded when DeMarcus' then-girlfriend, Maggie, found out she was pregnant. The baby was placed for adoption. Upon news of the pregnancy outside of marriage, the band was immediately banished from Christian radio.
"I understand, I guess," DeMarcus says in his autobiography, Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope (via People). "But it does seem that many Christians all too often kills their wounded instead of taking time to be there to help pick someone up,"
2. The Oak Ridge Boys
Only true country music fans know that The Oak Ridge Boys were, for decades, a Christian group before making the switch to country. Formed in 1943, The Oak Ridge Boys, then The Oak Ridge Quartet released more than 30 albums before their first country album, with Y'all Come Back Saloon, out in 1977.
Once they switched to country, they never looked back, although they still include gospel music on some of their albums and in their live shows.
"We had over 35 gospel hits before we ever found the 'Y'all Come Back Saloon,' Duane Allen says, referring to the title track of their first country album. "After that first country hit, we had over 50 chart records in country music, and some of those have spilled over into rock 'n' roll. A few songs that identify the Oak Ridge Boys, such as 'Jesus is Coming Soon,' 'Y'all Come Back Saloon,' and 'Elvira' that crossed us into the Top 40, are three minutes of magic. That's the ticket to get you anywhere you want to go."
3. Josh Turner
It's probably not much of a surprise that Josh Turner got his start as a Christian artist. Turner, who has been vocal about his Christian faith, was actually part of a Christian quartet, Thankful Hearts, while still a teenager.
While Turner ultimately moved to Nashville and became a country artist, the Grand Ole Opry member still makes his faith a priority. In 2018, he released a gospel album, I Serve A Savior. For Turner, one doesn't need to be separate from the other.
"For most of my life, I've been a Christian," Turner tells The Christian Post. "I've always wanted to sing country music, and I've been able to incorporate my faith into it."
4. Carrie Underwood
Of course, Carrie Underwood's big start happened when she won Season 4 of American Idol in 2005. But by the time she competed on the TV show, Underwood already had plenty of practice singing, since she often performed in her local church.
Like Turner, Underwood has still ben outspoken about her faith. She also released My Savior in 2021, a record full of hymns. Now one of the biggest superstars in country music, Underwood still feels gratitude for her humble beginnings.
"I went to a very small Baptist church in my hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma," Underwood tells NPR. "We would file in and sit in the pews, and they'd say, 'Open your hymnals to page...' or whatever. And off we went. I can hear the congregation singing, and I can hear certain voices of people that I grew up with, who would be behind my left shoulder. Or that one lady that always kind of slid around and scooped her notes all over the place, the people that would sing harmony."
