Anne Wilson is an American Christian musician & songwriter. She debuted in 2021 with the release of the single ‘My Jesus’ through Capitol Christian Music Group. “My Jesus,” was Wilson’s breakthrough hit, hitting the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
Anne always dreamed of becoming an astronaut and excelled in math and science to follow this path.
But without knowing God was preparing her for something special, and in 2017, Everything changed for Her when her brother was killed in a car accident.
After hearing the tragic news of her brother Jacob, who was only 23, she went to the piano and began to play “What a Beautiful Name” – an anthem in the Hillsong Worship songbook, her parents eventually asked her to play this song at the funeral. And this was the beginning of a new chapter.
In this article, we are going to take a look at Anne Wilson’s life and struggles.
Early Life & Achievements
Anne Wilson was born in Lexington, Kentucky on February 21, 2002. Wilson was raised in a Christian home and attended a Presbyterian church throughout most of her childhood.
And she is the youngest of three children.
However, it wasn’t until she was in middle school that she came to know the Lord personally. “I didn’t really know Jesus personally,” she said. “As a child, I was told to go to church every Sunday and that if I did this then God would love me. But when I was 12, for the first time in my life, I understood who God really is and felt His presence, I really fell in love with Jesus. He completely saved my life, and I began to pursue Him.” She added.
Her unwavering commitment to Christ came at just the right time.
Three years later, tragedy struck, but since her faith carried her through the events that took place, she was able to emerge a much stronger woman.
On June 7, 2017, the police knocked on the front door of the Wilson family and shared news no one ever wants to hear. Wilson’s brother, Jacob, had been tragically killed in a car accident. He was only 23 years old.
“It was so dark at that moment for me,” Wilson recalls. “I felt so hopeless, devastated, and broken. I was feeling so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even cry.”
Standing in her living room, just minutes after her dad had given her the news, she heard a voice from God.
I remember when I realized that listening to God was the key if I wanted him to guide me. It took a while, but eventually, I heard him say “Anne, are you going to trust Me?” And right then, in that moment, I turned and said “Jesus, I trust You.”
“And then God spoke again and said, ‘I’m going to give you what you need to push through this tragedy,’” Wilson remembers. “All of a sudden, the weight of death was lifted fully off my shoulders, and I felt like I could breathe. I had a feeling that God would pull me through this tragedy and carry me on to the other side.”
Wilson watched her sister and parents struggle in the days after the funeral. She was finding it difficult to process her grief, but also embrace it at the same time. “It was incredibly hard for me to get used to life without my best friend. It was difficult for my mom & dad to process how to live without their son.”
Wilson often went to her room and found solace in worship, as she had been playing the piano since she was 6-years of age. When she played Hillsong Worship’s ‘What A Beautiful Name’, her parents heard to and asked if she would perform the song at Jacob’s funeral.
After careful consideration, Anne Wilson reluctantly agreed. Outside of leading worship occasionally at church, this was the first time she had sung in front of an audience.
More than a thousand people attended the service celebrating her brother that day. ‘I sat down to play and God said “This is what I’m calling you to do. I’m calling you to praise and worship my name.”
She shares. ‘Up until that point, I had never dreamed of being a singer or singing for God.”
Without warning, it was as if she had been given a new dream—a dream of moving to Nashville and writing and singing music. She believed if this was what God wanted for her, He would make the way clear.
The video of Wilson singing “What a Beautiful Name” at Jacob’s funeral was passed on to a friend of a friend, who happened to be in the business. Intrigued by Wilson’s mesmerizing voice and visible hunger for Jesus, the manager Jason Davis contacted Anne six months later.
She eventually signed a deal with Capitol Christian Music Group.
“Now, almost four years later, I literally couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Wilson admits, “and it blows my mind every day that I have a record deal and that I’m putting out music. It’s insane.”
In the aftermath of her brother’s death, Wilson started to journal as a way to process her emotions. Her diary entries became the building blocks for her lyrics—lyrics that belie her 19 years on this planet. Currently living in Franklin, Tennessee, she references past entries as she crafts songs for her debut EP.
Her first song, ‘My Jesus’, was taken straight from her journal as she found that when she wrote about her relationship with Christ, He was always being described as “My Jesus”. And her introductory song is a warm invitation to experience Jesus in the same intimate way.
“My Jesus” went on to become Wilson’s breakthrough hit single, peaking at number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart and the Christian Airplay chart. ‘My Jesus’ was nominated for the Top Christian Song award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards
“When I came to know Him, I quickly realized that Jesus is a personal Jesus. Through losing Jacob, I saw that more than ever. Jesus was specifically there with us through every single moment.
He was carrying us through every single second of tragedy.” She said. “What I really want people to know and understand when they listen to this song is that Jesus can be personal for them, too.
He can be their Jesus, too; and He’s going to carry them through every tragedy and every loss they go through.”
Wilson released “I Still Believe in Christmas” on October 29, 2021. The song peaked at no. 15 on the Hot Christian Songs Chart.
Wilson released the single ‘Sunday Sermons’ on January 14, 2022.
Conclusion
Wilson often goes to her family’s farm when she needs a space to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and be reminded of God. She believes that listeners can feel His presence through her music.
Her rootsy sound reflects her strong southern upbringing and her admiration for country royalty like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton married with the heart-on-your-sleeve transparency of Steffany Gretzinger and Lauren Daigle.
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“I want people to come to know Jesus more intimately through my music. I also pray that Jesus would heal people’s hearts through my music and that He would enable them to let go of any anger or resentment they’re holding toward Him through my songs,” she emphasizes. “ it’s not just about religion – it’s about connecting with God. The songs I sing are about making that connection a reality for people.”
It’s this personal relationship that’s changed everything for Wilson. Loss doesn’t define her story. Instead, God used a moment of the unspeakable tragedy in her life to write a far greater narrative—one that speaks to the power of holding to an anchor in the midst of the storm.
It’s because of this personal connection with God that Wilson was able to survive. She says it would never have happened if she wasn’t anchored to God.
Loss doesn’t define her story – instead, she was able to see the power of holding onto Him during a moment of unthinkable tragedy.
If you want an example of what a genuine relationship with Jesus looks like, take one look at Anne.
She has an infectious personality that’s obvious from her smile.
Anne Wilson might not be exploring the stars like she thought she would, but the vibes she gives off shine ten thousand times brighter than anything man-made.