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11 New and Upcoming Music Releases You Might Be Interested In

2026 has already seen a number of excellent music releases, and there are more on the ways. Here are 11 of them that you might be interested in:

The Commons Chapel – CXMMXNS

Worship collective CXMMXNS (Commons) was formed by Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning songwriters Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, two of the most influential writers in modern worship music. From their pens have come some of the most celebrated and widely sung anthems including “Goodness of God,” “Who You Say I Am,” “What a Beautiful Name,” “Cornerstone,” and “Mighty to Save” – songs sung by tens of millions of believers every week across the world. Birthed in Sydney, Australia, CXMMXNS is passionately committed to gathering worshippers worldwide and serving local churches with songs that everyone can sing.
The Commons Chapel is a full-length worship experience from CXMMXNS, capturing a fresh, intimate expression of congregational worship in a chapel setting. Recorded live with a gathered community, this project was created to serve the local church – especially worship leaders, teams, and congregations gathering in smaller rooms, where simplicity, unity, and presence matter most. Featuring new CXMMXNS songs, collaborations with CityAlight, and stripped-back chapel versions of widely sung worship songs from across the global Church, The Commons Chapel creates space for what matters most: the sound of the church singing.
I first became aware of Ben Fielding when he partnered with Chris Tomlin on the song “The First Hymn” in 2025. I was interested in this project primarily because it included CityAlight, one of my favorite artists. They contribute two songs here – “Stand Firm”, and “His Glory & My Good”. The entire project reminded me of CityAlight’s style of worship.


Hope – Petra

Petra was one of my favorite bands when I was a new believer in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and I continued to follow their music through 2003’s Jekyll and Hyde. Hope is their first new album of all new material since Jekyll and Hyde. It is a mix of rock, mid-tempo songs, and ballads. The album sounds like classic Petra, with memorable hooks, strong guitar work from Bob Hartman, keys and synths from John Lawry, and powerful vocals from John Schlitt. The lyrics are scripturally based, as you can expect from Petra. Bob Hartman wrote, or co-wrote all of the songs.


For Your Glory – Trip Lee and BRAG Worship

The latest from Trip Lee (pastor, author, rapper) is For Your Glory, from his  new collective BRAG Worship.  I’ve long enjoyed Lee’s music, teaching and books. This worship project is different from anything you’ve heard from him, and it’s very good.
The eight song EP is comprised of easy-going R&B sounds, with memorable choruses and samples a few classic hymns. Lee co-wrote and co-produced each song.


Jamie McDonald – Jamie MacDonald

I first heard of Jamie MacDonald when she recorded a version of “God Did It” with TobyMac. She then appeared on “My Father’s World” on Chris Tomlin’s The King is Still The King album. She is currently opening for Phil Wickham on his Song of the Saints tour. Previously, she has sung background vocals for artists such as Zach Williams and Anne Wilson.
MacDonald has a soulful voice, reminding me of Ashley Cleveland, and many of these songs have joyful choirs supporting her. She wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this debut album and worked with a number of producers, recording the album across several iconic Nashville studios.


All I Have is Christ: The Hymns of Jordan Kauflin

Jordan Kauflin is a worship pastor, and writes songs for churches to sing, primarily with Getty Music and Sovereign Grace Music. This album of ten songs, each of which Kauflin wrote, or co-write, was recorded at the 2025 Sing! Getty Worship Conference in Nashville, and was produced by Nathan Nockels. The album includes a number of special guests, including Laura Story, CityAlight, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Bob Kauflin, and Bryan Fowler.


Song of the Saints (Deluxe) – Phil Wickham

Song of the Saints by Phil Wickham was one of my favorite albums of 2025. Wickham is back with a massive 18 song Deluxe edition, bringing the entire Song of the Saints project to 34 songs. The Deluxe edition includes live recordings, collaborations, remixes, as well as songs that were not on the original album, such as “It Really Is Amazing Grace” (with Crowder), “Fear Has No Power” (Live), “It’s Always Been You (HGHTS Remix)”, “Psalm 8 (Hallé)”, and “Everyday Hallelujah”.
In addition to the Crowder collaboration, the new project features collaborations with Lauren Daigle, Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, Jamie MacDonald, Cain, Chris Tomlin, and Michael W. Smith.


The Long Surrender – NEEDTOBREATHE

This is NEEDTOBREATHE’s tenth studio album. It was produced by Dave Cobb, and recorded at Cobb’s Savannah studio. The 12 songs were written by Bear Rinehart, with one song co-written with John Luke Carter. The band released four songs in advance of the album release – “The Long Surrender,” “Highlands”, “Where You Call Home” and “Momma Loves Me,” featuring The Red Clay Strays.


The Resurrection of the King – Tommie Profitt

Described as a year-round companion to Profitt’s The Birth of a King, the album  features guest artists Phil Wickham, Crower, CeCe Winans, Jamie MacDonald and more. “He Arose” with Phil Wickham was the first song released. “There is Power”, featuring Crowder is another favorite.


Long, Long Road – Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr returns with his second country flavored album produced by T Bone Burnette, following 2025’s excellent Look Up. The first single released is “It’s Been Too Long”. The album features appearances from Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent and Molly Tuttle.


Sing! From Generation to Generation – Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference 2025

Keith and Kristyn Getty have been hosting the Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference in Nashville since 2017. After each conference they release an album containing many of the finest musical moments from the conference. Sing! From Generation to Generation features fourteen songs from the 2025 conference from a diverse group of artists, including CityAlight, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Fernando Ortega, Cochren & Co, Sandra McCracken, the late Jubilant Sykes, and Dwan Hill and The Choir Room. The conference featured the voices of 7,000 from 27 countries celebrating God’s faithfulness across 20 centuries and teaching the coming generations through song.


Forever Now – Switchfoot

To be released June 26.
Forever Now will be Switchfoot’s first full-length collection of new music in five years and follows the recent re-release of its 2003 album The Beautiful Letdown. The first single released was “Wake Up, Mr. Crow”.

These are 11 new and upcoming music releases. I hope  you find something that you are interested in.


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

All I Have is Christ: The Hymns of Jordan Kauflin
****

Jordan Kauflin is a worship pastor, and writes songs for churches to sing, primarily with Getty Music and Sovereign Grace Music. This album of ten songs, each of which Kauflin wrote, or co-write, was recorded at the 2025 Sing! Getty Worship Conference in Nashville, and was produced by Nathan Nockels. The album includes a number of special guests, including Laura Story, CityAlight, Kristyn Getty, Bob Kauflin, and Bryan Fowler. The album includes four new hymns and six favorites that are sung by churches around the world.
In my reviews I usually list my favorite songs on the album. I’m not going to do that this time as all of the songs are excellent – well written and performed.
Below are a few comments about each of the ten songs:

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  • More of this review and a review of Live from the Ryman by Wilder Woods
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “Say So” by Jordan Kauflin and Bryan Fowler

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Far Country – Ellie Holcomb
*** ½ 

Ellie Holcomb returns with her fourth full-length studio album Far Country, a solid follow-up to Canyon, one of my favorite albums of 2021. The new album features eleven new songs born from a season of profound grief and spiritual exploration. Holcomb co-wrote all of the songs. The album was produced and engineered by Cason Cooley and executive produced by Holcomb’s father Brown Bannister, and Samantha Steele.
The songs feature Holcomb’s strong and expressive vocals. The album contains themes of being made for a different place, there having to be more than this, light, love, hope, and the goodness and mercy for the Lord.

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ It Really Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham and Crowder

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Andrew Peterson Presents: A Liturgy, a Legacy & The Songs of Rich Mullins – Various Artists
****

On September 24, 2017 a number of artists led by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive gathered at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Rich Mullins. They performed a note-for-note concert of Mullins’  best album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, complete with strings, special guests, and an appreciative audience.
Peterson and friends followed a concert format that he has used over the years on his Behold The Lamb of God Christmas tour. The first half of the concert had each of the guest artists sing a Mullins song of their choice, with Peterson singing a few of his own choices in along the way.
The first half set list:

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  • More of this review and a review of Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge by Van Morrison
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Taste and See (The Love of Christ) by Bryan Fowler and Matt Maher

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Music Review:
50 Years from Home: I Gave You Everything I Had – Vince Gill
****

Vince Gill is celebrating five decades in the music industry, which includes twenty-two Grammy awards, including time with Pure Prairie League, and the Eagles since 2017. Over the next year, he will release a series of EPs called 50 Years from Home. The first of the EPs is I Gave You Everything I Had.
The new EP includes six new songs, which Gill has described as “very personal”, as well as a newly recorded version of “Go Rest High On That Mountain”, which features a new third verse. All songs were written by Gill, who also produced the project.
The songs feature Paul Franklin on pedal steel, Gill on guitar along with Tom Bukovac, Jedd Hughes and Jack Schneider, keyboardist John Jarvis, multi-instrumentalists Stuart Duncan and Jim “Moose” Brown, banjo player Russ Carson, with Gill’s wife of 25 years, Amy Grant, and daughters Jenny Gill and Corrina Gill singing background vocals. The songs were recorded at Gill’s The House studio.

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– More of this review
– Music News
– Song of the Week Lyrics~ Stand Firm by CityAlight and CXMMXNS Continue reading


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Life & Breath – Matt Redman

Life & Breath – Matt Redman
****

After releasing twenty albums, Matt Redman has done something he hadn’t previously done. Life & Breath, Redman’s latest album, was recorded as a “live studio” album in Nashville, allowing him to achieve the precision of a studio while still capturing the energy and breath of a live worship setting. The album was produced by Steve Marcia, includes nine new songs, and has collaborations with worship leaders Joe L Barnes, CalledOut Music, Charity Gayle, and the Lipscomb University Gospel Choir.
I’ve long enjoyed Redman’s music, and Life & Breath is a fine addition to his catalog. It will surely be on my list of favorite albums for 2025.
Redman co-wrote each of the songs. Here are a few brief comments and a key lyric from each of the new songs:

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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Rise With the Sun – CityAlight

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

The King is Still the King – Chris Tomlin
****

Chris Tomlin returns with The King is Still the King, his eighteenth studio album, and first since 2022’s Always, which featured the song “Holy Forever”. The new album features sixteen new recordings, including four emoji-titled interludes.
I’ve long enjoyed and been blessed by Tomlin’s music. This new praise and worship album is an excellent addition to his catalog and will surely be on my top albums for 2025.

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  • More of this review and a review of Wings (Deluxe Edition) – Wings
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Sandra McCracken

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

When I Think of Christmas – Amy Grant and Vince Gill
***

Amy Grant and Vince Gill’s annual Christmas at the Ryman is one of the most successful residencies in the history of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (former home of the Grand Ole Opry).
Since 1993, Grant and Gill have celebrated Christmas with hometown concerts. What began at the Opry House as “A Tennessee Christmas”, opened Bridgestone Arena, moved to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and finally took up residence at The Ryman Auditorium. They have now performed their Christmas show more than 100 times in front of nearly a quarter-million people. This new collection of songs captures the spirit of those shows.
When I Think of Christmas is a compilation featuring nine of Gill and Grant’s favorite holiday songs along with two brand-new recordings. The new songs are  including Grant’s version of the album’s title track and “Til the Season Comes Round Again,” a Grant/Gill duet, the song they end their Christmas concerts with.
The track list includes holiday favorites like “The Christmas Song”, “Winter Wonderland”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “O Holy Night” and more.

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  • More of this review and a review of Hallelujah! It’s Christmas by Phil Wickham and In Excelsis (EP) by Matt Redman
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

I Heard the Bells (EP) – Sandra McCracken
****

This five-song project from Sandra McCracken was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, and produced by McCracken and Seth Talley. It features collaborations with other artists, including Dave Barnes, Cindy Morgan, and Joseph Bradshaw.
The songs have a gentle – acoustic guitar, bass, piano and drums – sound. Four of the songs are Christmas standards – “White Christmas”, “I Heard the Bells”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, and “The Christmas Song”, and the final song is McCracken’s “The Space Between”, which she wrote with Cindy Morgan and Gabe Dixon.
I Heard the Bells will be an excellent addition to your Christmas music collection. Also recommended is McCracken’s 2019 Christmas album, titled simply Christmas.

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  • A review of Song of the Saints by Phil Wickham
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Rise With The Sun by CityAlight

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Music from the Soundtrack of My Life

On November 25, my friend Jim and I made our way to the United Center in Chicago for the final stop on Paul McCartney’s Got Back North America tour. This would be Jim’s first time seeing the former Beatle. I have now seen Sir Paul in concert fourteen times, with the first being at the Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena) with my brother-in-law Al in December, 1989. I have seen him in Chicago seven times – at the Rosemont Horizon, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field and now four times at the United Center; three times in Indianapolis, at the old Market Square Arena, and twice at what is now known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse, twice in Milwaukee at the old County Stadium and Summerfest, and once in St. Louis at the old Busch Memorial Stadium, and Moline, at what is now known as Vibrant Arena. Five of the concerts have been held in outdoor stadiums, with the remaining nine in indoor arenas.
It’s hard to over-emphasize how much of a part of my life that the music of the Beatles, and the now 83-year-old McCartney, has been. Many of their songs take me back to wonderful memories in my life. I never was able to see John Lennon in concert, who was murdered in 1980, but did see George Harrison in St. Louis in 1974 on his lone U.S. tour, and Ringo Starr, with his All-Starr Band, also in St. Louis in 2014. Continue reading