Christian singer-songwriter Leanna Crawford is celebrating a season of career milestones, but she says the biggest transformation in her life had nothing to do with awards, chart success or sold-out shows. Instead, it came when she stopped measuring her value by her music and learned to trust God’s plan.

Crawford, 31, recently reflected on that journey ahead of the July 24 release of her sophomore album, Thank God, which arrives the same day she makes her long-awaited debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

Looking back, Crawford admitted there was a time when her identity was completely wrapped up in her career.

“I put all my worth in what I do, like all of it in music,” she said. “I felt like I’d let everybody down. Felt like I’d let God down, but I was also kind of upset at Him because I was like, ‘Well, what are you doing? I want to be in control.'”

While her recent success includes being named New Artist of the Year at the 2025 GMA Dove Awards and earning the K-LOVE Fan Award for Breakout Single of the Year with the Gold-certified hit “Still Waters (Psalm 23),” Crawford said those accomplishments aren’t what define her anymore.

Rather than trying to recreate the success of “Still Waters,” she chose to make an album that felt authentic to who she is. Drawing inspiration from the ’90s country music she grew up listening to, Thank God features story-driven songwriting and organic instrumentation that she says simply felt like home.

“This album feels like home,” Crawford said. “It just felt so natural. … It wasn’t forced. It was just like, ‘Okay, here. This is who I am.'”

The new project also reflects a different spiritual perspective. While her debut album was written during painful seasons, Thank God looks back on those experiences with gratitude.

“This one is me looking back now and saying, ‘Oh, that’s why I had to go through some of that,'” she explained.

That message is especially evident in songs like “Revenge,” which grew out of Crawford’s own struggle with bitterness and forgiveness.

“Forgiveness is so hard… I was really bitter for a long time, and angry, and I had to continually give it to God and just pray, ‘God, help me with this,'” she said.

Crawford believes one of the greatest gifts of Christian music is that it doesn’t ignore life’s hardships—it points people toward lasting hope in the middle of them.

“What I get to do as a Christian artist is so special because I get to say, actually, there is this hope,” she said. “It might not make sense right now, or on this side of Heaven, but it’s going to make sense someday. God’s not going to waste this season, and you’re not alone in this.”

She added that following Jesus doesn’t eliminate anxiety, grief or disappointment, but it changes how believers walk through those experiences.

“We still experience such human things,” Crawford said. “We still go through all the things. But we’ve got Jesus, so there’s a lot of hope. He’s never left. He’s not going to leave, and that’s why I love Christian music.”

Even after touring with artists like Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Zach Williams and Matt Maher, Crawford admitted she still battles anxiety and self-doubt before taking the stage. Yet those are often the nights when she sees God work most powerfully.

“The best shows we have are just when He’s leading,” she said. “When I don’t feel like I even have the strength … I have to surrender.”

Ultimately, Crawford hopes her new album reminds listeners that God’s faithfulness often becomes clearest in hindsight. Though they may not understand every closed door or delayed answer, she believes believers can trust God’s timing.

“I don’t maybe understand all that He’s doing,” Crawford said. “I don’t have all the answers, but I can trust that He’s not going to waste this season. So thank You for saying no. Thank You for saying, ‘Not yet.'”