{"id":5068,"date":"2024-12-06T14:24:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T19:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=5068"},"modified":"2024-12-06T14:24:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T19:24:25","slug":"new-country-faith-christmas-highlights-country-artists-favorite-verses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/12\/06\/new-country-faith-christmas-highlights-country-artists-favorite-verses\/","title":{"rendered":"New ‘Country Faith Christmas’ Highlights Country Artists’ Favorite Verses"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past decade, veteran music journalist Deborah Evans Price has been curating the “Country Faith” book series, which features country artists sharing their favorite scriptures and reflections on their faith. Now, the franchise is expanding with a new edition of the popular “Country Faith Christmas<\/a>” book.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Deborah Evans Price and ‘Country Faith Christmas’ image courtesy of EPIC PR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It’s been about 10 years ago now since the first book came out,” Price said. “I think it’s been such a blessing to see kind of how it’s grown over the years because we now have four books.”<\/p>\n

The original “Country Faith” allowed artists to reveal the biblical verses that have been meaningful in their lives and why. A few years later, Price launched a Christmas-themed edition, which has now been updated with a new version.<\/p>\n

“We had the first Christmas book, and about a year and a half ago, we had a meeting with Dayspring, and they were interested in becoming involved with the brand,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd so that led to doing new versions of the original Country Faith that came out last spring, and then the new Country Faith Christmas, which I’m really excited about because we’ve got new people that weren’t around when the first one released.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to featuring new artists, the updated “Country Faith Christmas” also includes some returning favorites.<\/p>\n

“We kept some of the original content, you know, such the Oak Ridge Boys. You know, I don’t do anything without them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The breakout country group, which recently lost longtime lead singer Joe Bonsall earlier this year, has been a favorite of Price\u2019s, dating back to her early days in radio.<\/p>\n

“They were my first major interview when I was at the radio station Louisiana. I used one of their songs in my and Gary’s wedding. They just always kind of had a special place in my heart,” she said.<\/p>\n

The book also includes personal holiday recipes from the artists, adding another layer of connection for readers.<\/p>\n

The Country Faith brand also includes 10 music collections with various themes such as hymns, patriotic and bluegrass. Price recalled the story behind including a never-before-heard Dolly Parton recording, which won a Dove Award and two International Bluegrass Music Awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had recorded \u2018In the Sweet By and By\u2019 and had never released it,\u201d she said. \u201cSo she gave us the raw track, just her guitar and vocal. And then Jerry Salley, who’s an amazing producer\u2014he produced the Country Faith bluegrass record\u2014went in and added musicians and produced the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the “Country Faith” series, Price has maintained a prolific journalism career, writing for outlets like Billboard, Women’s World, and CMA Close Up over the past three decades. She\u2019s cultivated relationships with some of the world\u2019s most well-known entertainers, even to the point of receiving flowers when her son was born and during her mother\u2019s illness.<\/p>\n

Because of her reputation and well-respected name in the industry, Price maintains a deep connection to the country music community and the role of faith within it.<\/p>\n

“I love the fact that these books have given country artists a platform to talk about their faith,” she said. “Everybody’s got a scripture that means a lot to him, and there’s a reason behind it.”<\/p>\n

Price recounted how some artists have even incorporated their favorite scriptures into their businesses or had them tattooed on their bodies, showcasing the personal significance of these verses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost Charlie Daniels four years ago; his favorite scripture was Psalm 91,\u201d she said. \u201cHe talked about performing for the troops in Iraq and being shot at, because they were in a helicopter, and talked about reciting that Scripture.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Price first approached Carrie Underwood, she said the popular singer was a little perplexed at answering the question.<\/p>\n

\u201c(I asked) \u2018Would you be a part of it?\u2019,\u201d she said. \u201c(Carrie) said \u2018Oh yeah, but it\u2019s going to be hard to narrow it down to one. I kind of like the whole book.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she continues to expand the “Country Faith” brand, Price remains grateful for the opportunity to share these stories of faith and connection.<\/p>\n

“It’s really been a blessing to see how this little project has grown,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the past decade, veteran music journalist Deborah Evans Price has been curating the “Country Faith” book series, which features country artists sharing their favorite scriptures and reflections on their faith. Now, the franchise is expanding with a new edition of the popular “Country Faith Christmas” book. “It’s been about 10 years ago now since…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":683,"featured_media":5071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[119],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music-news"],"yoast_head":"\nNew 'Country Faith Christmas' Highlights Country Artists' Favorite Verses<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The original "Country Faith" allowed artists to reveal the biblical verses that have been meaningful in their lives and why.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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