MercyMe’s Bart Millard Celebrates 30 Years With Band
By Movieguide® Contributor
MercyMe band member Bart Millard is reflecting on his time with the group.
“We’ve been in the band 30 years next August,” he said during an appearance on “The Matthew West Podcast,” joking that it’s pretty significant, considering he’s just 35 years old.
When West asked what his initial dreams for the group were, Millard said they were pretty small.
“The dream was to be heard on the radio,” he said. “I couldn’t think higher than that…It was one thing to own the album and choose to listen to it, but when something would pop up on the radio…[I thought] ‘Man, what would that feel like?’ I couldn’t imagine.
Today, Millard and the rest of MercyMe are among the most popular Christian artists.
Movieguide® previously reported on the group’s long-running success:
Christian band MercyMe, now in its 29th year, rises to the top of Christian music charts for the 19th time.
“MercyMe extends its records for the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay charts, as ‘To Not Worship You’ ascends to the top of both tallies dated Sept. 16,” Billboard reported.
Eighteen of MercyMe’s other songs have previously reached the top of the charts. No one comes close to taking the band’s “Most Number 1s” title, but For KING & COUNTRY comes in second at just 13 hits.
Millard is getting ready to hit the road with the rest of MercyMe for their “Always Only Jesus” tour.
“We can’t wait to hit the road this Spring with @Newsboys and @DavidLeonardMusic on the #AlwaysOnlyJesusTour!” the band posted on Instagram.
MercyMe will stop at cities including San Diego, Boise, Minneapolis and Knoxville on the tour.
The group has also been promoting their latest single, “To Not Worship You,” off their “Always Only Jesus” album.
“I think with this song, I better realize what being still and knowing that He is God means,” Millard said of the track. “A lot of times when we have doubt or we’re questioning stuff, I think ultimately it’s because we’re not stopping and remembering who God really is. When you take the time to remember who God is, then it’s easy to ask, ‘who are we to not worship him?’”
