FamilyChristian.com Exclusive Interview
Michael W. Smith - A New Kind of Freedom ...continued

FamilyChristian.com: You've lost some good friends during the last few years. How has music helped in the healing process?

Michael: Honestly, I'm not real good with words and a lot of times I just express myself through writing something or playing something. Sometimes it ends up being healing for me and fortunately, being healing for other people.

Really, the most emotional song on the record is "Carol Ann," who was a dear friend [and] my wife's best friend.

FamilyChristian.com: What happened to her?

Michael: She was in a horseback riding accident. She had four kids and they all go to school with my kids and we've known each other for 19 years. You just still can't believe it but one day we'll understand.

The night of the memorial [I] was just wrung out and I started writing this thing. I knew it was for her and I had to call it that. I really think it was the right thing for the record and I think it was the right thing for me to dedicate the record to her.

FamilyChristian.com: You've been in the Christian music industry for over 20 years and have created quite a discography. If you could have only done one album, which one would it be?

Michael: It would probably be Freedom [but] I might say that because you always are in love with your latest work.

FamilyChristian.com: What would be your second?

Michael: I would probably say i2 (EYE). People still talk about that record. They talk about that and The Big Picture. I think The Big Picture was such a huge shift from my second record. Even back then, I think it was on the cutting edge. I'm not sure people knew what to do with that one.

FamilyChristian.com: This past fall, you made the decision to send a letter of endorsement for George W. Bush. What made you decide to do that?

Michael: I just felt in my gut that that was what I was supposed to do. I've known the Bushes for 12 years and I knew this was a really close election. It could of gone either way. I woke up one day and thought, "I need to publicly make some sort of endorsement for Dubyah." The best way to do that was to hit our email list, which is about 30,000 people. Ninety-nine of the response was good. I got a few nasty letters. But I felt like that was what I was supposed to do.

FamilyChristian.com: How did you meet the Bush family?

Michael: I met President Bush Senior-Number 41 is what we call him now- when I did Christmas in Washington back in 1989. [I] got invited to the White House and we've been friends ever since. Being at Camp David or Kennebunkport is how I met the family. My first encounter with George W. was on the tennis court. One of his partners with the Texas Rangers and I played President Bush Senior and Dubyah. It was fierce. I thought I was competitive! These guys go like the wind! We've been friends since then.

FamilyChristian.com: What was it like to be a part of the Inaugural festivities?

Michael: I sang at the Inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral. It was pretty amazing. I played one song from Freedom and ended with "Great is Thy Faithfulness." I [also] did a song during the middle of the service called "Above All," which is a really neat praise and worship song.

FamilyChristian.com: You were recently inducted into the Kenova, West Virginia Hall of Fame. Congratulations!

Michael: I'm way too young to be in the Hall of Fame is all I've got to say! I'm really appreciative and they're very nice. I'm very thankful. I got to see a lot of my old friends. I'm one of their boys from Kenova so it was a great weekend.

FamilyChristian.com: In the last few years you've started leading worship at your church. As a worship leader, what do you think about the current surge of interest in worship music?

Freedom by Michael W. Smith

Michael: I think it's wonderful as long as it stays pure. I think the frustrating part is when you get record companies who jump on the bandwagon and everybody wants to release worship albums because it's what's selling. That's the only thing that really bothers me. As long as we can keep pure motives I think it's awesome.

FamilyChristian.com: What is God teaching you now?

Michael: He's trying to teach me to be still. My life gets crazy. Record company, publishing company, kids, doing this, doing that, this benefit, that benefit. You can so easily get pulled from all sides and all the sudden you're caught in the craziness of life. That's not what it's supposed to be like.

Jen Abbas, a writer in Grand Rapids, Mich., originally conducted this interview for Family Christian Stores' All Access music catalog.

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