Josh Wilson Biography
Who is Josh Wilson?
Josh Wilson (born November 14, 1983) is a contemporary Christian music artist from El Dorado, Arkansas, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas. His discography includes top-charting hits like "Savior, Please", "Before the Morning", "I Refuse", "Fall Apart", "Pushing Back The Dark", and "Revolutionary". Raised as the son of a Baptist pastor, he was exposed to hymns, classical music, and secular pop and rock, shaping a musical style that blends introspective Christian themes with melodic pop and folk influences.
Wilson began piano lessons at age 9, later adding guitar and drums, and performed regularly in church and youth groups. After graduating from Coronado High School in 2002, he moved to Nashville to study songwriting and contemporary music at Belmont University, graduating in 2006. There, he refined his songwriting and instrumental skills, performing in campus ensembles and competitions, which led to his first professional recordings.
He released his debut independent album, Dragonfly, in 2004, followed by the EP Shake the Shadow in 2006, showcasing his multi-instrumental abilities and introspective lyrics. In 2006, Wilson signed with Sparrow Records, releasing his first studio album, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup (2008), which featured the Top 10 single "Savior, Please." He followed with the EP Life Is Not a Snapshot (2009), including the hit "Before the Morning," reaching the Top 5 on Christian radio.
His 2011 album See You included the Top 10 hit "I Refuse," and that year he released his first Christmas album, Noel (2012), featuring the No. 1 holiday single "Jesus Is Alive." Wilson was named ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2012. Later albums, Carry Me (2013) and That Was Then, This Is Now (2015), reached the Top 5 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart and showcased his evolving style, blending acoustic folk, pop rock, and layered instrumentation.
Joining Black River Christian in 2017, Wilson released the Don't Look Back EP (2018) with the song "Dream Small," followed by the Remember EP (2021), which included "Revolutionary," and his 2024 album Mental Help, addressing anxiety, depression, addiction, and recovery with honesty and hope. His 2023 single "Who's My Neighbor?" draws on the Good Samaritan story to encourage compassion, while his 2025 single "Take It From Me," with Jason Gray, emphasizes mutual support.
A multi-instrumentalist, Wilson is known for live-looping performances, layering guitar, piano, hammered dulcimer, ukulele, mandolin, and percussion to create a full one-man-band effect. His songwriting often explores faith, redemption, vulnerability, and mental health, grounded in a Christian worldview and influenced by artists like Jon Foreman of Switchfoot.
Reflecting on his perspective, Wilson says, "We may live in snapshot moments, but those moments are not Life. Life is not one point in time but all of the points in time between drawing our first and last breaths. Because we have experienced the faithfulness of God in the past we can be secure in the present and trust in the One who holds the future." He also recalls, "I am a pastor's kid and grew up in the church. I don't remember a time when I didn't believe in Jesus, but my faith was never really challenged until I went to college… The Lord picked me up and said, 'There are good answers to these questions, but you're going to have to do some searching and praying and ask some smart questions yourself to figure out why you believe what you believe.'"
Wilson married his wife Becca in 2009, and they have one son, Asher, born in November 2015. The family lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He advocates for mental health awareness in Christian communities, openly discussing therapy, medication, and support groups alongside faith.
Over two decades, Wilson has earned multiple Dove Award nominations and ASCAP recognition, sold more than 200,000 albums, achieved multiple Top 10 Billboard hits, and amassed millions of streams globally. He is also fondly remembered for a 2010 viral video where he led an impromptu 'Hey Jude' sing-along during a massive delay at Newark Airport, a testament to his heart for people and his spontaneous musicality. He continues to tour extensively, release new music, and inspire listeners through candid songwriting, dynamic performances, and a commitment to faith, hope, and honesty.