Steven Curtis Chapman Biography
Who is Steven Curtis Chapman?
Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. His music reflects a lifelong commitment to faith, family, and sharing the message of God's love, shaped in part by personal loss and the lessons learned through difficult seasons of life.
Chapman has expressed his prayer in these words: "God, I want to know You and I want to make You known."
Chapman is recognized as the most awarded artist in Christian music, with 60 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, five GRAMMY® Awards, 50 No. 1 singles, more than 17 million albums sold, and ten RIAA-Certified® Gold or Platinum albums.
Chapman began his recording career with First Hand in 1987, followed by Real Life Conversations (1988) and More to This Life (1989). His 1990 album For the Sake of the Call earned him his first GRAMMY® Award in 1992. In 1992, he released The Great Adventure, which earned him his second GRAMMY® Award in 1993 and four Dove Awards. His subsequent albums included Speechless (1999) and Beauty Will Rise (2009), which reflected on faith and hope following the death of his youngest daughter, Maria Sue, in May 2008.
His 2012 holiday album, JOY, featured holiday classics alongside original tunes.
In 2013, Chapman released The Glorious Unfolding, an album of all-original songs blending his signature sound with fresh musical arrangements and messages of faith. The album included "Love Take Me Over," an upbeat song about living out the love God has shown, and "Together," written for his wife, Mary Beth, reflecting their marriage and the challenges they faced following Maria Sue's death. Other tracks included "Only One and Only You," written for his then 14-year-old daughter Shaohannah, and "Take Another Step," a declaration of faith in uncertain times. Recorded at Chapman's home studio, the album was co-produced with Brent Milligan and featured contributions from his son Will Franklin, Stu G of Delirious?, fiddler Andy Leftwich, and family members on background vocals.
From 2014 to 2017, Chapman hosted the revived concert series Sam's Place: Music for the Spirit at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, featuring artists such as MercyMe, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Third Day. In 2015, he released "Warrior" for the War Room soundtrack. In 2019, he released Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows, a sequel to his No. 1 album Deep Roots.
In 2022, Chapman released Still, featuring "Don't Lose Heart," which became his 50th No. 1 single. In November 2024, he became the first contemporary Christian music artist inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Chapman's faith and creativity continued to shape his later releases. In 2024, he released "Broken Dreams," written with Hillary Scott and Nathan Chapman. The song reflects how God can bring life and purpose to broken places. In 2025, he released "Forever the Love of My Life" in February and "Speed of Love" on May 2, continuing to explore themes of faith, love, and encouragement through his songwriting.
In 2026, Chapman collaborated with Christian music duo Caleb & John on "Proud," a song inspired by the parable of the prodigal son and God's love and grace. In June, he teamed with country artist Chris Janson on a new recording of "America the Beautiful" for the United States' 250th anniversary. They performed the song at the Grand Ole Opry on June 12.
On September 4, 2026, Chapman released "Remember the Day," a song he wrote in 2002 while traveling to New York City for a remembrance concert at Madison Square Garden on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He performed the song at the event but did not record it for release until 2026, when it was issued ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. In his announcement, Chapman drew on Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Chapman also celebrated the 25th anniversary of his 1999 album Speechless with a tour featuring the album performed in its entirety. The tour included a sold-out concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on March 23, 2026, with additional performances announced for fall 2026.