Wilson reveals how losing a loved one guided her to sing for something more
Platinum-certified, Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Anne Wilson shares her journey of finding purpose in music after loss in a new White Chair film from the global storytelling ministry, I Am Second. Trusting the Voice is now streaming.
Recently honored at The Kennedy Center during the Nestpoint Foundation’s American Exceptionalism Gala for her contributions to bringing faith-based music into the mainstream, Wilson has also been named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch and CMT’s Next Women of Country. Her career includes Grammy and CMT Music Award nominations, along with multiple Dove Award wins. She most recently joined Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem Tour and is now headlining a nine-city tour for her highly anticipated third studio album, Stars. She also just released her debut devotional, Hey Girl: You Are Seen, Loved, and Made for More, via K-Love Books.
Yet, despite her success and accolades, Wilson’s career began with tragedy.
Wilson described how she always felt connected to lyrics and songs, but it wasn’t until her older brother Jacob’s passing while she was a teenager that she realized music was what she wanted to do with her life. Wilson performed for the first time at his funeral, later posting a YouTube video of the song, which went viral and connected her with her first manager.
Wilson went on to debut her first single, “My Jesus,” in 2021 at age 19. The song reached nine million views in 12 hours, and eventually earned her a Grammy nomination. Despite the success of her breakout hit, Wilson described how she faced extreme depression and panic attacks. She found help in the vulnerability of counseling, therapy, and speaking with friends and family.
“I always feel that perfection is expected out of me,” Wilson shares. “It is something I’m actively trying to overcome. I’m a control freak and a type-A personality, and it’s sometimes really hard to just let Him [God] do what He wants to do and have His way.”
One of the hardest things Wilson wrestled with is the fact that she wouldn’t be where she is today if her brother hadn’t passed away. Despite the pain, she wants to do something with the platform she has in her life.
“It’s a really bittersweet thing to sit in those moments and to hold the joy of what God has done, with also the grief that I would literally give all of this back in five seconds to have my brother back,” Wilson adds.
