Ahead of the 8th annual “Good Friday Nashville” concert, Chris Tomlin has released “Live From Good Friday,” an 11-track project that reflects on the past seven years of the gathering that has become one of the highlights of the decorated singer’s career.
The new live album gives fans a brief glimpse into Tomlin’s signature event with recordings pulled from an array of previous “Good Friday Nashville” installments. Serving up just under an hour of music, the compilation feels like a “best-of” effort with a string of hits anchoring the LP, including “Good Good Father,” “How Great Is Our God,” “Our God” and “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies),” the latter of which features soulful vocals from Zimbabwe-born artist George Mhondera, one of Tomlin’s background singers.
Additionally, Tomlin’s chart-topping single, “Holy Forever,” takes centerstage with the help of co-writers Brian & Jenn Johnson. The transcendent track recently spent six weeks at No. 1, becoming one of the biggest songs of Tomlin’s storied career, to date. “Holy Forever” first appeared on his latest studio offering, “Always.” Tomlin performs both the familiar title-cut and new ballad, “Precious Love” — also from “Always” — on “Live From Good Friday.”
Reminding listeners of the sole reason for the gathering, timeless Easter anthem “At The Cross (Love Ran Red)” marks one of the album’s most poignant moments as the significance of Christ’s sacrifice isn’t lost on anyone who hears both the recording and Tomlin’s meaningful remarks that accompany it.
Capturing the true live experience, Tomlin’s pastor, Church of the City’s Darren Whitehead, reads a brief passage of Scripture aloud from Ephesians. The recording also includes snippets of the master of ceremonies himself extending concise messages of hope throughout the evening. His constant words of encouragement as he leads his well-known songs showcase Tomlin as a tireless champion for the name and renown of Jesus. Also noteworthy is the fact that the album is bookended by songs the revered lyricist did not write. “Live From Good Friday” opens with a mashup of “Good Good Father” and “Great Are You Lord” and concludes with majestic hymn “It Is Well.” It’s a subtle nod to one of Tomlin’s greatest gifts — his ability to shift the attention fully off of himself and onto the One worthy of all praise and adoration.
The biggest revelation of “Live From Good Friday,” however, comes in the form of the sheer volume of Tomlin’s backing choir comprised of the tens of thousands of people who trek to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena every spring for a night of worship on one of the most sacred days of the year. The call-and-response on “Is He Worthy?” is deafening; and on “Holy Forever,” the voices of the singers on stage are drowned out by the crowd’s united chorus.
“My prayer is that these songs help remind you of what Easter is all about — a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever,” Tomlin says of the selections handpicked for the new project. “I hope they touch you in the way that they have touched me over the years.”
This year’s “Good Friday Nashville” will take place Mar. 29, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in the heart of Music City with special appearances by Willie Robertson (“Duck Dynasty”), Kari Jobe, Anne Wilson and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit For Others, the nonprofit aiding America’s foster care and adoption crises started by the father of three and his wife, Lauren. For those unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed.
Following the annual “Good Friday Nashville” event, the GRAMMY® winner is set to embark on the “Holy Forever World Tour” with CAIN and Tauren Wells providing direct support on select dates. The global trek will mark Tomlin’s first headlining trip overseas in more than a decade.
In addition to unveiling “Live From Good Friday,” Tomlin also recently bowed “How Great is Our God: Living a Worship-Led Life in a Me-Driven World,” a 21-day devotional that celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the book’s namesake and his career-defining hit.
