Currently on tour with Danny Gokey, Natalie took time to visit with us in the midst of a very busy Christmastime. Her new album, Christmas, is a beautiful collection of Christmas standards, carols, hymns, and new songs.
[ Alex ] We’ ve not had a visit in just over 5 years! I remember that we were in the midst of Covid and discussed your new project at the time, No Stranger. So, it was quite a while ago. Thanks so much for this time today.
[ Natalie Grant ] It’ s my honor. Thank you for being gracious!
[ WM ] Well, it’ s Christmastime. Remember when we were kids how long the Christmas season seemed? It seemed like the lead up to the big day took forever. There was real anticipation! And that’ s the word I wanted you to talk about. Anticipation. And, in particular the importance of anticipation in worship. It seems a fitting metaphor. Any thoughts on this?
[ Natalie ] Absolutely. I think anticipation is such a beautiful picture of worship— especially at Christmastime. My three daughters— the twins who are 18 and my youngest who is 14— are still filled with so much excitement for Christmas morning. They’ re texting, counting down the sleeps till Christmas. There’ s wonder, excitement, and this sense that something amazing is coming. And honestly, that kind of anticipation shapes us just as much as the moment itself.
Coming into a time of worship with that same expectation in our hearts shifts our spirit. It’ s not only responding to what God has done— it’ s leaning forward with expectation for what He’ s still going to do. It’ s the posture of a heart that believes God is present, God is moving, and God keeps His promises.
[ WM ] In 1867, there was a book published called Slave Songs of the United States. It was the first book of spirituals ever published and there’ s a fabulous history behind it. Some years later, another wonderful spiritual was brought to the world’ s attention, and you’ ve recently recorded it for your new project, Christmas. The song is“ Go Tell It on the Mountain”. It’ s been recorded by lots of folks. From James Taylor to Josh Turner. From Mahalia Jackson to David Crowder. From The Weavers to Maverick City, the Staple Singers, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and so many more. But you have made this song your own. What can you tell us about recording this song?
[ Natalie ] I’ ve loved“ Go Tell It on the Mountain” since I was a little girl. It was one of those songs my family would sing in full harmony, so I’ ve always had this deep, nostalgic connection to it.
When it came time to record it for the Christmas project, I knew I didn’ t want to reinvent the song. I wanted to lean into the soulful heart of it. This spiritual came out of resilience, joy, and a community lifting their voices together, and I wanted the arrangement to honor that.
A huge part of bringing that vision to life was working with legendary arranger Donald Lawrence and his incredible singers out of Chicago. The way he shaped the vocal arrangement elevated everything. His singers added this explosive joy and authenticity— exactly what I was hoping for.
My dream was to create a mental picture for the listener— neighbors singing together, one person starting the song and others stepping out onto their porches to join in, and suddenly the whole street becomes a choir. Donald and his vocalists helped create that feeling— that sense of community and celebration.
So, for me, recording“ Go Tell It on the Mountain” wasn’ t just adding another version to the long list of incredible artists who’ ve sung it. It was tapping into the soul of the song— the history, the community, the joy— and hopefully giving listeners something that feels both familiar and alive in a new way.
[ WM ] My friend Dan Needham is on drums,
Natalie Grant- Go Tell It On The Mountain
and the track has such a great feel.
[ Natalie ] He’ s one the GREATS!
[ WM ] Now it’ s been 20 years since you did a Christmas project. What can you tell us about this one? It’ s a beautiful mix of Christmas hymns and carols. What songs that are not new would you like to call our attention to?
[ Natalie ] It’ s wild to think it’ s been 20 years since my last Christmas project, so I wanted this one to feel truly classic— the kind of Christmas I grew up with— but still have a few fresh surprises. For starters, this record is filled with real human creativity and live musicianship. In a world where so much is made with AI, it felt important to me to create something fully organic. And I must honor my incredible husband and producer, Bernie Herms. He is truly a musical genius and this album showcases that.
“ Jingle Bells” might be one of my favorite moments. We went full big-band swing, and the arrangement is just otherworldly. Pure joy.
“ Silent Night” is another special one, featuring my friend Bart Millard from MercyMe. We kept it simple and reverent but added a small twist at the end:“ now WE can sleep in heavenly
Natalie Grant- Silent Night with Bart Millard
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