If you’re a long-time Christian music fan, you might know veteran Christian artist Cheri Keaggy. The Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter has written and performed music that’s helped listeners worldwide give voice to their worship of God.
Cheri dropped her first album, Child of the Father, in 1994. And since then, she's released nine albums and garnered nine #1 singles. Her signature songs include "My Faith Will Stay," "Make My Life An Altar," "Open My Heart" and "You, Oh Lord, Are My Refuge."
I spoke with Cheri about her new album, What I Know To Be True, the record’s core message, and working with veteran artist Phil Keaggy.
If anyone has been around Christian music for any length of time, they should know you, but we’d love for you to give new listeners a quick update on who you are.
Hello. My name is Cheri Keaggy. I’m the daughter of Mike and Donna Anderson, the younger sister of Lisa, mother of Cameron and Sarah, grandmother of Oliver and Artie, the wife of Steven, and—a child of the Father (Also the title of my debut album from the 90s).
Growing up in Southern California, I took classical piano lessons, performed in talent shows at school, and sang my first solo to an accompaniment track of Amy Grant's "Jehovah" at the church where I was eventually hired as part-time worship coordinator. It was there that my calling in music developed as I began expressing my walk with God through songwriting and leading others in worship.
I’m passionate about God's Word and compelled to share His message of hope and healing with anyone who will listen. Basically, Jesus is everything to me. My mission statement is—the abridged version, anyway—"making Him known through song, speech, and the written word." To Him be all glory, honor, and praise.
This is your 10th release since your debut on Sparrow Records back in 1994. The industry has radically changed since then. What’s the hardest part for you to navigate all these years later? What’s the same?
Hardest part? Juggling what I call "the administration of ministry"—the nuts and bolts—it isn't always strictly music. As an independent artist, I’ve learned to engage both my right and left brain, and that can be rather challenging at times. After an extended period at the computer, sometimes I just need to take a break, go sit at my piano, and remember what it's all about: the beauty, mystery, and wonder of how God touches people through music and transforms lives.
What's the same? The desire to partner with God in kingdom work and be a good steward of the gifts He's given. When God brings me through something, such as a painful divorce, He meets me in the writing process. And I’m then compelled to share those songs and the hope I've found in Christ to bring comfort and encouragement to others.
Your new album, What I Know To Be True, came from an incredibly hard season. Can you share with us what you’ve been going through these past three years?
Yes, uncharted territory. This album was largely inspired by navigating the unexpected loss of my beloved father to suicide. When Dad died, it rocked my world like nothing else. I found myself in a fog of grief I simply couldn't climb out of. And yet God and I had a history together and knew somehow that He would carry me through.
I needed to be reminded of all I knew to be true: that God is sovereign, faithful, good, and able to take the hardest, most awful things in our lives and redeem them beyond what we can imagine. That has been my prayer with this project: Lord, redeem. After a long time of feeling stuck, I'm so grateful to be on this side of the journey.
There are so many deep and passionate themes on this new album. Is there a core message you’re wanting to express to those who listen?
Yes, put your hope in the Lord, in Christ alone. We cannot put our trust in any earthly person, place, or thing. Not a house, a retirement plan, or even a relationship. Those are blessings, yes, but they are 'false anchors' (another song on the album). They are lesser loves. As the scripture says, "we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" and it is in our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else. It is on Him that our true security must rest. He is our only hope for salvation.
What was it like working with Christian music veteran Phil Keaggy after all these years? Two icons together.
Such a blessing. We've worked together before, but not to this extent as co-producers. His heart is generous, and his talent is immense. It was truly a gift for me to work with him in the way that we did—especially after losing Dad.
I needed to approach things at a different pace. And Phil understood that and gave all the grace I needed along the way. There were both tears and laughter in the studio. Making music is simply a lot of fun. There's a lot of joy and fulfillment in it. And I thank God for the opportunity to work with such a humble, gifted servant who loves the Lord with all His heart. We believe in the weight of the songs on this album and the power of God to minister through them.
Do you want to share any additional songs on the new album?
One I must mention is "It Hurts to Say Goodbye to You" because when I got the call from my sister that Dad had taken his life, the Lord ministered to me so much through Psalm 116:15: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Many have lost loved ones, and this verse is a great comfort. It was especially meaningful to incorporate it into a song and sing it at his celebration of life service.
"Some Hearts Don't Mend" is an important song. Because even though God heals our hearts, sometimes life's circumstances alter us forever. We can grieve, heal, and move on. God can even wildly redeem our stories, but we're never the same.
Lately, even as I'm sharing new music and testimony, I've described myself as leading with a limp. There's an awareness that I'm totally dependent on the all-sufficiency of Christ to empower and equip. And it's a relief to know He can still use us in all our brokenness to accomplish His purposes—even as we're believing in the ultimate healing that we'll only know in heaven.
What’s next for you?
Great question. For so long now, my laser-focused marching orders have been to record and release these songs. Now that I’ve done what God has required me to do in that department, by God's grace, I'll continue to serve my family and prayerfully walk through the doors He's opening ministry-wise: through radio interviews and podcasts, and events out on the road this fall.
How can we be praying for you?
So, kind of you to ask. Don't we all just want to be used by God to put truth, beauty, and goodness into the world that desperately needs Jesus? That would be my prayer: that God would continue to supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus and give me the grace, wisdom, and stamina to walk in all that He's called me to.
Kevin McNeese started NRT in 2002 and has worked in the industry since 1999 in one form or another. He has been a fan of Christian music since 1991.
NEW!BEHIND THE SONG
#1236 - Brandon Heath
Transforming wounds into stories of redemption in this powerful song
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW!NRT EDITORIAL
Skillet
We explores some of the band's best songs outside their hits
NEW!NRT LISTS
Jordan Merritt
A real conversation around the artist's new track, "Human"
NEW!HEARTSPEAK
Jordan Feliz
The artist's must-listen-to songs about faith, family, and redemption
NEW!AN NRT EXCLUSIVE
Rock Meets Worship
Seven gritty cover songs of popular worship music and hymns
