Bringing people together.  All shapes and sizes, creeds and colors.   Unified under one purpose, to worship a living Lord.   This is the vision and passion of Travis Cottrell.  Known as a bridge that can overcome the issues that separates the Body of Christ, his love for bringing Christians together quickly caught the attention of Beth Moore, who has, for the past 15 years, had Cottrell as the worship leader for her world-wide events. Along with leading thousands of women in worship each month, Cottrell has climbed Praise and Worship charts with two # 1 records, Found and Jesus Saves Live with record label partner, in:ciite media,  and garnished multiple Dove Awards for his choral arrangements and songs.

 

Now, Cottrell has taken this passion for building unity a step further with the release of his seventh solo release, When The Stars Burn Down, which is a call to come together in worship. Releasing on September 13, 2011, this recording has already been esteemed by fans and worship leaders as one of his best. 

 

“I'm so thankful to have been a part of When the Stars Burn Down”, states Cottrell,  “As a worship pastor, I'm completely committed to my call to lead people authentically, vulnerably and with gratitude into God's presence in worship. I pray that this collection of worship songs will lead the people of God in that way. God's presence will transform us if we let it. It's my desire that the Holy Spirit will transform whoever may listen to these songs, to the great glory of God.”

 

This is far from the plans Cottrell would have made for himself.  He came to Nashville from his hometown of Boone, NC to attend the acclaimed Belmont University as a classical voice major.  This ambition took an interesting turn during college, when God softened Cottrell’s heart and set him on a different path that would turn his focus away from himself and change it to a passion to become a sincere worshipper of the most high and holy God.  

 

The road had been a long and rewarding one. His first published work “Waiters: A Youth Musical about Waiting on the Lord,” became a best-selling youth musical, and today Cottrell is one of the most sought after arrangers for church musicals and was signed in 2009 by Universal- Brentwood Benson Music Publishing.

 

In 1995, after serving as worship pastor at Two Rivers Baptist in Nashville, Tenn., a young Cottrell was invited to be a part of Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live Ministry.  His passion for the church and bringing together the hearts of believers in true worship has been the hallmark of his ministry.  “God has given Travis what I believe is a gift of favor with audiences and congregations,” says author and speaker Beth Moore. “His approach permeates every denominational wall.  His warm yet powerful style engages even the most resistant group into irresistible worship.”

 

Along with his musical releases, Cottrell released his first book, Surprised By Worship: Discovering the Presence of God Where You Least Expect It (Zondervan) in the fall of 2010.  Travis serves as Worship Pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn. He and his wife, Angela, have been married for 17 years and have 3 children – Jack, 14, Lily Kate, 10, and Levi, 8, and 1 dog – Flash, 9. 

 

When he’s not writing music or leading worship, Cottrell likes to dance in the kitchen with his wife, sing in the car with his kids, laugh like crazy with his friends, and marvel that God would be so gracious to use a boy from Boone, NC to help make His name famous.

 

He prays he’ll never get over it.