Anne Wilson (musician)

Not to be confused with Ann Wilson.
Anne Wilson
Anne Wilson in 2023
Anne Wilson in 2023
Background information
Birth nameAnne Claire Wilson
BornFebruary 21, 2002
Lexington, Kentucky, US
OriginLexington, Kentucky
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2021–present
LabelsCapitol CMG
Websitewww.annewilsonofficial.com

Anne Claire Wilson (born February 21, 2002) is an American Christian musician and songwriter. Wilson made her debut in 2021, with the release of the single "My Jesus" through Capitol Christian Music Group. "My Jesus" was Wilson's breakthrough hit, having reached number one on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Wilson also released her debut extended play, My Jesus (Live in Nashville) (2021), which reached number twelve on the Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States. She went on to release two Christmas EPs, one in 2021 and the other in 2022. She also played at a Hillfest concert in 2023, talking about her life and her purpose of her songs.

Early life

Wilson was born in Lexington, Kentucky to parents Kent and Lynn Wilson. She lived with her parents and two older siblings, Jacob and Elizabeth, a fashion designer. Wilson was raised in a Christian home and attended Tates Creek Presbyterian Church throughout most of her childhood. Her family frequently took trips to see her grandparents, who live on a farm in the Kentucky countryside, where she would later film the music video for her song, Seventh of June.

Wilson learned to play the piano when she was six years old. As a young girl, she aspired to work for NASA as an astronaut. Throughout most of her childhood, Wilson attended Veritas Christian Academy, a school that her mother helped found. When she was 12 years old, Wilson became a Christian after a pastor named Cameron McDonald came to her school and delivered a moving talk about Jesus. Wilson recalled that McDonald could not say the name "Jesus" once without tearing up. Wilson says that as a young girl, she thought of God as someone who looked down and judged the world, but McDonald's talk showed her that that was not true. On June 7, 2017, Wilson's older brother, Jacob Kent Wilson, was killed in a car crash at the age of 23. Though she was deeply shaken, Wilson says the tragedy brought her "closer to God". She says that she heard God say to her the night they learned Jacob had died, "Anne, are you going to trust Me, or are you not?" Anne replied with "Jesus, I trust You."

When Wilson's parents, who had never heard her sing before, heard her playing piano and singing What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship, they asked her to play at her brother's upcoming funeral, and after careful consideration, Wilson agreed.

While Wilson and her family struggled to cope with Jacob's death, they traveled to the Biltmore Estate on what would have been Jacob's 24th birthday. The family was so overwhelmed by grief that they decided to cancel their trip and drive back to Lexington. While driving across a bridge, Wilson and her mother proposed driving off the bridge and killing themselves. The family agreed, but couldn't bring themselves to do it. "God doesn't want us to do this!" Wilson's mother exclaimed.

After being asked by friends and family to record a video of her singing What A Beautiful Name, Wilson recorded a video and uploaded it to YouTube. After a talent scout came across the video, he showed it to his manager, and the two worked together for several months before sending Wilson, who was 17 at the time, an offer to join Capitol Christian Music Group.

Career

Anne Wilson signed a record deal with Capitol Christian Music Group in late 2019. On April 16, 2021, Wilson released My Jesus as her debut single. My Jesus went on to become Wilson's breakthrough hit single, peaking at number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and the Christian Airplay chart. My Jesus was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. On August 6, 2021, Wilson released her debut extended play titled My Jesus (Live in Nashville). The EP reached its peak at number twelve on the Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States. Wilson went on to record more songs until the My Jesus album had a total of 15 songs. Wilson released I Still Believe in Christmason October 29, 2021. I Still Believe in Christmas peaked at number 15 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Billboard named Anne Wilson the Top New Christian Artist of 2021. On January 14, 2022, Wilson released the single "Sunday Sermons". The song peaked at number five on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Wilson released her debut studio album, My Jesus, on April 22, 2022, My Jesus debuted at number one on the Top Christian Albums chart, and number 68 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, after garnering 13,000 equivalent album units in sales in its first week. Wilson's song, My Jesus, was nominated for the Top Christian Song Billboard Music Award, making her the only female ever to be nominated for the award. On August 26, 2022, Anne Wilson featured on the single "Behold" by Phil Wickham. "Behold" peaked at number eight on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

Wilson released "Hey Girl" as the third single from My Jesus to Christian radio in the United States on September 16, 2022. "Hey Girl" peaked at number 26 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Wilson was nominated for six GMA Dove Awards in 2022: New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year - Artist, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. My Jesus won Contemporary Song of the Year, and Wilson won New Artist of the Year. Wilson was ecstatic receiving her awards. As stated in her acceptance speech for New Artist of the Year:

"I never imagined I'd be here tonight, standing on this stage and getting to be among all of you incredible artists. I want to thank my sweet brother in heaven who has inspired me. That's why I do what I do, to honor Jacob, and I'm so grateful."

In 2022, she was nominated for the American Music Award Favorite Inspirational Artist. On October 28, 2022, Wilson released another Christmas EP, called The Manger, co-written with Josh Turner. The Manger was nominated for Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year at the 2023 GMA Dove Awards, on October 17, 2023. On February 3, 2023, Wilson released her single Living Water for the film Jesus Revolution, directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle and starring Joel Courtney, Jonathan Roumie, and Kelsey Grammer. Wilson's album, My Jesus, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Album. Then, on June 7, 2023, Wilson surprised her fans with a new single called Seventh of June, honoring the memory of her late brother. As she told People Magazine:

"It's about facing the fact that Jacob's gone. I think being able to face that helped heal me and also helped convey the emotion in the video, along with the severity of it."

Wilson released a book called My Jesus: From Heartache To Hope on October 25, 2022, recounting how she became a Christian, her struggle coping with Jacob's death, and how her career started. The book made the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association's Bestseller List. Wilson said she was "blown away by what God is doing through this book" and felt "so grateful". On June 16, 2023, Wilson announced her first-ever tour: The My Jesus Tour, with special guest Josh Baldwin. Tickets went on sale on June 26, with Wilson giving her fans early-bird access beginning on June 23. The tour began in Houston, Texas, on September 28. Wilson called the tour "a dream come true". All but one of her tour stops sold out. Wilson's debut album, My Jesus, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 20, 2023, much to her delight:

"What a moment for the Lord, for my sweet brother Jacob, for my family, for the writers and producers, for Capitol Christian and for ALL who have walked this unexpected adventure. To see what God has done out of the deepest pain is such a precious gift that He has given to all of us. GOD NEVER wastes our sorrows. He uses them in ways we cannot dream of. I can't wait to hug my brother again and talk about all the things God has done. Jacob must be beaming in heaven right now sitting with 'My Jesus.'

On September 25, 2023, Wilson announced that her EP, Rebel: The Beginning, would be arriving on September 29, 2023. She expressed her excitement about the release:

"I am beyond excited to share brand-new music with the world! After writing a ton over the past several months, this is just the beginning of a journey towards the release of the next chapter. Getting to release a song to both country and Christian radio is beyond a dream come true for me. These songs mean so much to me and truly describe the season of life I've been in this past year. I hope when people hear these three songs that they'll feel what I feel. Heart, hope, Jesus, strength, faith and the courage to move forward even if the path ahead is uncharted. Here's to all that's next!"

Rebel: The Beginning includes three songs: Rebel, Rain in the Rearview, and Strong.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US
Christ.
My Jesus 68
 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Christ.
My Jesus (Live in Nashville) 12
The Manger
  • Released: October 28, 2022
  • Label: Capitol CMG
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles and peak chart positions
Title Year Chart positions Certifications Album
US
Bubb.
 US
Christ
 Christ.
Air.
 Christ.
AC 		Christ.
Digital
"My Jesus" 2021 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 My Jesus
"I Still Believe in Christmas" — 15
 1
 1
 23
 The Manger (EP)
"Sunday Sermons" 2022 — 5
 4
 6
 3
 My Jesus
"Hey Girl" — 26
 21
 19
 —
"Living Water" 2023 — 20
 — — 6
 Non-album single
"Seventh of June" 2023 — Non-album single

As featured artist

List of featured singles and peak chart positions
Title Year Chart positions Album
US
Christ
 Christ.
Air.
 Christ.
AC 		Christ.
Digital
"Emmanuel God with Us"
(Chris Tomlin featuring Anne Wilson) 		2021 — — — — Non-album single
"Me on Your Mind"
(Matthew West featuring Anne Wilson) 		2022 — — — — Non-album single
"Behold"
(Phil Wickham featuring Anne Wilson) 		8
 2
 1
 15
 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Promotional singles

As lead artist

List of featured singles
Title Year Album
"God Thing" 2022 My Jesus

As featured artist

List of featured promotional singles
Title Year Album
"Somebody Tell That Girl"
(High Valley featuring Anne Wilson) 		2022 Way Back

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs
Title Year Chart positions Album
US
Christ. 		Christ.
Air.
 Christ.
AC 		Christ.
Digital
"Mamas"
(with Hillary Scott) 		2022 15
 — — 1
 My Jesus
"The Manger"
(with Josh Turner) 		15
 38
 19
 7
 The Manger (EP)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Bibliography

  • — (October 25, 2022). My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781400238231.

Tours

Own Tours
Supporting

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 Anne Wilson Favorite Inspirational Artist Nominated

Billboard Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 "My Jesus" Top Christian Song Nominated

GMA Dove Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 "My Jesus" Song of the Year Nominated

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Won
Anne Wilson Songwriter of the Year - Artist Nominated
New Artist of the Year Won
"Mamas"
(featuring Hillary Scott) 		Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
My Jesus Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year Nominated

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 My Jesus Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Nominated