With more than four decades in the Christian music industry, Michael W. Smith says his greatest lesson is that fame fades but God’s glory endures. In a recent interview with The Christian Post, the 67-year-old artist reflected on the importance of keeping faith at the center of his life and career.
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Faith Before Fame
Despite selling more than 18 million albums and earning 45 Dove Awards and three Grammys, Smith said his identity has nothing to do with accolades.
“My identity is not being Michael W. Smith the artist,” he told The Christian Post. “The things that are near and dear and more important to me are, first and foremost, my relationship with the Lord. Then my family, my wife, my kids, my grandkids, my friends that I walk through life with.”
He cautioned against finding worth in career achievements: “Your craft can’t be your identity. If it is, it will consume you, and not in a good way.”
Dangers of the Spotlight
Smith admitted that earlier in his career he struggled with pride and chasing recognition.
“Back in the day, it was about how many records we sold, what awards we won,” he said. “I was young, kind of immature. I got caught up in it. I wish I could go back and talk to that younger version of myself.”
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Today, he makes it a discipline to deflect applause away from himself and back to God. “God doesn’t share His glory with anybody,” he said, repeating a line a friend once shared with him on a Florida porch. “That stuck with me. And now, every night before I go on stage, I pray: Let my posture be pure. Let me walk out in humility.”
“The spotlight can be dangerous,” he added. “So I do everything I can to deflect the glory, to keep it on Him.”
Concerns for Christian Music
Looking at today’s contemporary Christian music scene, Smith expressed both excitement and concern.
“There’s a lot of great stuff happening,” he said. “But I also see this surge of fame, and I worry about that.”
He pointed to younger artists like Forrest Frank, whose bold faith is reaching massive crowds, but urged caution: “I pray for Forest. He’s filling arenas and boldly pointing people to Jesus. That’s amazing. But I hope he stays grounded. I hope he’s got good people around him.”
Keeping Perspective
Even with new projects and tours ahead, Smith said his goal is simple: to stay humble, keep his focus on God, and remember who deserves the credit.
“When people applaud, I try to deflect that glory right back to Him,” he said. “Because I know this was never about me.”
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Smith’s posture of humility offers a model for everyone navigating a culture driven by applause and achievement. By deflecting the spotlight and keeping his focus on Christ, he reminds Christians everywhere that success is fleeting but God’s glory is eternal, and that true fulfillment comes not from fame, but from faithfulness.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma media.
