American Idol takes Easter faith on headline show! Are we finally seeing a revival??

Yesterday was the holiday where a lot of us, myself included, celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After being persecuted and nailed to the cross, he rose from the grave three days later. Many Christians have been hoping for a revival in our nation, and a singing show that’s been on Fox and now ABC since 2002 put on a gospel music show on Sunday night, which could really kickstart that revival. American Idol has been around since June 11, 2002, with Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson as the original judges. After over twenty years and several different judges, they used the Easter Sunday episode to showcase gospel music.

The Easter episode of American Idol featured the top 20 contestants performing a wide range of gospel and worship songs. Highlights from the night included:

• "His Eye is on the Sparrow" – delivered as a stunning a cappella performance by a contestant.
• "Counting My Blessings" (Seth Schluster) – performed by a contestant earlier in the season and referenced as part of the faith-centered repertoire.
• "Gratitude" (Brandon Lake) – previously performed as a duet by Breanna Nix and Rylie O’Neill, and a key song for the season’s faith theme.
• "Hey Jesus" (Baylee Littrell original) – highlighted as a poignant, faith-driven performance.
• "Come Jesus Come" – performed by CeCe Winans and Roman Collins as a special guest duet.
• "Hard Fought Hallelujah" – performed live by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll.

The show also featured additional gospel and worship classics, with the judges (Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan) performing alongside the contestants and special guests.

• "How Great Thou Art" – performed live by judge Carrie Underwood.
• "Jesus 'Bout My Kids" – performed live by judge Luke Bryan
• "Eternity" – performed live by judge Lionel Richie

But when it comes to the faith of Christianity there’s always going to be someone or a group that has a problem with it:

• The American Idol crew had a bit of a dilemma with the Easter “Songs of Faith” special. A lot of people felt that the faith-based theme didn’t really fit the show since it usually sticks to a more secular vibe to keep things inclusive. Some crew members were uncomfortable with zeroing in on just Christian and gospel music, worried it might turn off viewers who don’t identify with Christianity or have different beliefs. But there were also plenty of folks who were on board with the episode, especially those who liked the religious angle. It was a divided house behind the scenes, with some people hesitant to speak up about their concerns. One of the judges, Carrie Underwood, was a big supporter of the Easter special, really pushing for the faith-focused episode despite the team's mixed feelings.

This kind of attention could really spark a change in our culture, and we should pay attention to the negative reactions from the crew members. The goal is to help them find their way to Christ. If you caught my post about the Renewal Weekend at Olive Baptist Church a couple of weeks back, you’d see that we’re all about spreading the gospel of Jesus. It’s amazing how a big show like American Idol can serve as a way to draw people closer to Him.