Country Star Craig Campbell Talks Faith, Family, and Football!

Writer Josh Belcher At Rockin' God's HouseCraig Campbell is gearing up for a phenomenal 2014. Last year held tremendous success for Craig with his 54-week chart-topping smash hit “Outta My Head.” He just released the new song “Keep Them Kisses Comin,” which has found heavy rotation on radio stations all over the country. His latest album Never Regret is a family affair. It includes a song co-written with his wife Mindy, and his daughter Preslee opens “When She Grows Up,” a song Craig Campbell dedicates to his two daughters. The album was produced by Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band). He ended 2013 with a bang when he performed “God Bless America” at the beginning of the 2013 Franklin American Mortgage Company’s Music City Bowl on December 30th. Already a household name with a strong foundation for a solid career, Craig Campbell took some time to chat with me about faith, family, and football!

Craig CampbellRockin’ God’s House: Congrats on singing “God Bless America” at the recent Music City Bowl. How did you feel about that opportunity?

Craig: I am always honored to sing at those events whether it be the “Star Spangled Banner” or “God Bless America.” I have only sang “God Bless America” one other time at a St. Louis Cardinals game. I always feel honored to sing these songs; and they had one of my hometown teams playing Georgia Tech. I have to say I was pulling for them to win that game!

Rockin’ God’s House: So that answers my next question, who did you predict would win?

Craig: Being from Georgia, I always pull for the home teams — whether it be the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech, or Georgia Southern during football season. It’s all about Georgia!

Rockin’ God’s House: Your roots are in church. Does Christianity play an important part in your music career?

Craig: Absolutely! I grew up in a really strong Southern Baptist home. I played piano in my church from the time I was ten years old until I graduated high school. That is where my roots are and for me that is what it is all about.

Rockin’ God’s House: You wrote six songs on your album Never Regret. How is that process compared to just recording other writers’ songs?

Craig: The way I look at it, if it is a song I wrote, it basically thrives off of my personal experiences. If it is a song I didn’t write, I just have to ask myself: have I been there? Have I done that? Can I sing a song with believability? Each of the six songs I wrote has a special message that I wanted to sing about — something I have been through or something that somebody I know has been through. It resonates more that way.

Rockin’ God’s House: This year you hosted your inaugural Celebrity Corn Hole Tournament, and it was a big success — raising over $15,000 for charity. Do you plan on doing the tournament again?

Craig: Oh yeah! It is going to be bigger and better this year! Every team will have a celebrity on it. The fans will have an opportunity to bid and play with their favorite artist. Every team will have a celebrity and a fan on it. It is going to be a lot of fun!

Rockin’ God’s House: Tell us about the new song “Keep Them Kisses Comin”?

Craig: It has been released and has charted on Billboard and is doing quite well! The YouTube lyric video [which you can watch at the top of this article] has got a positive response, and we are in the process of doing a music video. You can find it on my website and even download it on iTunes!