Dove Award nominee Jon Reddick almost quit making music. Until Sheryl Crow stepped in.

One of the Gospel Music Association’s Best New Artist nominees almost wasn’t an artist at all.

Even though musician Jon Reddick grew up a pastor’s kid and has done worship ministry the bulk of his life, after a few attempts at a career in music, Reddick quit.

“I had been trying to do things in the music industry and they never really moved, to be honest,” Reddick told The Tennessean. “I quit a couple of times. The third time I told God I was done with it.”

He had studied architecture, computer science, and audio engineering at the University of Memphis, but none of them sparked joy in his heart the same way making music did.

A move to Nashville and a chance encounter

After moving his family to Nashville, Reddick was dropping his kids off at school one day when a woman approached him and said, “God told me plain as day that I was supposed to help you.”

That woman was Sheryl Crow.

Yes, THE Sheryl Crow.

“I initially didn’t take her up on it,” Reddick said. “I was like, ‘God, I am not doing this.’ One of my biggest fears was I was going to get in her studio and not complete something, so I didn’t call her back.”

Then Crow called him.

Reddick finally conquered his fear and wrote a song with her. “It was kind of surreal writing a song with an amazing songwriter at a point in my life when I said I was quitting because I wasn’t sure I was good enough. I felt like God was telling me I was. It was when I decided I was done trying that God decided to open some doors. I’m literally trying to walk through doors that are open.”

The song they wrote, "Broken Pieces," is yet to be released, but Reddick hopes one day to include it on an album.

First trip to the Dove Awards

Reddick remembers driving to Nashville from Memphis for his first Dove Awards in the early 2000s. “I didn’t know about the GMA. I remember being like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know this world of music existed.'”

During that trip to Nashville, Reddick found contemporary Christian superstar Toby McKeehan (TobyMac) and handed him a cassette tape.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Reddick remembers, laughing. “I was rapping on it, which was even more stupid. I am glad he probably didn’t listen to it.”

Now, Reddick is signed to McKeehan’s Gotee Records and out of that deal has come hits like “God Turn It Around” (K-LOVE’s No. 1 song of 2022) and “I Believe It (The Life of Jesus),” both anthems of hope brought vividly to life through Reddick’s lyrics and his spiritual vocal delivery. Also a talented visual artist, Reddick has painted the cover art for each of his albums.

“I Believe It” has been in the top five of the Billboard Hit Christian Songs chart, which combines all radio airplay and streaming, for 12 consecutive weeks. It peaked at No. 2 twice behind Lauren Daigle. That song and “God Turn It Around” have been back-to-back top-five Billboard Christian Airplay and Mediabase Christian Audience radio singles. Reddick currently averages 4 million active monthly listeners across streaming platforms.

“Jon Reddick has been my worship leader for more than 10 years now,” McKeehan said. “He is not only a gifted singer who expresses soul and emotion as well as anyone I’ve ever heard, but he is also a songwriter whose lyrics awaken my heart to hope through God’s love. It’s no surprise to me that he would be honored with a nomination for new artist of the year. He’s as fresh as a 7 a.m. Five Daughters pastry at the Factory in Franklin on a Saturday morning. I am so grateful to play a small part in sharing this gift. It is truly my honor.”

Reddick said he never thought he’d be nominated for a Dove Award.

“I’m honored by it all and the other people in the category — wow,” he said. “It’s very humbling and surreal. I stand on the shoulders of so many people, and I am super grateful for that. God has been really kind to me.”

Dove Awards first, then new music next

Up next for Reddick is to continue leading worship at his home church in Franklin and writing an album that he hopes will take people through a journey of healing.

“I look at my own journey, and I’m trying to find ways to put that in song. The biggest thing our world can use is not only love, but some healing of some hurts. Everybody’s got them.”

The 2023 Dove Awards will be held Tuesday in Nashville and will be broadcast on TBN and the TBN app Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Performers scheduled include Brandon Lake, For King + Country, Katy Nichole, Miel San Marcos, Pastor Mike Jr., Phil Wickham, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Zach Williams with Walker Hayes.

Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com or on X @HurtMelonee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sheryl Crow helped Dove Award nominee Jon Reddick conquer his fear