Reba McEntire shares Hope and Faith in the Christian Country Song “Back to God”

“Back to God” is the lead single of Reba McEntire’s hit album, “Sing it Now: Songs of Faith & Hope,” released in 2017. The song was written by Randy Houser and Dallas Davidson and performed by Reba McEntire as the second single of the said album, her first gospel album in her 40-year music career. It includes twenty tracks of ten traditional hymns of faith and ten Christian songs of hope. 

As one of Reba McEntire’s hit singles, “Back to God” is Reba’s 13th No.1 song that topped both the Billboard Country and Christian/Gospel charts in 2017. The music video also peaked on iTunes Top Videos and dominated the spot on the Vevo Country Top 10 chart.

The album won the GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year and the Best Roots Gospel Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. Reba performed the song in its new version with Christian artist Lauren Daigle at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards.  

Meaning Behind The Song 

“Back to God” was also inspired by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown Connecticut. Reba wanted to share a message of hope and faith in response to the tragedy. Her song is a plea for people to return to their faith during dark times. In the lyrics of her song, she calls attention to the suffering of innocent victims and mothers. She then encourages listeners to turn to their knees, saying, “Gotta keep praying.” 

In working on the song and album, Reba McEntire went through hundreds of songs from her history to pick and choose the ones that touched her the most. The album helped Reba through the pain she felt when her father passed away, as well as her divorce from Narvel Blackstock, her then-husband and manager. 

The album has been a gift to Reba. It has helped heal her heart and has let her know she can move forward with faith and hope. She also expressed how thankful she is to God for His guidance, which led to the success of her life. Through the song, she hopes everyone who listens receives “exactly what the Holy Spirit wants them to receive,” Reba said. 

If you need hope in troubled times, watch this video of Reba McEntire’s performance of “Back to God.”