Welcome to a curated playlist that might just be the unexpected balm you need. This collection spans genres from soul-stirring gospel to introspective 90s folk and the raw honesty of contemporary singer-songwriters. And it’s all brought to you by me, Flamy Grant, a drag queen who also happens to have a chart-topping Christian album. I’m thrilled that BGS has invited me to share these Religious Songs that have been instrumental in navigating my journey of healing from religious trauma, all while embracing my very gay identity.
My debut album, Bible Belt Baby, gives you a glimpse into my experiences growing up under the intense scrutiny of a religious environment that often enforces rigid gender roles and stifles LGBTQ+ identities. The religious songs I’m sharing here aren’t just music; they are lifelines. They empowered me to not only come out but to let my authentic self shine brightly, even in the face of those who would prefer to keep such lights hidden. To anyone trying to dim your light – not today.
“If You Ever Leave” – Flamy Grant
Hello, darlings! As a drag queen with stories to tell, it felt right to kick off this playlist with my latest single. It’s certainly relevant to our theme of religious songs and personal journeys. This ballad, from my upcoming album CHURCH, speaks volumes on its own, but let me add this: if you find yourself questioning a deity who demands worship yet seems less loving and understanding than your own capacity for love, that’s a crucial moment of realization. It might just be a trap.
“Undamned” – Over the Rhine
Beyond Amy Grant, the duo Over the Rhine, hailing from Ohio, has profoundly impacted my life and musical sensibilities. Karin and Linford’s music has been a constant source of strength. “I’m not your little lost lamb, God might still get my world undamned.” This lyric from one of their powerful religious songs perfectly encapsulates both defiance and repentance. It’s about boldly owning your evolving faith while simultaneously surrendering to a profound, perhaps unconventional, spiritual love. It’s a powerful duality. (Bonus: Lucinda Williams adds an absolutely divine vocal feature. “Undamn me” anytime, Over the Rhine.)
“Wrap My Arms Around Your Name” – Sarah Masen
Growing up, my musical world was confined to Christian music. Sarah Masen always stood out. She was an artist who didn’t quite fit the mold of the Christian music industry. She was one of the first songwriters I encountered who openly explored the conflicts, doubts, and inherent dissonances within the faith that was often presented with a flawless facade by others.
From the opening line, “Mystery’s walking on my head again,” I was immediately drawn to this song, a poignant expression of yearning for a deeper spiritual connection. “Does hallelujah wear the same old face?” Masen’s religious songs gave my teenage angst a safe space to ask these profound questions.
“Amy’s Song” – Matt Simons
In 2018, while serving as a worship leader at a queer-affirming church in San Diego, we decided to dedicate a Pride month worship service entirely to queer artists. We wanted every song to be created, led, and performed by our LGBTQ+ members. That’s when I discovered “Amy’s Song”. I was captivated by its music and its central question: “Does your God really give a damn” about who I love? This resonated deeply within the context of religious songs that address acceptance and love.
The unexpected twist came when I realized that Ames, one of the song’s co-writers and its namesake, and I had actually performed together years prior, both of us then closeted and using different stage names. Leading “Amy’s Song” that Sunday was powerful, and Ames and I have since reconnected. We’re even considering collaborating on a project. Perhaps “Amy’s Song 2: The Ballad of Flamy”? (Pro tip: After listening, watch the music video and the making-of mini-doc on Matt Simons’ YouTube page. Tissues recommended.)
“breathe again” – Joy Oladokun
Choosing just one song from Joy Oladokun’s extensive catalog of musical remedies for those religiously wounded was a challenge. She has a remarkable ability to be both direct and deeply moving, capturing the heartbreak experienced by many queer individuals who grow up in environments that misuse faith to instill shame and manipulate divine love. Joy’s voice in this song is simply melting, a breath of fresh air, especially for the closeted person I once was. Her question, “If I hold my breath until I’m honest, will I ever breathe again?” encapsulates the struggle and hope within many religious songs exploring authenticity.
“Someday You’ll Wake Up Okay” – Spencer LaJoye
This song is inner child healing at its finest. Spencer LaJoye has an incredible gift for translating personal experiences into universal truths with such clarity. “You won’t hear me, but I’ll think it from the future.” That line hits hard. And who knew that healing your inner child could sound so good? This track proves that religious songs can also be vehicles for profound personal growth and healing.
“Holy Sunlight” – Steven Delopoulos
There’s a certain reverence in the music of Stephen Delopoulos, formerly of the 90s Christian band Burlap to Cashmere. It’s like a high-church Paul Simon. This song, among his collection of religious songs, reminds me that even when we’re moving away from something, parts of us remain connected. “Pack my luggage, fake a smile/ Don’t cry, we’re all connected like the ocean sea.” It speaks to the enduring connections that faith and community leave, even as we evolve.
“Faith” – Semler
For me, Semler embodies a reckoning within the Christian music industry. They were the first openly queer artist to achieve a number-one Christian record in recent years. In “Faith,” they directly confront those who misuse power within the church. “Don’t pretend I’m not your body.” Chills. This song is both a powerful anthem of defiance and a worship song for the marginalized. It’s a declaration: We’re here, we’re queer, and we still have faith. Semler’s work redefines what religious songs can be.
“Shiloh” – Audrey Assad
By the time Audrey Assad signed with Christian music giant Sparrow Records in 2010, I had stepped away from actively listening to CCM (Contemporary Christian Music). So, I missed much of her early career. However, during the pandemic, I discovered this incredibly talented artist who was facing criticism from Christian media for “backsliding.” Intriguing. Audrey and I have since connected on social media, and she’s far more than just interesting; she’s a healer. “Shiloh,” among her deeply moving religious songs, seems to mend a new part of me each time I listen. Bless those who leave the traditional church but never stop caring for souls.
“The Way You Get Found” – Story & Tune
I’m proud to say I was the first to hear this exceptional song. It was in the basement of my San Diego home, shared during the pandemic with its writers, Karyn and Ben. The lyric that resonated then still hits me today: “I bless the way you carve your name on the gate-kept inner sanctums where they said you couldn’t stay.” These two are true professionals, crafting an artful phrase that perfectly matches the song’s rhythm and delivers a powerful message to anyone who has stood up to religious bullies. This song exemplifies how religious songs can become anthems of resilience and self-affirmation.
“Jacob from the Bible” – Jake Wesley Rogers
This song appeared on my Spotify algorithm one day and stopped me in my tracks. Now, Jake Wesley Rogers is a globally recognized, vibrant artist and friends with Elton John, but when this song was released, I managed to connect with him online and invite him onto my podcast. You can still listen to that conversation. We discussed this song’s origins, its meaning for both of us, and why Jake should absolutely be our first gay president. For me, it feels like a liberating release from the oppressive weight of religious expectations. “I don’t want to be held down by a heavenly man.” It reminds me of Jacob wrestling with the angel in the Bible – intense and transformative. Wrestling with God? Relatable. Rogers uses religious songs to explore these complex and personal themes.
“Testify to Love” – Wynonna
Okay, this might be the only outright CCM hit on this list. Originally recorded by the Christian supergroup Avalon, if you were anywhere near Christianity in the late 90s, this song is deeply ingrained in your memory. Occasionally, when performing for an audience of a certain age – those who were in youth group around the same time as me – I’ll do a cover of this song, and it’s always amusing to watch half the room have a dramatic flashback. But here’s my take: it’s secretly a gay anthem. I mean, the opening line is, “All the colors of the rainbow!” It’s all about love prevailing! Even within mainstream religious songs, messages of inclusivity can be found.
Wynonna Judd’s countrified cover, from a special episode of Touched by an Angel, seals the deal. I challenge you to listen and not agree that Christianity arguably peaked in 1997, and we should perhaps just disregard everything that’s come from evangelicalism since this song dominated the airwaves.
“House of Spirits” – Allman Brown
London-based singer-songwriter Allman Brown taps directly into generational trauma and father-wound themes with this profoundly beautiful spiritual song. It explores the experience of watching over a parent who “damned my soul to the fires.” Having a strained relationship with my ultra-religious, yet still living, father, this song offers a glimpse into a potential future. I find myself resonating with Allman’s prayer that one day that house of spirits “will feel like home.” Religious songs like this provide solace and a space to process complex family and faith dynamics.
“What You Heard” – Amy Grant
An Amy Grant song on this playlist was inevitable, but perhaps less expected is a song born from a parent learning better communication through family therapy with her children. Yet, that’s exactly what we have in this, the first new song from the Queen of Christian Pop in a decade. I saw Amy perform it last year, and she shared how family therapy helped her realize that some of her expressions of love weren’t being received as intended. This is the kind of growth many survivors of religious trauma can only hope for: a God-fearing parent gaining perspective and using therapy to improve relationships. May we all be so fortunate. But even if we’re not, my favorite diva has gifted us with this beautifully written song showing that change is possible. Amy and amen. Even established artists in religious songs genres are evolving and exploring new themes of communication and healing.
“May I Suggest” – Susan Werner
I’ll leave you with what feels like the ultimate benediction. I wish I had discovered Susan Werner’s music years ago, so now I’m on a mission to bring as many people to her “party” as possible. Actually, in a way, I’ve been at this party since high school, I just didn’t realize it. I first heard this song as a cover by Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert in the late 90s, mistakenly thinking it was theirs. Then, about a year ago, a friend sent me Susan’s track “Our Father,” where she brilliantly and humorously reimagines the Lord’s Prayer (“Deliver us from those who think they’re you”). I was hooked and dove into her catalog, but it wasn’t until I saw her live at the Kerrville Folk Festival earlier this year that I realized she wrote this song I loved at 17.
When she sat at the piano and soulfully declared to a festival crowd that “this is the best part of your life,” I openly wept. It’s easy, after leaving a restrictive religious environment, to fall into regret for lost youth and missed opportunities. Susan invites us to see the other side: because of the traumas you’ve overcome, “Inside you know what’s yours to finally set right.” If Susan Werner is performing near you, drag yourself (yes, DRAG) and everyone you love to the show – and hope she offers this benediction over you, too. This song beautifully encapsulates the message that religious songs, in their broadest sense, can offer profound life lessons and healing perspectives.
Photo Credit: Sydney Valiente
