Story Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood, ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’
Carrie Underwood earned a crossover mega hit with “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which was co-written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson and released in the mid-2000s. ‘Some Hearts,’ the lead single from Underwood’s first studio album, spent six consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also reached No. 4 on the Christian Songs chart and reached the Top 20 on the Hot 100 (No. 20), as well as the Top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Underwood’s debut album, Some Hearts, was released in June (No.
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” was declared multi-platinum and was nominated for a slew of prizes, including the Grammy.
The following is an interview with James in which he discusses how the hit came to be.
Gordie came into the room as we were trying to come up with ideas and said, “I have this title, and I’m not sure what to do with it: “When Jesus Takes the Wheel.” Hillary and I both burst out laughing.
- We couldn’t come up with anything else, so we went back to Gordie’s suggestion.
- Within a short period of time, it became “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” In a way, my wife’s story was similar to the girl in the song: she was involved in a vehicle accident when we were dating.
- Her automobile whirled around multiple times and collided with an 18-wheeler, killing her.
- She was able to walk away without any injuries.
- It grew into such a catchy song because it resonates with so many people.
- We had no clue who was going to record the song until the last minute.
- This particular song happens to be one of them.
This narrative was initially written by Alanna Conaway, and it was updated by Angela Stefano after she read the first draft. Carrie Underwood’s most memorable single and album covers include: HOW WELL DO YOU REALLY KNOW CARRIE UNDERWOOD? WATCH: How Well Do You REALLY Know Carrie Underwood?
Story Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood’s ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’
It goes like this: “Jesus, take the wheel/ Take it away from my hands/ I can’t do this on my own.” According to Brett James, the song “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” which he co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson in 2005, didn’t inspire much confidence in him at the time. His selection of five tracks to record as demos resulted in the song narrowly making the cut. However, fate intervened in the most fitting way. It was the ideal moment for Carrie Underwood to release her new single, “Jesus,” which depicts the narrative of a young mother who hits a patch of black ice on the road and then decides to dedicate herself to Christ once she reaches to a safe stopping point.
Bart Herbison, president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, was the first person to hear the tale behind the song.
Bart Herbison: The incredible Brett James.
First and first, I was taken aback by the title and thought to myself, “That’s probably really nice, but you don’t really know.” And then I overheard the DJ say something like, “I remember this.” “It was Gerry House, it was Gerry House.” So we’re going to play Carrie Underwood’s latest single, “Jesus Take the Wheel,” right after that.
- I’m telling you, it is the best title for a country song ever written.
- I appreciate your help.
- We’d want to see what’s in that chamber.
- We were co-writing it with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, two of my closest friends, and it turned out beautifully.
- For the first hour or two, we basically chatted about life, which is what all songwriters like to do.
- We take up our respective places.
- Subscribe to our music newsletter to stay up to date with the rhythms of Music City.
Our current location is at Hillary’s former house in the Richland area, a very tiny house that we used to live in.
I mean, I’d never heard anything like it before.
Now that we’re all used to hearing it, it makes a certain kind of sense.
BJ:true, It’s I’m one of them.
I would have said something like, “Yeah, I’m not sure.” BJ: I was very much in the “I’m not sure” camp.
“Can you tell me what he’s got?” We all laughed about it and carried on with our lives.
And, thankfully, we’re trapped, and we weren’t able to come up with an alternative.
J:Yeah, I’d say Jesus was the one who took the wheel on that one.
We all wrote it and, to be quite honest, either felt it was too out there or didn’t think much of it at all.
And you’re going through your list of songs that you’ve written in the previous month or two, narrowing it down to the five that you want to put on the record.
BH:Y’all were a little hesitant about what to do with the song—whether to use more of it or not.
Is it really possible that people will grasp this?
And Carrie Underwood has not yet been crowned the winner of “American Idol.” She had only recently been on the show.
Neither of us knew who she was, and we didn’t compose it just for Carrie.
I’m not sure if you recall, but she released a mainstream song as well as a country song at the same time.
It was fortunate that she premiered it during the CMA Awards, and it turned out to be something very remarkable for the entire audience.
Over the years, she has been a tremendous blessing to us.
Her only act of generosity has been to enable me to become a part of her life.
I’m sure they were talking about how people gathered in front of the church after hearing the song.
The thing that amazes me is how many individuals have told me about traveling in a car and coming close to crashing, or about feeling as if they were lifted out of a ditch by an angel.
I’ve heard the tale a number of times, with variations such as “I had it happen to me.” It’s remarkable that it seemed to hit a nerve with so many people. As a result, it has been a great godsend.
About the series
- The “Story Behind the Song” video interview series, produced in cooperation with the Nashville Songwriters Association International, includes songwriters with ties to the Nashville music scene describing one of their works. Visit the following links for complete video interviews with all of our subjects:
Jesus, Take the Wheel – Wikipedia
| “Jesus, Take the Wheel” | |
|---|---|
| SinglebyCarrie Underwood | |
| from the albumSome Hearts | |
| Released | October 3, 2005 |
| Genre |
| Producer(s) | Mark Bright |
|---|---|
| Carrie Underwoodsingles chronology | |
| ” Inside Your Heaven “(2005) | ” Jesus, Take the Wheel “(2005) | ” Some Hearts “(2005) |
It was written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson, and it was recorded by American country music singer Carrie Underwood. It was released as the first single from Underwood’s first albumSome Hearts in October 2005, and it became a hit (2005). The song narrates the story of a lady who calls on Jesus for aid in an emergency and then relinquishes control to a higher power. It was the first of Underwood’s 15 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songschart, and it spent six weeks at the top of the chart.
With crossover success, the song reached the top four on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs list and reached the top ten on theBillboard Adult Contemporary chart.
As of February 2016, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” had sold over 2.743 million copies in the United States, earning it three Platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Aside from being nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song in 2005, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” also received nominations at the 2005 Academy of Country Music Awards for Single of the Year and other award events.
Composition
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a Christian country song that lasts three minutes and forty-six seconds. It is performed by the band The Eagles. There are 76 beats per minute in the moderately slowtempo of 76 beats per minute. The music is created in the key of A major and set to a time signature of 4/4 common time with a moderately slowtempo of 76 beats per minute. Underwood’s vocal range is two octaves wide, ranging from F3 to G5 on the scale. The song was composed in the home of co-writerHillary Lindsey and is based on the notion of what happens “whenJesustakes the wheel,” a phrase that Gordie Sampsonbrought to the writing session as a potential title.
Details of the song’s lyrics were informed by personal tales from the composers’ prior lives.
Critical reception
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Some Hearts,” among other songs, received high acclaim from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, who said that Underwood “sounds equally believable on such melancholy material as “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as she does on the rousing pop ballad “Some Hearts.” The song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” according to Matt Bjorke of RoughStock, was the tenth-best song of Underwood’s career at the time, and he said that the song “shows the power of her voice through complicated vocal lines and sensitive verse readings.” In a similar ranking published by Billboard in 2017, Chuck Dauphin ranked the song as Underwood’s fourth-best song to that point.
According to a reader-voted survey conducted by Rolling Stone in 2015, the song was selected as Underwood’s eighth-best song, and the magazine commented that “as Underwood’s voice soared into the sky during the track’s final chorus, so did her career.”
Charts performance
With the release of “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Hot Country Songschart, Underwood achieved her first of a record-breaking 15 number-one singles in January 2006. The song remained at the top of the charts for six weeks. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” also reached the top four of the Hot Christian Songschart and the top twenty-third of the Adult Contemporarychart. This cross-genre exposure assisted the song in reaching the top echelon of the BillboardHot 100 list, where it peaked at number 20 in the country category.
As of August 2015, the album “Jesus, Take the Wheel” has been certified three times Platinum in the United States of America.
According to the latest available data, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” has sold 2,473,000 copies in the United States as of February 2016.
Live performances
Underwood sang the song for the first time at the Country Music Association Awards in 2005, marking her debut performance of the song. In 2006, she sang it once more at the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, where she was awarded the Singles of the Year Award for her performance of the song. The later performance was regarded as “captivating” by Billboard magazine. Her performance at the CMT Awards in April 2006 garnered her two major awards: Breakthrough Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year, for which she received a Grammy nomination.
Music video
Underwood’s debut music video, directed by Roman White, was also his first appearance on television. It shows her singing in a variety of settings, including a living room, through shelves, standing by a wall, and sitting on a chair, among other things. As shown in the film, three different couples are seen struggling with their children, arguing about finances and making up, and attempting to feed their wives, all at different stages of their lives. The music video for it was initially scheduled to be released on November 4, 2005, however it was postponed and made accessible at a later date onYahoo!Launch.com instead.
64 on CMT’s list of the 100 Greatest Videos of All Time.
Charts
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Academy of Country Music | Single of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Country Music Association | Music Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 2006 | Single of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Canadian Country Music Awards | SOCANSong of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | CMT Music Awards | Female Video of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | Breakthrough Video of the Year | Won | |
| 2006 | Gospel Music Association | Country Song of the Year | Won |
| 2007 | Grammy Awards | Best Female Country Vocal Performance | Won |
| 2007 | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Best Country Song | Won |
Notable covers
- 2007: LaKisha Jones, during the sixth season of American Idol
- 2009: Danny Gokey, during the fifth season of American Idol
- 2011: Vince Gill, at the Academy of Country Music Awards. ‘Girls Night Out,’ as the saying goes. Contestant in the American Idoleventh season in 2012. Hollie Cavanagh is a young woman who lives in Ireland. Among those who have been in the GCBepisode “Hell Hath No Fury” and appeared on its official soundtrack are Kristin Chenoweth. Contestant in The Voice’s fourth season in 2013. Danielle Bradbery is a young woman who lives in New York City.
Cultural references
The title of the song is stated in the eighth episode of the third season of The Big Bang Theory, which airs on CBS.
Notes
- It was known as Hot Country Songs at the time of the song’s release, but the current chart with that name is a multi-metric ranking
References
- According to Billboard, Carrie Underwood topped the country airplay chart on October 16, 2012. ab”Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take the Wheel” Sheet Music”. Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- Ab”Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take the Wheel” Sheet Music”. MusicNotes.com is a division of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The 7th of June, 2006. The following was retrieved on January 13, 2020: abcConaway, Alanna (April 7, 2013). “Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take The Wheel” has a story behind it. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from RoughStock
- Junod, Tom (December 9, 2009). “Carrie Underwood: What I’ve Learned” is a documentary on Carrie Underwood. Thompson, Gayle (January 13, 2020)
- Esquire (January 13, 2020)
- (January 21, 2019). “Country Music Recollections: ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ Debuts at No. 1 on the Charts.” “Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood | Songs, Reviews, Credits”.AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood | Songs, Reviews, Credits”.AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood | Songs, Reviews, Credits”.AllMusic (January 15, 2013). “Roughstock’s 10 Best: Carrie Underwood Songs (From 2005-2012)”.RoughStock. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- Dauphin, Chuck. “Roughstock’s 10 Best: Carrie Underwood Songs (From 2005-2012)”.RoughStock (June 25, 2017). “Carrie Underwood’s 10 Best Songs: Critics’ Picks”.Billboard.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “Readers’ Poll: 10 Best Carrie Underwood Songs”.Billboard.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “Carrie Underwood’s 10 Best Songs: Critics’ Picks”.Billboard.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “Carrie Underwood’s 10 Best Songs: Critics’ Picks”.Billboard.com. The Rolling Stone magazine published an article on March 10, 2015, titled Jim Asker (Jan. 13, 2020) was able to get a hold of the information (July 19, 2016). On July 20, 2016, Billboard published an article titled “Carrie Underwood Rings in 15th Country Airplay No. 1
- Sam Hunt Earns High Five”. abRadioRecords Magazine (January 13, 2020)
- Retrieved on January 13, 2020
- (PDF). RadioRecords, published on January 20, 2006, page 46. On December 18, 2019, ab”American singlecertifications – Carrie Underwood – Jesus, Take the Wheel” was retrieved from the internet. Association of the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). The song “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood was certified as a “American ringtone certification” on January 13, 2020. Association of the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). Betts, Stephen L., et al., eds., retrieved January 13, 2020
- (September 1, 2008). “Carrie Underwood Sells Another Million-Dollar Album” is a song written by Carrie Underwood. The Boot is a euphemism for punishment. abBjorke, Matt (January 13, 2020)
- AbBjorke, Matt (February 22, 2016). This week’s top digital singles are listed as “The Top 30 Digital Singles: February 22, 2016.” RoughStock. Retrieved on January 13, 2020
- Ab”Canadian singlecertifications – Carrie Underwood – Jesus, Take the Wheel” (Canadian singlecertifications – Carrie Underwood – Jesus, Take the Wheel). Music Canada is a federally funded organization. “Carrie Underwood”
- “Carrie Underwood’s 12 Most Dynamic Awards Show Performances”.Billboard (November 9, 2017). “Carrie Underwood’s 12 Most Dynamic Awards Show Performances”.Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020
- “100 Greatest Videos”. The original version of this article was published on December 11, 2008. “Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)”, which was retrieved on July 29, 2008. ‘Carrie Underwood Chart History (Adult Contemporary)’.Billboard.Retrieved February 10, 2011
- ‘Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)’.Billboard.Retrieved January 13, 2020
- ‘Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)’.Billboard.Retrieved February 10, 2011
- ‘Hot 100 Songs – Year-End’.Billboard.2006.Retrieved Wilkening is a Matthew Wilkening (April 25, 2011). “Vince Gill Wins Carrie Underwood Over With ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ Cover During ‘ACM Girls Night Out’ Show” is a headline from the ACM Girls Night Out show. A taste of the countryside. “Series 03 Episode 18 – the Pants Alternative” (November 7, 2010)
- “Series 03 Episode 18 – the Pants Alternative”.
Jesus, Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood – Songfacts
- This song depicts the narrative of a young woman who has a lot on her mind who is going to meet her parents for Christmas when she comes across a sheet of black ice and has to stop. When she gets into a skid and realizes she is in danger of losing control, she raises her hands and exclaims, “Jesus, take the wheel.” The automobile comes to a safe halt, with her baby still asleep in the back seat, thanks to the guidance of Jesus. She makes the decision to commit her life to Christ at this time. Donovan Berry of El Dorado, Arkansas, is credited with the suggestion. Although the woman in the song did the right thing by not slamming on the brakes, merely begging Jesus for aid is not the best strategy for getting out of a bind. Instead, take your foot off the pedal and guide the automobile in the direction you want it to travel
- Underwood was the winner of the 2005 season of American Idol. Her positioning as a country singer evolved during the course of the contest, and she eventually became the first winner to be labeled a country singer. Some Hearts cemented her status as a pop-friendly country performer, debuting at number 2 on the US albums list and number 1 on the Country chart
- The song was written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson and was composed for her by Gordie Sampson. In a 2013 interview with Roughstock, Brett James stated that the song has personal significance to the three composers and that they are all glad to have been a part in writing it. His friend Hillary’s house, he said, was when he wrote “Jesus, Take the Wheel” on the floor of her living room. “It was carried out in the same manner as every other rainy day in Nashville. In the beginning of our meeting, we spoke about what we intended to write that day and drank coffee together. In the writing world, you spend about a half-hour simply shooting the bull before being asked, “OK, what do you want to write today?” Man, I got this title. It’s called “When Jesus Takes the Wheel.”‘ Gordie exclaims. Now, we’re all familiar with that expression, but that was the first time I’d ever heard it, and I just shrugged it off. In addition to that, “we discussed some other possibilities,” James explained. “Fortunately, after we went through about three or four other ideas, that one kept coming up,” he added. “So I thought to myself, “How about that ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel’ concept?” I don’t know what we’d write about in that one. We came up with the idea of a small girl who was driving throughout Cincinnati. There are several personal stories intertwined with the story. My wife came dangerously close to having that experience. She was involved in a miracle vehicle accident from which she walked away. Since then, a large number of people have done so. Everyone has heard those stories when someone says, “I have no idea what happened, but I just know that it was a miracle that I was able to get out of there.”” We write a wide range of musical genres “James meditated about the situation. “We compose songs that are entertaining and easy to dance to, as well as tunes that are foolish and silly yet that sound fantastic on the radio. It’s necessary to write something that has meaning for other people every now and again. Those are the songs that are the most enjoyable to be a part of, and this was absolutely one of them.” This is the song for which Underwood would like to be known, according to an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2012. “I’d choose one that was significant. Not’Before He Cheats’or’Good Girl,’ none of that, just’Before He Cheats ‘ “” she explained. I’m looking for anything that someone can hear that will make them feel better or that will help them get through an important or difficult period in their lives. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. At the presentation, Underwood was also named Best New Artist, defeating James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap, and Corinne Bailey Rae in the competition. Also at the 2006 Academy Of Country Music Awards, this song took home the award for Single of the Year, while Underwood was also awarded Top New Female Vocalist. Underwood sings in the music video, which was filmed by Roman White, against the backdrop of three household settings, featuring a young mother trying to quiet her wailing infant, an elderly man attempting to spoon-feed his inattentive wife, and a couple squabbling over finances. Each dispute has been resolved by the time the book is finished. After winning Breakthrough Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year at the 2006 CMT Awards, the video became the subject of various memes, including a 2010 picture macro of Underwood requesting Jesus to take the wheel, to which Jesus responded, “I can’t drive!”. Yet another well-known parody comes from a 2013 Vine video in which Jesus really climbs through the driver’s side window and grabs the wheel of a car as the song is playing
Story Behind The Song: Carrie Underwood – “Jesus Take The Wheel
In 2005, after winning American Idol, Carrie Underwood released her debut single, “Jesus Take The Wheel,” which was quickly accepted by the country music community for the first time. Songwriter Brett James describes the creation of his song in this Roughstock Exclusive video interview with Roughstock. Roughstock reports that “Jesus, Take the Wheel” was scribbled on Hillary’s living room floor at her home. Brett James confirms this. “It was carried out in the same manner as every other rainy day in Nashville.
- In the writing world, you spend about a half-hour simply shooting the bull before being asked, “OK, what do you want to write today?” ‘Man, I’ve got this title.
- Now, we’re all familiar with that expression, but that was the first time I’d ever heard it, and I just shrugged it off.
- “So I thought to myself, “How about that ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel’ concept?” I don’t know what we’d write about in that one.
- There are several personal stories intertwined with the story.
- She was involved in a miracle vehicle accident from which she walked away.
- Everyone has heard those stories when someone says, “I have no idea what happened, but I just know that it was a miracle that I was able to get out of there.”” We write a wide range of musical genres “James takes a moment to contemplate.
- It’s necessary to write something that has meaning for other people every now and again.
Those are the songs that are the most enjoyable to be a part of, and this was absolutely one of them.” The song “Jesus Take The Wheel” has lyrics that you may read. “Jesus Take The Wheel” is a music video that you may watch.
Remember When Carrie Underwood Released ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel?’
Carrie Underwood released her first single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” on October 3, 2005. The song would go on to impact her life and career in ways she could never have imagined. In this poignant narrative of a lady who looks to Jesus for aid after her car strikes black ice on a highway while driving her first album, Some Hearts, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” was released as her official first country radio single from the album. A difficult year had already begun for the woman, who had been driving “far too quickly” when her vehicle slipped on the ice.
In addition to spending an astounding six weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” went on to win a number of prizes, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song at the Grammys.
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson collaborated on the writing of “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” The Boot spoke with James about the inspiration for the song, and he stated that it all started with a “normal day at the office.” It was written in Hillary’s residence, I believe.” “We were trying to come up with ideas when Gordie walked in and said, ‘I have this title, and I don’t know what to do with it: ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel.'” “We were trying to come up with ideas when Gordie walked in and said, ‘I have this title, and I don’t know what to do with it: ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel.'” “Hillary and I both chuckled,” James continued, revealing that ” To be quite honest with you, I felt that was a little stupid; I thought to myself, “What in the world does that mean?” After a period of deliberation, they began writing, and everything came into place as a result.
In his own words, “We had absolutely no clue who was going to record the song.” In the case of Carrie’s recording, it was one of those magical moments when the right artist and the perfect song came together.
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‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ writer claims second Songwriter of the Year honor
- At the 2010 ASCAP Country Music Awards, Baylor alumni Brett James, BS ’91, was voted Songwriter of the Year for the second time in five years. He is best recognized as one of the creators of the hit song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which was written by James. (There had to be one more “award of the year” before 2010 went too far into the rearview mirror, didn’t there?) After penning five songs that reached the top 15 on the Billboard Country charts, including “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” the second single from Carrie Underwood’s debut album, James was awarded the award for the first time in 2006. He was known to his Boston University classmates as Brett James Cornelius at the time. In addition to spending six weeks at the top of the country music charts, the song has been named as the fourth greatest song of the decade by CMT. In 2010, James had three additional No. 1 singles, including ” Cowboy Casanova ” (with Carrie Underwood), ” Out Last Night ” (featuring Kenny Chesney), and ” The Truth ” (featuring Jennifer Hudson) (Jason Aldean). Over the years, James has also penned popular songs for artists such as Martina McBride (Martina McBride’s “Blessed”) and Jessica Andrews (Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am” (a personal favorite of mine). Though most of his songs have been covered by country musicians, his songs have also been recorded by groups as diverse as Chicago, Jessica Simpson, and the Backstreet Boys. “I’m a very proud Baylor graduate,” he told theLariat in 1995, when he was just starting out in his professional life. It’s something I tell everyone. “Baylor was the ideal school for me,” I said. Brett, hurl ’em at them.
You Won’t Believe Who Carrie Underwood’s ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ Was Originally Offered To
Billboard/GilbertCarrasquillo The popularity of an artist’s debut song after winning American Idol is a big factor in determining whether or not that singer will remain in the spotlight, as past Idol champion Kelly Clarkson has, or whether or not they will fade away, as so many others have. In 2005, Carrie Underwood was declared the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and her first big single was “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” The song lasted six consecutive weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and it earned the country newcomer two Grammy awards, including “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” and “Best Country Song,” among other honors.
However, if another country singerHillary Scott had said yes when she was first approached about recording the song, the country superstar’s career may have turned out a little differently.
“She was a country performer on American Idol, which was incredible, and the song really spoke to her,” Scott says of the contestant.
Despite declining to perform the massive hit song, the co-lead vocalist of Lady Antebellum went on to have a highly successful solo music career, with successes such as “Need You Now,” “I Run to You,” and their most recent chart topping, “Bartender,” among others.
Country Throwback: Story Behind Carrie Underwood’s ‘Jesus Take the Wheel’
It’s not well known that the song “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood was inspired by a true incident. He didn’t have much trust in the song “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” which he co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson in 2005, according to Brett James, who was a co-writer on the song. He claims that the song was one of five that he recorded as demos but that it barely missed the cut. The song relates the narrative of a young mother who comes to a safe halt after striking a patch of black ice on the road, and who then decides to recommit herself to Christ after the incident.
- ‘We were trying to come up with ideas when Gordie strolled in and said, ‘I have this title, and I’m not sure what to do with it.'” James and Hillary both burst out laughing.
- “I was like, ‘What in the world does it mean?'” I wondered.
- Sure enough, they began composing a story about a young woman who is driving her automobile on Christmas Eve with a baby in the backseat of the vehicle.
- “When we were dating, my wife was involved in a vehicle accident.
- Her automobile whirled around multiple times and collided with an 18-wheeler, killing her.
- She was able to walk away without any injuries.
- James feels that it has become such a popular song is because it has a universal appeal.
Following her victory on “American Idol,” “Jesus Take the Wheel” was released as the first single from her first album, and has remained a fixture of her live performances ever since.
For me, that will always be one of the most memorable songs of all time.
Besides that, it reached No.
20 on the Hot 100 chart, among other achievements (No.
Furthermore, it achieved a Top 30 ranking on the Adult Contemporary chart as well (No.
23). “Jesus, Take the Wheel” was declared multi-platinum and was nominated for a slew of prizes, including the Grammy. It was named Single of the Year at the ACM Awards and received two Grammy nominations, for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, respectively, for the song.
Carrie Underwood Jesus Take the Wheel Music Video and Lyrics
The song “Jesus Take the Wheel” was published by Carrie Underwood in 2005, and it quickly became a crossover smash, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list and number 4 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus Take the Wheel” became her first single to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her her first Grammy Award. Jesus, Take the Wheel is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson that was released in 2008.
During an emergency, a lady seeks Jesus’ assistance, and after allowing Jesus to take charge of her circumstances and her life, the song relates the narrative of that woman.
The song was voted fourth on CMT’s list of the 40 Greatest Songs of the Decade.
It was Underwood’s first appearance in a music video.
Carrie Underwood Jesus Take the Wheel Video
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson collaborated on the writing of this song.
Carrie Underwood Jesus Take the Wheel Lyrics
She was traveling last Friday, on her way to Cincinnati, when the incident occurred. The night before Christmas Eve, on a snowy Christmas Eve She’s driving back to her hometown to see her mother and father, with the baby in the backseat. She had fifty miles to go and was running low on faith as well as gasoline. After a difficult year, she had a lot on her mind, and she wasn’t paying attention. She was traveling at an alarmingly high speed. She was whirling on a thin black sheet of glass before she realized what was happening.
- She didn’t even have time to shed a tear since she was so terrified.
- I’m letting go since I’m unable to do this task on my own.
- Save me from this rut on the road.
- When she reached the shoulder, the temperature was still dropping, and the automobile came to a complete stop.
- And for the first time in a long time, she lowered her head in prayer, saying, “I’m sorry for the way I’ve been living my life; I know I have to change.
- Take it away from my grasp.
- So please give me another opportunity.
Oh, I’m relinquishing control. So please give me another opportunity. Jesus, grab the wheel and save me from this road I’m on. Save me from this road I’m on. Oh, take it, take it away from me, please. Oh, my my, what a sight. Remember to “share” this information with your friends and family members.
Save Us From Harm Oh Lord, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
This song depicts the narrative of a young woman who has a lot on her mind who is going to meet her parents for Christmas when she comes across a sheet of black ice and has to stop. When she finds herself in a dangerous situation and worries for her life, she raises her hands and exclaims, “Jesus, take the wheel.” The automobile comes to a safe halt, with her baby still asleep in the back seat, thanks to the guidance of Jesus. She makes the decision to commit her life to Christ at this time. It became into such a catchy tune because it affects individuals on a physical and emotional level.
Aside from that, it also describes how Jesus came to their aid and protected them from danger when they are on the verge of crashing or losing control of their vehicle.
Background of the Song
In “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson collaborate on a piece of music. American country music singer Carrie Underwood provided the vocals for the recording’s soundtrack. It was the first single from Underwood’s debut studio album Some Hearts, which was released in October 2005. The song relates the story of a lady who seeks Jesus’ assistance in an emergency situation, finally allowing Jesus to take control of her life. The country-Christian tune went on to become a mainstream success.
It also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and reached high positions on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
The song “Jesus, Take the Wheel” was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, respectively.
The song was placed fourth on CMT’s list of the Top 40 Greatest Songs of the Decade.
Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” Lyrics Meaning
As the song’s title suggests, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a gospel song with a Christian message at its core. The tale is centered on a lady who appears to be a young single mother from the perspective of the reader. The young woman is driving to her parents’ house on a cold Christmas Eve, with her “baby in the backseat.” And, despite the fact that Christmas is traditionally a joyful time of year, she appears to be in the opposite frame of mind, having recently finished “a long, hard year.” Being obsessed with such ideas, in reality, causes her to divert her attention away from the potentially hazardous driving circumstances and forces her to “spin on a thin black sheet of glass.” In reality, the remark is an allusion to black ice, an unusual occurrence in which a piece of road becomes completely covered in ice.
Due to the fact that she is rushing, her life (as well as the lives of her children) is logically in risk at that time.
Or, to put it another way, she begs him to “take the wheel,” which is to take charge of the automobile and steady its direction, as the song puts it aesthetically.
You might argue that the automobile comes to rest calmly on the roadside by accident. And, even more astonishingly, the “infant in the backseat” was completely unaware of what had taken place.
A life-altering event
The lady, on the other hand, has naturally been left rattled by the entire affair. In fact, it was a life-altering experience that prompted her to resolve to change the way she conducts herself going forward. For want of a better expression, just as she begged Jesus to “take the wheel” of the automobile and steer it to safety, she is now asking him to play a similar role in her life as a whole. This would imply that she will not strive to be self-willed in the future, nor will she allow unfavorable aspects of her life to overwhelm her mentally, which is particularly significant given that the metaphorical ‘road she’s on’ at the moment appears to be one that could lead to an unfavorable outcome.
Who wrote “Jesus, Take the Wheel”?
The following artists contributed to the creation of this track: Mark Bright also worked on the song’s production. NOTE: Despite the fact that it is one of Underwood’s most well-known songs, she did not compose “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
When did “Jesus, Take the Wheel” come out?
Underwood’s first album, “Some Hearts,” was released on 3 October 2005 by Arista Records and served as the lead single from the album.
Music Video
The official music video for this single was also Underwood’s very first music video, as it was the very first video she ever created. Roman White, a video/film maker from the United States, directed the film. In 2006, the video was nominated for a coveted CMAAward in the category of Music Video of the Year, which it won. In addition, despite the fact that it did not win the trophy, it did win a handful of CMT (Country Music Television) Music Awards.
Chart Performance
This song appeared on four different Billboard charts, including the Hot 100, where it reached number 20. Even more amazing, it peaked at number 4 on their Christian Songs chart and was also the top-ranking country song on their Hot Country Songs chart. The album “Jesus, Take the Wheel” has received multi-Platinum certification in the United States as a result of this.
Important Lesson from “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
Many people have commented on how skillfully the woman depicted in this song handled herself by not applying the brakes on her automobile once she had into a skid. However, in such circumstances, we propose that drivers depress the gas pedal and then guide the car in the desired direction.