Matt Maher
| Matt Maher | |
|---|---|
Maher performing in 2015
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | Matthew Guion Maher November 10, 1974[1] Newfoundland, Canada |
| Genres | Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label | Essential |
| Spouse | Kristin Fisher (m. 2010) |
| Website | www.mattmahermusic.com |
Matthew Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974)[1] is a Canadian Catholic contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader based in the United States. Three of his nine albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. His notable writing credits include "Your Grace Is Enough", "I Will Rise", "Because He Lives (Amen)", "Christ Is Risen", and "Lord I Need You". Maher has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards in his career and was awarded the Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards.[2]
Early life
Maher was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada. His parents recognized his musical talent, and he grew up taking piano lessons and immersing himself in a broad variety of music and playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in a choir, and playing in a garage rock band.[3]
Maher started his post-secondary studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland and continued his studies in the Jazz Department at Arizona State University. He studied jazz piano and earned a music degree there. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel.[4]
Career
His first label was the Spirit and Song, a division of OCP Publications, where he released his first three collections. Early in 2007 Maher signed to Essential Records. He released his first big-label album (and his fourth album overall) Empty and Beautiful on April 8, 2008. His second album with Essential Records (and his fifth album overall), Alive Again, was released on September 22, 2009.[5] In late 2009, Maher toured with Michael W. Smith, Meredith Andrews and Phil Stacey on the "New Hallelujah Tour". Alive Again peaked at No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 2009.[6]
When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in April 2008, Maher was asked to lead worship for crowds of thousands at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, New York, which also featured Kelly Clarkson, tobyMac and Third Day, among other musicians. He was subsequently interviewed on Fox News, where he played his title track from Empty and Beautiful.[7]
Maher was a guest singer songwriter speaker at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference at Baylor University in late 2010 put on by the David Crowder Band.[8] In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe.[9]
Maher played "Lord, I Need You" before a crowd of nearly four million, including Pope Francis, during Eucharistic adoration at World Youth Day 2013 in Rio, Brazil.[10] Other youth activities he has participated in include the 2013, 2015, and 2017 National Catholic Youth Conferences, all held in Indianapolis, Indiana.[11] He also sang at the 2014 March for Life.[12]
On March 17, 2015, Maher released his eighth studio album, Saints and Sinners, through Essential Records.[13] "Because He Lives (Amen)" was the first single release off of the album,[14] and additional tracks on the album include songwriting collaborations with Needtobreathe members Bo and Bear Rinehart,[15] Jon Foreman of Switchfoot.[16] In September 2017, Maher's ninth studio album, Echoes, released and earned Maher his ninth career Grammy Award nomination.[17]
He is a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year and in 2015 was named NSAI Songwriter of the Year. Along with his nine Grammy Award nominations, he has also been nominated for more than 20 GMA/Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in his career, including "Song of the Year", "Worship Song of the Year", "Pop Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year", and "Pop Contemporary Song of the Year".
On October 12, 2018, his song "Lord, I Need You" was certified Platinum by RIAA, his first certification.[18]
His single "Alive and Breathing" reached top-5 in the Christian singles chart, in June 2020 the song started to chart on mainstream lists as well, hitting No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s trending 25 list as well as No. 25 on Billboard singles of the week.[19]
Maher is featured in three Christmas special theatrical releases for Dallas Jenkins's The Chosen franchise. In 2020's Christmas with The Chosen: The Shepherd, Maher performed "Hope For Everyone". In 2021's Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, Maher sang his Celtic-themed version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".[20] The video of Maher's "Hark..." was reprised for the 2023 special "Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night", released on December 12, 2023.[21]
Personal life
Maher is a practicing Catholic.[22] He and his wife, Kristin Fisher, live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children: a daughter and two sons.[23]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Christian[24] |
US Holiday[25] | |||
| The End and the Beginning[26] | 2001 | Released: January 1, 2001[27] Label: Spirit and Song Format: CD, digital download |
— | — | — |
| Welcome to Life[28] | 2003 | Released: January 1, 2003[29] Label: Spirit and Song Format: CD, digital download |
— | — | — |
| Overflow[30] | 2006 | Released: March 22, 2006[31] Label: Spirit and Song Format: CD, digital download |
— | — | — |
| Empty & Beautiful | 2008 | Released: April 8, 2008 Label: Essential Format: CD, digital download |
168[32] | 12[33] | — |
| Alive Again | 2009 | Released: September 22, 2009 Label: Essential Format: CD, digital download |
128[34] | 6[33] | — |
| The Love in Between | 2011 | Released: September 20, 2011 Label: Essential Format: CD, digital download |
97 | 7 | — |
| All the People Said Amen | 2013 | Released: April 23, 2013 Label: Essential Format: CD, digital download |
88 | 5 | — |
| Saints and Sinners | 2015 | Released: March 17, 2015 Label: Essential Format: CD, digital download |
52 | 2 | — |
| Echoes | 2017 | Released: September 29, 2017 Label: Essential/Sony Format: CD, digital download |
— | 5 | — |
| The Advent of Christmas | 2018 | Released: October 19, 2018 Label: Essence Records Format: CD |
— | 27 | 12 |
| Alive & Breathing[35] | 2020 | Released: February 21, 2020 | — | 4[36] | — |
| The Stories I Tell Myself | 2022 | Released: October 21, 2022 | — | — | — |
Extended plays
| Title | Year | EP details |
|---|---|---|
| Lord, I Need You[37] | 2015 | Released: September 23, 2015 Label: Provident |
| Alive & Breathing Vol. I[38] | 2019 | Released: September 13, 2019 |
| Alive & Breathing Vol. II[39] | Released: October 11, 2019 | |
| Alive & Breathing Vol. 3[40] | Released: November 8, 2019 | |
| Alive & Breathing Vol. 4[41] | 2020 | Released: January 17, 2020 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ.[42] |
US Christ. Airplay[43] |
US Christ. AC[44] | ||||
| 2008 | "Your Grace Is Enough" (Chris Tomlin cover) |
4 | 2 | Empty & Beautiful | ||
| 2009 | "Empty & Beautiful" | 47 | — | |||
| "Alive Again" | 12 | 10 | Alive Again | |||
| 2010 | "Hold Us Together" | 6 | 8 | RIAA: Gold[45] | ||
| "Christ Is Risen" | 18 | 21 | ||||
| 2011 | "Turn Around" | 5 | 6 | The Love in Between | ||
| "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" | 23 | 7 | non-album single | |||
| 2012 | "Rise Up" | 23 | 18 | The Love in Between | ||
| 2013 | "Lord, I Need You" | 4 | 4 | RIAA: 2× Platinum[45] | All the People Said Amen | |
| 2014 | "All the People Said Amen" | 6 | 4 | 7 | RIAA: Gold[45] | |
| "Hope Can Change Everything" (with Francesca Battistelli, Jeremy Camp, Jamie Grace, Bart Millard, and Sidewalk Prophets) |
14 | 21 | — | non-album single | ||
| "Because He Lives (Amen)" | 3 | 1 | 1 | RIAA: Gold[45] | Saints and Sinners | |
| 2015 | "Deliverer" | 18 | 18 | 15 | ||
| 2016 | "Abide with Me" | — | 34 | 22 | ||
| "Glory (Let There Be Peace)" | 14 | 1 | 1 | non-album single | ||
| 2017 | "Your Love Defends Me" | 12 | 8 | 3 | Echoes | |
| "What a Friend" | 10 | 2 | 3 | |||
| 2018 | "Born On That Day" | 24 | 10 | 6 | The Advent of Christmas | |
| "Jingle Bells" | 48 | 34 | 21 | |||
| 2019 | "Alive & Breathing" (featuring Ellie Limebear) |
5 | 1 | 1 | Alive & Breathing | |
| 2020 | "Run to the Father" | 20 | 18 | 16 | ||
| 2021 | "Joyful Noise" | — | 27 | 26 | ||
| 2022 | "Leaning" (featuring Lizzie Morgan) |
38 | 24 | 22 | The Stories I Tell Myself | |
| "The Stories I Tell Myself" | — | — | — | |||
| 2023 | "The Lord's Prayer (It's Yours)" | 9 | 1 | 1 | ||
| "Take It Easy" (with The Porter's Gate and Paul Zach) |
— | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "In the Room" (with Essential Worship featuring Mia Fieldes and Chris Brown) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Christ Is Closer Still" (with The Porter's Gate and Doe) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Go Tell It (Gloria)" (with The Choir Room) |
— | — | — | |||
| 2024 | "Give Thanks to God" (with We Are Messengers) |
— | — | — | ||
| 2025 | "Wait" | — | — | — | ||
| "Praise the Giver" | — | — | — | |||
| "Who Jesus Is" (with Alpha USA Music) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Cling to the Cross" (with Seph Schlueter) |
50 | — | — | |||
| 2025 | "Taste and See (The Love of Christ)" | — | — | — | ||
| "Gonna Be Alright"[46] | 16 | 5 | 6 | |||
Other charted songs
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ.[42] |
US Christ. Air[43] |
US Christ. AC[44] | |||
| 2025 | "Our King Has Come" (with Katy Nichole) |
32 | 14 | 10 | The Hope of Christmas EP |
Awards and recognition
Grammy Awards
- 2017 - nomination for the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Contemporary Christian album, ECHOES
- 2015 - four nominations for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Saints And Sinners
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, "Because He Lives (Amen)" from Saints And Sinners
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, as co-writer for "Soul On Fire" by Third Day
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, as co-writer "Come As You Are" by Crowder
- 2014 - two nominations for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, All The People Said Amen
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, "Lord, I Need You" from All The People Said Amen
- 2013 - nomination for the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "White Flag" from 2012 Passion compilation
- 2012 - nomination for 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song as co-writer for "I Lift My Hands" by Chris Tomlin
GMA Canada Covenant Awards
- 2008 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful[47]
- 2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2009 nominee, Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2009 nominee, Praise and Worship Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2010 Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Song of the Year: "Hold Us Together"
- 2010 Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
- 2011 Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2012 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: "The Love In Between"
GMA Dove Awards
- 2010 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 nominee, Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
- 2010 winner, Special Events Album of the Year: Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship (Split win with Kari Jobe)
- 2015 winner, Songwriter of the Year
- 2019 winner, Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year: The Advent of Christmas
Unity Awards
- 2003 winner, Best New Artist of the Year
- 2004 winner, Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "I Love You, Lord"
- 2008 winner, Best Artist of the Year
Other
- 2008 Catholic Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 "Matt Maher Discography, Matt Maher Lyrics". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "2015 Winners". GMA Dove Award. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- Back to citation Bio formerly at www.mattmahermusic.com (archived at the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine).
- Back to citation "Matt Maher Paid for College by Playing Piano at a Hotel: 'It Was a Fun Time'". ChristianHeadlines.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- Back to citation "New Release Tuesday.com". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation Alive Again review at Allmusic. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- Back to citation "Homepage". Provident Label Group. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
- Back to citation Archived March 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Back to citation "MercyMe, Jars of Clay part of The Rock and Worship Road Show in Sioux City". Argus Leader. January 30, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- Back to citation "WYD Flashback With Matt Maher, And His Story On How The Song Came To Be Written…". Why I Am Catholic. August 4, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "NCYC Post Conference Updates. ". Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015; "Keynotes and Closing Liturgy". Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015; @NFCYM (November 20, 2017). "Looking for that song you loved at #NCYC? Look no more! #Spotify" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Back to citation "Press Release". January 20, 2014.
- Back to citation "iTunes - Music - Saints and Sinners by Matt Maher". iTunes Store. March 13, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- Back to citation "New single from Matt Maher: Because He Lives (Amen)". www.multitracks.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- Back to citation "Saints and Sinners (Deluxe) by Matt Maher". Genius. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- Back to citation "Matt Maher - Instrument Lyrics | Genius Lyrics". Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- Back to citation "Matt Maher | Artist". Grammy.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- Back to citation thescottspot (November 7, 2018). "Lord, I Need You – 2013". TheScottSpot. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- Back to citation Mauro, J.-P. (June 23, 2020). "Matt Maher's new hit lands high on secular charts". Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- Back to citation "How to Watch Christmas With The Chosen". Angel Studios. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- Back to citation lmckeithen; Chatter, Idol (December 19, 2023). "'The Chosen' Releases Third Christmas Special 'Holy Night'". Idol Chatter. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- Back to citation Jones, Kim (April 29, 2006). "Matt Maher Interview". About.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- Back to citation Shamout, Omar (May 17, 2013). "Catholic rocker Matt Maher finds cross-over appeal among evangelicals". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 18, 2021; "Musician Matt Maher talks about life, music and his Catholic faith". Catholic Review. June 9, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2021; "Matt Maher - once tuned out, now troubadour for God". Legatus. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- Back to citation "Matt Maher Chart History: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- Back to citation "Matt Maher Chart History: Top Holiday Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- Back to citation "The End and the Beginning at Spirit and Song". Oregon Catholic Press. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "iTunes - Music - The End and the Beginning by Matt Maher". iTunes Store. January 2001. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "Welcome to Life at Spirit and Song". Oregon Catholic Press. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "iTunes - Music - Welcome to Life by Matt Maher". iTunes Store. January 2003. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "Overflow at Spirit and Song". Oregon Catholic Press. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation "Artist: BREATHEcast". Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- Back to citation Empty & Beautiful at Billboard
- Back to citation occurrence 33.0 Back to citation occurrence 33.1 "Album Chart Positions". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- Back to citation Alive Again at Billboard
- Back to citation "Alive & Breathing by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- Back to citation Mauro, J.-P. (June 23, 2020). "Matt Maher's new hit lands high on secular charts". Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- Back to citation "Lord, I Need You EP by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- Back to citation "Alive & Breathing Vol. I EP by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Back to citation "Alive & Breathing Vol. II EP by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- Back to citation "Alive & Breathing Vol. 3 EP by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- Back to citation "Alive & Breathing Vol. 4 EP by Matt Maher". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- Back to citation occurrence 42.0 Back to citation occurrence 42.1 "Matt Maher Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 43.0 Back to citation occurrence 43.1 "Matt Maher Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 44.0 Back to citation occurrence 44.1 "Matt Maher Chart History (Christian AC Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 45.0 Back to citation occurrence 45.1 Back to citation occurrence 45.2 Back to citation occurrence 45.3 "American certifications – Matt Maher". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Back to citation Halfast, Michaela (April 25, 2026). "K-LOVE First: 'Gonna Be Alright' by Matt Maher". K-Love. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- Back to citation Maher received four other GMAC nominations in 2008: New Artist of the Year, Inspirational Song of the Year: "Empty And Beautiful", Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Your Grace Is Enough", and Song of the Year: "Your Grace Is Enough" GMA Canada list of 2008 nominees Archived September 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine