Gabby Barrett is set to release her first song to Christian radio, but what does that mean for her country music career?

The “I Hope” singer announced the news ahead of the 55th Annual GMA Dove Awards last week. Fans of Barrett’s already know the song she’ll be promoting at Christian radio.

• Barrett finished third during Season 16 of American Idol in 2018.
• The next year, “I Hope” became a crossover hit when she added Charlie Puth to a remix.
• “The Good Ones” and “Pick Me Up” were also hits from Goldmine. Her follow-up album Chapter & Verse has not been as successful commercially.

Gabby Barrett’s First Christian Single:

Prior to the GMA Dove Awards, Barrett told the Christian Beat that she’ll release “Jesus on a Train” to Christian radio stations on Oct. 14. She had help writing the song (on Chapter & Verse) from Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

“If I saw Jesus on a train / Would I even ask His name / Or just use it all in vain, maybe offer Him some change / Or just let Him get off all alone and walk home in the rain,” she sings over light acoustic guitar and drums.

Several country stars have found success on Christian radio charts, but few have made a full-time commitment to both genres.

Is Gabby Barrett Leaving Country Music?

The short answer is no, or — at the very least — that’s unclear. Time between projects is often the perfect time to try to reach another fanbase. Hillary Scott did this and won a Grammy during a Lady A break in 2017.

“I don’t know exactly what it looks like for me,” Barrett says. “I mean, I think Anne Wilson’s a good example of balancing that seesaw of country and Christian. I’ve been in country music for six, seven years now, and I love it so much. I fell in love with country music, but being a Christian is my identity. My identity is in Jesus. And so that changes everything.”

Barrett has always led with her faith and her albums have included Christian songs. Chapter & Verse closes with a Phil Wickham duet called “The Verse: Doxology (Amen).”

Read More: Is Gabby Barrett Leaving Country Music? |