Grammy Award-winning Christian singer Michael W. Smith tells FOX411.com that the secret to his success is reinventing himself, while staying true to who he is.
You can watch the world premiere of Smith's video to "Save Me From Myself," the first single from his latest album, "Wonder, exclusively here on FOX411.com.
In a wide-ranging interview, Smith told FOX411.com's Courtney Friel that he thinks "Wonder" is the “best thing” he’s ever done.
And one particularly weighty song on the record, "Leave," is particularly close to his heart.
“[It's] about abuse, which is not a popular topic, but one out of three people have been abused, which just blows my mind every time I say it," he said. "It’s probably the sleeper on the record, and I think it’s the one that will just rise up and people will really talk about. I had a great mom and dad, but I sort of went there, almost like an actor, and try to feel the pain of what people feel [from] being abused.”
Smith said the struggles people are going through in today's tumultuous economy were also a big influence on the record, but added that "Wonder" is ultimately a “hopeful” album.
“The record is really full of life ... and I think when you get to the end of it [you’ll go], ‘you know what, I think I can make it,” he said.
Smith, one of the best-selling Christian artists of all time, has recorded 22 albums and sold more than 13 million records, but he admits that sometimes cracking into mainstream music can be tough for Christian music.
“I feel like what we do musically competes with everything else that’s going on today,” Smith told FOX411.com. “But it’s better than it used to be. I remember in the early days when Amy Grant and myself were making music and we couldn’t get anybody to give us the time of day on any sort of mainstream TV channel.”
Thanks to crossover hits from Smith, Grant and other artists, Christian music is beginning to gain more mainstream recognition.
Despite his success, Smith says, like everyone, that he has good days and bad days, but that he takes joy in using his fame to give back to those who need it.
“You have to continue to remind yourself who you are," he said. "And that there’s a purpose for your life.”
More Michael W. Smith Links
Get "Wonder" on iTunes For $7.99
Michael W. Smith's Official Website
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