Matt Maher

Biography

Matthew Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974) 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)×Because He Lives (Amen)4 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Because He Lives (Amen)3:20", "Christ Is Risen×Christ Is Risen18 January 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Christ Is Risen3:482Christ Is Risen (With Background Vocals)3:483Christ Is Risen (High Without Background Vocals)3:484Christ Is Risen (Medium Without Background Vocals)3:485Christ Is Risen (Low Without Background Vocals)3:44", 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.

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.
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.

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×Alive Again22 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Alive Again3:592Shout of the King4:063Sing Over Your Children4:174Hold Us Together3:275No Greater Love3:026Love Comes Down4:437Flesh and Bone6:058Remembrance (Communion Song)5:189Letting Go5:2610You Were on the Cross5:1511Christ is Risen4:5412Garden4:51, was released on September 22, 2009. 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.
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.
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. In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe.
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. Other youth activities he has participated in include the 2013, 2015, and 2017 National Catholic Youth Conferences, all held in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also sang at the 2014 March for Life.
On March 17, 2015, Maher released his eighth studio album, Saints and Sinners×Saints and Sinners13 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1The Field of Stars0:542A Future Not My Own3:183Deliverer3:264Glory Bound2:565Land of My Father3:326Everything Is Grace4:007The Invocation1:268Sons and Daughters5:199Firelight4:1410Instrument4:2311Abide With Me3:1812The Waiting1:2813Because He Lives (Amen)3:2014Rest4:4115Borrowed Time3:3816Because of You4:2617Garden (live)5:0918Because He Lives (Amen) (unplugged)3:23, through Essential Records. "Because He Lives (Amen)×Because He Lives (Amen)4 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Because He Lives (Amen)3:20" was the first single release off of the album, and additional tracks on the album include songwriting collaborations with Needtobreathe members Bo and Bear Rinehart, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot. In September 2017, Maher's ninth studio album, Echoes×Echoes29 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Clean Heart3:002What a Friend3:173Holy4:174Your Love Defends Me3:465Just as I Am4:116Awake My Soul (A Thousand Tongues)3:517Faithfulness3:318The Least of These3:519The Cross Forever Speaks3:5210Into Your Hands3:5011As Good as It Gets3:48, released and earned Maher his ninth career Grammy Award nomination.
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.
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.
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". The video of Maher's "Hark..." was reprised for the 2023 special "Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night", released on December 12, 2023.

Personal life

Maher is a practicing Catholic. He and his wife, Kristin Fisher, live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children: a daughter and two sons.

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

2017 - nomination for the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Contemporary Christian album, ECHOES×Echoes29 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Clean Heart3:002What a Friend3:173Holy4:174Your Love Defends Me3:465Just as I Am4:116Awake My Soul (A Thousand Tongues)3:517Faithfulness3:318The Least of These3:519The Cross Forever Speaks3:5210Into Your Hands3:5011As Good as It Gets3:48
2015 - four nominations for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Saints And Sinners×Saints and Sinners13 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1The Field of Stars0:542A Future Not My Own3:183Deliverer3:264Glory Bound2:565Land of My Father3:326Everything Is Grace4:007The Invocation1:268Sons and Daughters5:199Firelight4:1410Instrument4:2311Abide With Me3:1812The Waiting1:2813Because He Lives (Amen)3:2014Rest4:4115Borrowed Time3:3816Because of You4:2617Garden (live)5:0918Because He Lives (Amen) (unplugged)3:23
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, "Because He Lives (Amen)×Because He Lives (Amen)4 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Because He Lives (Amen)3:20" 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×All the People Said Amen23 April 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1All the People Said Amen3:002Alive Again (Live)5:093Burning in My Soul3:464Lord, I Need You3:265Great Things (Live)5:276On My Way (Live)6:277Hold Us Together (Live)4:178Your Grace Is Enough / Here I Am Lord (Live)6:079Adoration (Live)6:0010Christ Is Risen (Live)6:2911Turn Around (Live)5:3412Mighty Fortress5:1613It Is Good (Live)5:33
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×Empty & Beautiful8 April 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Your Grace Is Enough4:252Look Like a Fool3:333For Your Glory3:544As It Is in Heaven4:095I Rejoice4:146Maranatha (Come Again)3:237Great Things4:208Leave a Light On4:489Shine Like the Son3:1410Unwavering6:0011Lay It Down5:2712Empty & Beautiful4:44
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×Alive Again22 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Alive Again3:592Shout of the King4:063Sing Over Your Children4:174Hold Us Together3:275No Greater Love3:026Love Comes Down4:437Flesh and Bone6:058Remembrance (Communion Song)5:189Letting Go5:2610You Were on the Cross5:1511Christ is Risen4:5412Garden4:51
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×The Love in Between20 September 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Rise Up3:232Turn Around4:143Heaven Help Me3:474Every Little Prison (Deliver Me)3:425Woke Up in America4:396Heaven and Earth4:237Write Your Love on My Heart3:098On My Way4:059New State of Mind3:2210My Only Love3:3411Every Thing and Nothing5:0112The Spirit and the Bride4:28"
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×The Advent of Christmas2 November 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Gabriel's Message2:562He Shall Reign Forevermore2:563Born on That Day4:364Jingle Bells3:195The First Noel4:026Hope for Everyone4:077Glory (Let There Be Peace)3:368O Come O Come Emmanuel4:089Always Carry You (feat. Amy Grant)3:4710Love Came Down to Bethlehem4:2111Hark! The Herald Angels Sing4:1412Little Merry Christmas3:4113When I Think of Christmas3:00
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