Zachary Stephen Williams (born June 27, 1978) is an American Christian rock singer-songwriter from Bono, Arkansas. From 2007 through 2012 he was lead vocalist and played acoustic guitar and harmonica for Zach Williams & The Reformation. He was also the lead singer of the Christian group Brothers of Grace, renamed as Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. In 2016, he went on to a solo career.
Beginnings
Zachary Stephen Williams was born in Pensacola, Florida, on June 27, 1978, but grew up in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Music career Zach Williams & The Reformation Williams was the lead singer in Zach Williams & The Reformation, an American rock band formed in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 2007 by the group of Zach Williams (acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals), Red Dorton (bass guitar and vocals), Robby Rigsbee (slide guitar and rhythm guitar), Josh Copeland (lead guitar, rhythm guitar and vocals) and Evan Wilons (drums). The band took their name from the desire to reform or revitalize the southern rock sound. The band released two independent albums, Electric Revival in 2009 and A Southern Offering in 2011. In 2012, Williams disbanded The Reformation due to his newfound Christian beliefs.
The Brothers of Grace / Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace After Zach Williams and The Reformation disbanded, Williams and guitarist Robby Rigsbee dedicated their lives to Christ and began playing music in their church, Central Baptist in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Church band the Brothers of Grace became Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. Shaun Kirby, who had previously been part of southern rock band Further Down with Rigsbee, was the drummer. The group also included Bruce Ford (bass) and Kevin Rouse (keyboard). They independently released an EP, Shine a Light, in 2014.
Solo career In 2016 Williams signed to Sony Music's Provident Label Group - Essential Records as a solo artist, four years after Zach Williams & The Reformation disbanded, and released his first solo single, "Chain Breaker", which reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs Chart and the Top 10 on Christian radio. Following the single, Williams released a five-song EP, Chain Breaker, with producers Jonathan Smith and Colby Wedgeworth. Williams also led worship at the Refuge Campus of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he was on staff from 2014 to 2017.
On December 14, 2016, Williams digitally released his full-length album, Chain Breaker, and announced a release date of January 27, 2017, for the CD.
On October 4, 2019, Williams released his second album, Rescue Story. It includes the single "There Was Jesus", with Dolly Parton.
On September 30, 2022, Williams released his third album, A Hundred Highways. It includes the single "Heart of God". His song "Up There, Down Here", from the same album, was covered by contestant Warren Peay on season 21 of American Idol.
Discography
Albums As Zach Williams & The Reformation Electric Revival (independent, 2009) A Southern Offering (independent, 2011)
Solo Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications USUSChristUSFolkUSRockChain Breaker Released: December 14, 2016 Label: Essential Formats: DL, CD 174 2 4 28 RIAA: GoldRescue Story Released: October 4, 2019 Label: Essential Formats: CD, DL, streaming 111 2 5 21 RIAA: GoldA Hundred Highways Released: September 30, 2022 Label: Essential Formats: CD, DL, streaming — 2 9 —Jesus Loves Released: September 19, 2025 Label: Essential Formats: CD, DL, streaming — 10 — —
Holiday albums + List of holiday albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUSChrist.USHolidayI Don't Want Christmas to End Released: October 22, 2021 Label: Provident/Sony Format: CD, digital download 46 11
EPs As Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace Shine a Light EP (2014)
Solo + List of EPs, with selected chart positions Title EP details Peak chart positionsUSUSChristUSFolkUSRockChain Breaker Released: September 23, 2016 Label: Essential Formats: CD, digital download — 20 23 —Survivor: Live from Harding Prison Released: September 14, 2018 Label: Provident Format: Digital download — 26 — 34
Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with year, album, and selected chart positions Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album USBub. USRock USChrist USChrist Airplay USChrist AC USChrist Digital 2016 "Chain Breaker" — 9 1 1 1 1 RIAA: PlatinumChain Breaker 2017 "Old Church Choir" — 7 1 1 1 1 RIAA: Platinum 2018 "Fear Is a Liar" — — 3 3 2 3 RIAA: Platinum "Survivor" — — 11 3 4 — 2019 "Rescue Story" — — 5 2 2 6 RIAA: Gold Rescue Story "There Was Jesus" 8 — 2 1 1 1 RIAA: Platinum 2020 "Empty Grave" — — 41 — — 19 Rescue Story (Deluxe Edition) "Go Tell It on the Mountain" — — 17 3 2 — 2021 "Less Like Me" 25 — 4 1 1 3 RIAA: Gold Rescue Story "Heaven Help Me" — 23 15 10 11 19 "I Don't Want Christmas to End" — — — 18 10 — I Don't Want Christmas to End 2022 "Heart of God" — 26 6 11 8 1 A Hundred Highways "Big Tent Revival" — — 47 — — — "Looking for You" — — 25 30 — 7 2023 "Sunday's Comin" — — 29 17 16 — 2024 "Friend in High Places" — — 18 — — — Jesus Loves 2025 "Jesus Loves" — 41 11 3 3 — "If God Lives Here" — — — — — — rowspan="2" 2026 "Wait For Me" — — 10 1 2 —
As featured artist Year Title Peak chart positionsCertifications AlbumUSChristUSChrist Airplay 2017 "The First Christmas" 35 20 Decade the Halls, Vol. 1 2020 "Rattle!" 46 — rowspan="2" 2021 "Rise Up (Lazarus)" — — 2023 "Cornerstone" 2 1 RIAA: Gold Life After Death 2025 "Get Behind Me" — — rowspan="1" "Stranger No More" — — Let It Begin
Promotional singles Year Title Peak chart positions Album USChrist 2019 "Walk with You" 35 Rescue Story
Other charted songs + List of charting songs, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUSChristUSChrist AirplayUSChrist AC"The Call of Christmas"2017 49 31 6 WOW Christmas
Awards and nominations American Music Awards
| 2018 | Zach Williams | Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
| 2021 | Zach Williams | Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Billboard Music Awards
| rowspan="2" | 2018 | Zach Williams | Top Christian Artist
| "Old Church Choir" | Top Christian Song
| 2019 | Zach Williams | Top Christian Artist
| rowspan="3" | 2021 | Zach Williams | Top Christian Artist
| Rescue Story | Top Christian Album
| "There Was Jesus" | Top Christian Song
Grammy Awards Year Nominee/work Award Result 2017 "Chain Breaker" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2018Chain Breaker Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 2019 Survivor: Live From Harding Prison Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 2020 "Rescue Story" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2021 "There Was Jesus" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
GMA Dove Awards
| rowspan="5" | 2017 | rowspan="2" | Zach Williams | New Artist of the Year
| Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
| rowspan="2" | "Chain Breaker" | Song of the Year
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| Chain Breaker | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| rowspan="2"| 2019 | Zach Williams | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
| Survivor: Live From Harding Prison | Long Form Video of the Year
| rowspan="5"| 2020 | "Rescue Story" | Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" | Zach Williams | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
| Artist of the Year
| rowspan="2" | Rescue Story | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
| rowspan="5"| 2021 | "There Was Jesus" | Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" | Zach Williams | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
| Artist of the Year
| "Stand My Ground" | Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| "There Was Jesus" | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| 2022 | Zach Williams | Artist of the Year
We Love Awards Year Nominee / workCategoryResult 2025 "Jesus Loves" Song of the Year Contemporary Song of the Year "Still" Collaboration of the Year
* Was a joint win alongside Ryan Stevenson's "Eye of the Storm".
Notes
References
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