Josiah Queen

Josiah Queen Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Prodigal A worship leader who brings Christian music into the 21st century, Josiah Queen marries a narrative flair with a penchant for dramatic arena folk. Queen's earnest blend of faith and atmospheric modern rock crystallized on "The Prodigal," a Dove-nominated Christian hit that preceded the release of his debut album of the same name in 2024. The Prodigal was a significant success and topped the Christian chart. Queen enjoyed a crossover hit in 2025 with the Brandon Lake collaboration "Can't Steal My Joy," from his second Christian number one, Mt. Zion. The son of a pair of ministers, Josiah Queen first felt the power of the Lord at a young age. When he was nine, he accompanied his parents to a young adults' conference in Kansas City. The event changed Queen's life. There, he felt the holy spirit, a revelation that filled him with the yearning to write his own religious songs. He spent his adolescence composing original tunes and acting as a worship leader, spending some time on the road with his traveling preacher mother. "God of Miracles," Queen's first single, arrived in 2020 when he was 16 years old. By 2022, he had started posting music regularly on social media; he also released the songs "Grave Clothes" and "Use Me." His first real breakthrough arrived with "I am Barabbas" early in 2023, which entered the Billboard Hot Christian Songs at 47 that May. After "Fishes and "Loves," "The Prodigal" snagged Queen more listeners. He maintained his audience with four subsequent singles -- "Garden in Manhattan," "My Promised Land," "Altars Over Stages," "Die a Beggar" -- all of which appeared on his debut album, The Prodigal, which came out in May 2024. Released independently, the album was a huge success, topping Billboard's Christian Albums chart and earning a Dove Award nomination for its title track. A deluxe version with extra songs came out six months later, followed by the non-album single "Lowest of Lows." Queen kicked of 2025 with the crossover hit "Can't Steal My Joy" with Brandon Lake. It was included on that August's Mt. Zion, alongside collaborations with Benjamin William Hastings and Gable Price. The album became his second straight Christian number one; crossed over to the rock, alternative, and Americana charts; and entered the Billboard 200 at number 57.