Chris Tomlin headlines Christian concert at McGrath Amphitheatre

It's difficult to imagine what else Chris Tomlin can accomplish in the Christian music industry. The contemporary Christian singer-songwriter has sold more than 9 million albums while dominating his genre.

Tomlin, 49, has won a staggering 23 GMA Dove awards, a Grammy Award for best Contemporary Christian Music Album for his 2012 release "And If Our God Is For Us," and he has a pair of platinum albums to his credit. Among his early hits are “Indescribable,” “Holy is the Lord” and “How Great is Our God” off his 2004 album, “Arriving,” and he’s consistently topped the charts ever since.

Tomlin, who will perform Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at the McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids, continues to create. His 13th album, "Chris Tomlin & Friends," released in August of 2020, received a boost from Tomlin's pals Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Lady A.

Tomlin co-wrote nine of the 13 devotional tracks.

"Songwriting is what I'm most passionate about," Tomlin said by phone from Nashville. "I love to play and sing, but it all starts with writing a song, and I love that process. It's great to be inspired and follow through.

“I write simple songs that people can worship God with. It's not easy but it's so gratifying. I ask God to touch the songs with his presence. I try to get better and better at writing. I'm enjoying writing and everything that goes with it, now more than ever."

With all the trappings of success, Tomlin — a devoted husband and father of three daughters — has never fallen off track with what's most important to him and his family.

"You can get distracted in life, but for me, you have to look to God," Tomlin said. "God holds us all together. There is so much stimulation, so much going on in everyone's lives that people can lose sight of what is most significant. What people need to do is get still and meditate on the word. We need God in times like these."

Tomlin wasn't just born with God-given talent. As a child growing up in Texas, he had the desire to be a recording artist.

"I wanted to be in music ever since I could remember," he said. "My dad would play country music and I just loved it. I remember playing Willie Nelson songs as a kid, and Alabama songs. I just couldn't get enough of those songs. One of the first songs I learned was (Nelson's) ‘On the Road Again.’ Playing a song like that made me want to get into this industry.

“But wanting to do something is one thing. It's another to go out and work to meet your goal. I worked at it. I started getting involved with music through my church and I discovered that God gave me a gift to be able to write songs. I've been blessed."

Tomlin doesn't have a divine pipeline to tunes, however.

"Songs don't come quickly to me," he said. "It's hard work, but it's a labor of love. I want to make a song as good as it can be, so I rewrite songs often. I love to write songs that people can connect with and hopefully sing along with. It's great when they end up on the radio, but what I love the most is when my songs find their way to church."

When Tomlin hits the road, it's all about spreading the word of God.

"Life is hard and people struggle," he said. "Life is unfair. But God can lift people up. I hope my songs are a reminder that God is the joy that we cannot live without. God can help people be truly happy and I'm an instrument of his, and I connect with people through music. I can't believe how fortunate I am."