Bethel Music President Jenn Johnson on Rejecting the Industry Playbook, Her Vulnerable New Solo Album, and Why She Never Chases Hits

I had the pleasure of talking with Jenn Johnson. In the sprawling landscape of contemporary Christian music, few voices carry the same quiet authority. As the co-founder and president of Bethel Music, Johnson has spent the last two decades helping to craft the soundtrack of the global church. If you have been inside a sanctuary in the last ten years, you have likely heard her work. Anthems like the widely sung “Goodness of God” and the Grammy-nominated “Holy Forever” echo across denominations. Yet, behind the massive streaming numbers and global tours, Johnson insists her heart has never strayed far from home. “We are local church kids,” she says with a sense of deep grounding. “We are in the local church every Sunday of our lives unless we are traveling… because we believe in the power of the local church.”

Growing up in Northern California, music was a constant companion, though she never imagined it would become a global career. She started singing in church at just five years old and was writing songs by her early teens. Still, the music industry was never the ultimate goal. She originally enrolled in college with a very different life plan in mind. “I never planned on being a worship leader,” she reflects. “I was in college to be a preschool teacher and an aerobics instructor. I figured I would be fit and healthy, people could be inspired by that, and I would get paid for it.” Life, however, had other plans, and her pivot into full-time music alongside her husband of twenty-six years, Brian Johnson, became a profound lesson in listening to a higher calling. “The Bible says that God can use anything for His good,” she adds. “No matter what you go through in your life, He is always preparing you, working, and teaching you.”

That sense of calling led to the creation of Bethel Music in 2001. When she and Brian first looked at the standard blueprint of the music industry, they felt a sharp disconnect. Traditional record labels demanded a grueling life on the road, something that threatened the fabric of a healthy family life. They chose a different path entirely. “We knew God had another way of operating that would be sustainable, keeping families and marriages healthy, and allowing artists to not have to live their lives constantly traveling,” she explains. Today, Bethel Music operates with a massive roster of artists and administrative staff. Taking over the leadership of the organization a few years ago was demanding, but she embraced the challenge. She describes those years of transition as wildly difficult, relying entirely on faith and the right team to build something sustainable.

As an artist, Johnson is remarkably candid about her creative process. She remains uninterested in chasing chart success. Instead, she keeps her focus firmly locked on spirituality and connection. “We are not out here trying to write a hit song,” she states flatly. “We are trying to write what God is saying to His people, to our congregation, and to the world.” That philosophy is front and center on her debut solo album, a twelve-track project titled Happy. Described as a mosaic of her life, the record took two years to piece together alongside four producers. It weaves intimate worship, country warmth, and pop influences into a wildly diverse tracklist. The record features collaborations with heavyweights like Kari Jobe and Brooke Ligertwood, alongside a Portuguese artist, a Zimbabwe choir, and deeply personal moments featuring her own children.

Despite the upbeat title, Happy does not shy away from the darker corners of the human experience. Johnson wanted the album to reflect authentic conversations about faith, including the moments when things fall apart. She points to tracks like “Walk With Me” and “Mad at God” as explorations of the heavy, complicated emotions people often try to hide. “God is not afraid of those emotions or the heavy things we go through in life; He is right there with us throughout it all,” she explains. This grounded, realistic view of faith translates directly into her practical approach to everyday life. To navigate the demands of raising five children and running a global ministry, she leans heavily on daily exercise, physical therapy, and spending time outdoors.

In a culturally disconnected era where technology often replaces genuine community, Johnson is a fierce advocate for real, face-to-face relationships. She sees a dangerous trend in how people substitute digital connections for actual friendship, leaving them isolated. “Nothing replaces human-to-human interaction, touch, or being able to hug someone,” she warns. “We cannot let the enemy tempt us to live electronically and pretend we are not lonely when we really are.” She encourages people to build community brick by brick, investing in the lives of others through simple acts like sharing meals and showing up for one another.

After more than two decades in the spotlight, Johnson remains refreshingly unpretentious. She speaks like someone who has weathered her fair share of storms and learned to stop striving for exact perfection. “He just wants our hearts to lean in, listen, and obey,” she notes about her faith. When asked what single idea she would want to spread to the world, her answer is quiet but firm. She wants people to realize that they are never alone, and that true peace comes from walking through the wildness of life with a steady companion. “At the end of the day, life is wild, and getting through it without Jesus sounds impossible,” she says. “God truly is our soul’s satisfaction. He completes us and created us.”

Yitzi: Jenn Johnson, it is such a delight to meet you. Before we dive in deep and talk about your great work, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and particularly the seeds and the genesis of all the amazing work that has come since then?

Jenn: I grew up in a Christian home and I have amazing parents. I went to a church, a Christian school, and a youth group, and I have loved Jesus my whole life. I have served in church leading worship since I started singing there when I was five years old. I just love to write and sing about Jesus. My life turned into getting to do that full-time, which is a very incredible honor and privilege.

Yitzi: That is amazing. You probably have some amazing stories from different places you have been to and different projects you have worked on. Maybe this is hard to single out, but can you share with our readers one or two stories that stand out in your mind from your career?

Jenn: It has just been incredible. We have been traveling and songwriting for years; I started songwriting when I was 12 or 14 years old. Brian and I have been doing ministry together for 26 years. It has been one of my favorite things to be able to travel the world, see the global church, and watch all the different expressions of the body of Christ come together. Seeing the different parts of the body all work together as one, with Jesus as the head, is my favorite part of getting to do what we do.

It is also amazing to watch people’s lives be changed in real-time in these worship nights. There is something so special about gathering and worshiping together as a corporate body. These are moments where the Lord moves in profound and powerful ways. To be able to stand on a stage, look out, and see people encountering Jesus for themselves is the honor of my life.

Yitzi: You use the term corporate body, and I think many readers would read that and think about a corporation. Can you explain what exactly you mean by a corporate body?

Jenn: For us, it means a congregation. It says in the Bible, “Do not forsake gathering together.” For us, it is the local church. We are local church kids. We are in the local church every Sunday of our lives unless we are traveling, and sometimes even when we are, because we believe in the power of the local church.

We have given our lives for that. We are worship leader trainers, and still to this day, we oversee the worship team at our local home church. We have been worship pastors for 27 years and a part of the local church for my entire 44 years of life.

Yitzi: It seems like a central part of the way you spread the faith and inspire people to be close to God is through music. Can you articulate why music is such a powerful medium to become closer to God?

Jenn: Music is such a gift. It moves us, and if used correctly and in the right hands, it moves us toward God. I really lean into that with the other friends and songwriters around the world that we co-write with. We get into these songwriting sessions to hear what the heart of God is and what He is saying. We are not just coming up with things on our own; our prayer is for God to speak to us and let us put into song what He is saying to people.

We are not out here trying to write a hit song. We are trying to write what God is saying to His people, to our congregation, and to the world. It has just been an honor to get to do that.

Yitzi: There is a saying that “no” is not rejection, but redirection and protection. Do you have a story where you received a “no” to an opportunity, but that led to an even better opportunity, blessing, or success?

Jenn: Absolutely. I think my life is a walking testament to that. I never planned on being a worship leader. I was in college to be a preschool teacher and an aerobics instructor. I figured I would be fit and healthy, people could be inspired by that, and I would get paid for it. I also loved kids. I led worship when I was younger, but I never thought it would become the big part of my life.

I ended up having five children. We have three biological children, two adopted children, and a son-in-law, creating a very full life. I think God prepared me for that through my training to be a preschool teacher. Being fit has also been a major part of my life, allowing me to stay healthy and do all the things we are doing.

I believe God prepares you. The Bible says that God can use anything for His good. No matter what you go through in your life, He is always preparing you, working, and teaching you. If you just listen, He will always speak to you through all of it.

Yitzi: There is another saying that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous or funny mistake you made when you were first starting out, and the lesson you took away from it?

Jenn: I could write a book about the mistakes I have made, for sure. The statement “live and learn” is a very true one. Ultimately, I think you just do your best in life. I do not believe God is looking for perfection from us. God is a Father, and He is a kind Father who wants our hearts more than anything.

When we go after following Him in His word and following His voice to the best of our ability, it is the heart in that pursuit He is really looking for, rather than exact perfection. He just wants our hearts to lean in, listen, and obey. God is so faithful to lead us. Even if we get it wrong or make a mistake, we simply say we are sorry, ask God to help us, and ask Him to teach us. It is definitely more of a parent-child relationship of learning than Him focusing on our mistakes.

Yitzi: Can you share with us any of the exciting projects or initiatives you are working on now? Are there any new developments?

Jenn: Just this weekend — it has only been out for a couple of days — my new album called Happy was released everywhere. It is on all platforms around the world, and it is a mosaic of my life, from my favorite childhood hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, which I redid, to a bunch of different things along the way.

There are definitely some new worship songs out there featuring collaborations with my closest friends like Brooke Ligertwood, Kari Jobe, and Tiffany Hudson from Elevation. One of the tracks is just my four-year-old son singing I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart. Another track is the entire Johnson family singing a little song we sing before we eat.

There are a lot of different elements in this mosaic project. There is a title track called Happy, which is a love song to my children about how much I love being a mom and how obsessed I am with them. There is also a country love song to my husband of 26 years, whom I adore. It really has just about everything. Listen to it from start to finish; it is definitely a body of work that you want to take in entirely to fully appreciate it. There is a Zimbabwe choir and a Portuguese artist — it is crazy. You name it, it is on this album.

Yitzi: If you could take all of your tracks, all of your albums, and all of the album covers, put them in a blender, and blend them up, what would be the overall message that comes out of that mixture?

Jenn: The overall message would definitely be the goodness of God, and being holy forever. Those are the two main messages of my life: how good God is, and the concept of what it will be like in heaven. We are going to be singing eternally of His goodness and His holiness. Life is such a short little part of time, but forever we are going to sing about who God is, enjoy Him forever, and enjoy each other and the believers.

We are just trying to do our best on this planet to spread the gospel and the good news of who God is. We want to let everybody come to know this wonderful Father that we serve so that we can all be in heaven together.

Yitzi: A strong theme of your latest album seems to be the idea of happiness, particularly the happiness that comes from the Almighty and from family. Can you share some other things that you do to feel happy when you are feeling down?

Jenn: Absolutely. A big part of this new album involves some really difficult songs about walking through hard times. There is a song called Walk With Me and another called Mad at God about going through strong emotions. God is not afraid of those emotions or the heavy things we go through in life; He is right there with us throughout it all.

Practically, some things that I do include exercising. I try to exercise every single day to stay really active and keep my body healthy. I monitor what I eat and try to consume healthy foods because that affects your emotions. Taking care of ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically are the three keys to happiness. We get counseling, we do physical therapy, and we focus on being good stewards of what God has given us in our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Anchoring ourselves in the word of God every day is a matter of life and death. Staying in the word of God for yourself — not just reading on the internet or social media, but asking, “God, what are You saying to me today?” — is a huge key to being happy.

Yitzi: What has been the most challenging project or role you have taken on so far, and why?

Jenn: Taking over Bethel Music a few years ago was certainly the most challenging, but I had a direct word from the Lord that I needed to do it. I stepped in, and He led me every step of the way on how to manage it and brought me the right people that I needed. That was a crazy three years. Now, our team is just amazing. It is incredible where God has taken the ministry from where it was; it has always been good, but it has become insanely amazing.

However, I would probably say this Happy project I am putting out has been the most difficult thing I have ever worked on. We spent about two years working on it because it is so complex. There were four producers, and it is incredibly unique. It was difficult, but it is finally out.

Yitzi: Can you tell us a bit more about Bethel Music for our readers who may not be familiar? Tell us what makes it special and what makes it different.

Jenn: We started in our position as worship pastors 26 years ago, and we were just a local church. We were writing songs, people were coming, and the ministry was growing. We ended up starting a record label simply to facilitate what God was doing and to approach it in a unique way.

We were originally considering going with other record labels, but we did not like their blueprint for how they were doing things, like living their lives entirely on the road. We knew God had another way of operating that would be sustainable, keeping families and marriages healthy, and allowing artists to not have to live their lives constantly traveling. We also wanted to prioritize serving the local church. With our name being Bethel, which means the “House of God,” that was our number one priority. We are church kids, and at the end of the day, we are worship leaders.

Leading worship at our home church is our main priority, and everything else we do involving travel is simply an extension of that. It has been incredible. We have so many artists who are incredible humans you could trust with your life. Between our musicians and our admin team, it is hundreds of people. It is an honor to lead them because they are beautiful people who love the Lord with their whole hearts and love people. It is truly an honor to get to do what we do.

Yitzi: What is the ultimate mission of Bethel Music?

Jenn: The ultimate mission of Bethel Music is to bring people into the presence of God and to connect them with Him. Whether through events or the songs we are writing, our goal is that people would know God, know who He is, and hear His voice over them. There would be a long list of goals, but that is my number one.

Yitzi: How would you articulate why Americans would be happier, more fulfilled, and have better lives if they embraced their faith?

Jenn: At the end of the day, life is wild, and getting through it without Jesus sounds impossible. Knowing that God is truly our Father and our friend is vital. He is with us through everything as our comforter, our shelter, and our wisdom. We are never alone.

You can have the closest, most incredible people in your life, but they will never replace the faithful, perfect God. He is all we need, and anything else in life is just an addition to that. God truly is our soul’s satisfaction. He completes us and created us. He created us so uniquely; He gave every human on the planet a different fingerprint, which is baffling. He is a designer and a creator.

He did not leave it too far from you to forget that He is the author, designer, and creator of you individually. He loves you, you are special to Him, and there is no one else like you. Every human on the planet should be reminded that they are loved and created by a perfect Father.

Yitzi: In addition to music and prayer, what are some other ways you would recommend people come closer to God in their everyday life?

Jenn: For me, the local church is God’s idea, specifically a spirit-filled local church. They are everywhere. Find one and get involved, not just to attend, but to serve. Find out how you can use your gifts to serve the body of Christ in a local congregation. Plug in, join a Bible study, and connect with a community of believers.

I love that our call is to bring the lost to know Jesus, but we are also called to be strengthened by the body of Christ. Surround yourself with people who will strengthen your faith, worship together, and pray together. Being part of a community of believers will truly be a foundation for your entire life.

Yitzi: What would you say to people who are feeling lonely or alienated? People are so plugged into their phones and disconnected from others. What do you say to encourage them or help them feel less lonely? What steps can they take?

Jenn: I think one of the top temptations of this day and age is to do what is easy. People feel electronically connected to others, yet they are actually lonely. Nothing replaces human-to-human interaction, touch, or being able to hug someone. It is so needed. We cannot let the enemy tempt us to live electronically and pretend we are not lonely when we really are.

This goes back to God’s idea of the local church and gatherings of believers. Getting together is essential, not only to worship and pray in church but also to find time to eat together. If you look at Jesus’s life in the Bible, He was constantly breaking bread and eating with people. We like to say Jesus was a foodie! Discipleship and fellowship are incredibly important. You should not just go to church; you should be actively involved. Show up for people, love on them, and find a community to care for.

Whether there is a birthday party, a baby shower, or a wedding, invest in people’s lives and build that community brick by brick. One of the greatest fruits of our lives is that we have been part of a local community, as well as a global one. We give our lives to stay connected and be part of each other’s lives. That has absolutely been a game changer for our happiness and our health.

Yitzi: This is our signature question. Jenn, you have been blessed with a lot of success, and you must have learned a lot from your experiences. Looking back all the way to the beginning when you first started in music and began leading worship services, can you share five things that you have learned over the years that someone starting out now would really benefit from?

Jenn:

• First, I would say do your homework to invest in the gifts that God has given you. Find out what those gifts are and truly invest in them. For me as a little girl, I obviously had a musical gift. I learned to play and sing when I was five, so I took vocal and music lessons to follow that path. But I also knew I was really good with children, so I took classes for that. I wanted to help inspire people to be healthy, so I leaned into that interest as well. I would ask everyone today: What are you passionate about, what are you good at, and how can you use those gifts to help people? Lean into growing in those areas so you can help others live their best lives and bring them to Jesus.
• Second, I have learned to never compare yourself with anyone. The enemy would love for you to get trapped in comparison in any area of your life, but Jesus made you uniquely you. He has given you a specific purpose that no one else can take away from you. You never have to worry about anyone else, even if they have the same gifts as you, because Jesus is going to use you exactly how He wants to. The best way to tear down comparison in your life is to encourage people. If you are harboring negative feelings toward someone, encourage them. That will shut down the voice of the enemy.
• Third, God is always speaking to us through everything: light, color, sound, His word, nature, and other people. If we are listening, we will find Him. Simply ask God to speak to you, listen to what He is saying, and practice hearing His voice. You have to practice everything in life, including hearing God’s voice. If you feel like He is prompting you to share something with someone, approach them and say, “Hey, I am practicing hearing God’s voice. This is what I am getting, and I just wanted to share it with you.” People will be very receptive if you mention you are practicing because it comes across humbly rather than as an authoritative decree.
• Fourth, be courageous. You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. Be courageous with what God is telling you to do and say in your life. Ask God to give you that courage.
• Number five, I would say have fun. Life is not meant to be strenuous, with furrowed brows and constant crying. We all go through hard seasons, but joy lasts and comes in the morning. Remind yourself to do fun things. Go for a walk, hang out with friends, and do what you love. God does not intend for this life to be depressing or endlessly difficult. He has joy and fun in store for you. Make sure you are working hard, but also resting and playing hard. At the end of the day, God is your Father, you are His kid, and He wants you to enjoy life, have fun, and be happy.

Yitzi: Can you share some of the self-care routines you maintain to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?

Jenn: Physically, because of the amount of travel we do — planes, trains, and automobiles take up a lot of our lives — we rely on physical therapy. We do physical therapy every single week, no matter where we are. We also go to the chiropractor to keep our bodies in alignment. We frequently get massages for relaxation and to offset all the muscle strain. When I am in my absolute favorite rest mode, I go to the spa. I love a facial; I just love the spa experience.

Walking is my number one activity. I try to walk three to six miles outside every day. It is something that really helps me mentally, emotionally, and physically. Those are my main routines. I also love to get my nails done, so I enjoy a manicure and pedicure every once in a while.

How do I keep my mind sharp? Well, I have five kids, and that definitely helps keep my mind sharp! Beyond that, the word of God is essential. I read the Bible for myself and underline as I go. I have to underline while I read to stay engaged and highlight what I feel God is saying to me. I think that is the primary way.

Yitzi: This is our final aspirational question. Jenn, because of your amazing work and the platform you have built, you are honestly a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know how far your idea can spread.

Jenn: I think the biggest idea comes back to the realization that God is your friend. If you really dig into the word and what it says about God walking with us — being closer than a brother or a friend — and dedicate your whole life to friendship with Him, that would be the movement. Walking with Him, hearing Him, sharing with Him, and obviously worshiping Him. Friendship with God would be the number one movement.

The number two movement would be a health movement focused on taking care of ourselves. We need to work really hard to go against what the world is feeding us, whether electronically or through poor diets. We need to defy the urge to stay indoors. We should spend time outdoors in the fresh air, with real people, limit our time online, and eat healthy foods. Those are major keys for a thriving life.

Yitzi: What would you say to people who are disaffected, who have had bad experiences, or who feel alienated from religion in general? What would you say to encourage them to give it another chance and take another peek?

Jenn: I would just say that while faith looks different for all of us, God is only a breath away. If you simply say, “God, I believe in You,” confess Jesus with your mouth, and say, “God, speak to me, I want to know You for myself,” He will respond. Give your life to listening to Him, to His word, and to His spirit. Surround yourself with a healthy church. You are going to hear and feel God.

You are going to grow in Him and get to know Him just like you would any other person you take the time to know. God will encounter you, and you will not be sorry that you gave your life to knowing Him. It brings a true joy and soul satisfaction that nothing else in this world — no money, no fame — will ever bring you. You could have everything in life and still be empty without a relationship with God. But with Him, even if you have nothing else, you have everything just by being His friend.

Yitzi: Jenn, how can our readers continue to follow your work, purchase your music, and learn more about you? How can they attend your services or any of the Bethel projects, and support you in any possible way?

Jenn: The best way to find out where my team and I are going to be is on bethelmusic.com or on any Bethel Music social media page. I also have my personal social media accounts under Jenn Johnson; you can check out my Instagram and other platforms. But bethelmusic.com is definitely the primary source for finding out where our team is and learning about all the things you can be a part of.

Yitzi: Jenn, it has been a delight — truly a delight and an honor to meet you. I wish you continued success, blessings, and health. I hope we can do this again next year.

Jenn: Thank you so much.