Few voices in Southern Gospel music have combined musical excellence, heartfelt worship, and genuine authenticity as consistently as Lauren Talley. After more than two decades as the acclaimed lead vocalist of The Talleys and a successful solo career that has produced multiple chart-topping releases, Talley continues to inspire audiences with music that points unwaveringly to Christ.
On August 21, Horizon Records will release Walls (Part One), a six-song collection that showcases every facet of Talley's artistry-from powerful worship anthems and heartfelt ballads to joyful, faith-filled celebrations. Featuring songs such as "Look At The Lamb," "Walls," and her exuberant rendition of Elevation Worship's "So So Good," the EP reflects her passion for leading listeners into God's presence while reminding them of His faithfulness in every season of life.
Pre-save/add Walls (Part One) here.
In this exclusive interview, Talley reflects on her remarkable journey from singing with her family's legendary group, The Talleys, to her flourishing solo ministry. She also shares the powerful story behind "Look At The Lamb," explains how Gloria Gaither became part of the recording, discusses the vision behind Walls (Part One), and reveals why the simple joys of family and everyday life remain the foundation of everything she does.
Q: Lauren, for readers who may be discovering your music for the first time, can you share a little about your journey in Southern Gospel music and how God first called you into this ministry?
That's a long story, but I'll try to hit the high spots!
My family, the Talleys, have a long, rich heritage in Christian music. When I was a child, I traveled along with them most of the time and sang a song in their concerts. In 1993, my parents made the decision to come off the road and spend time as a "normal" family. Over the next three years, from ages 10-13, I began to develop the gifts God had given me.
When I was 12, I attended the Steve Hurst School of Music in Nashville, and it was during a concert one night at the school that I clearly felt the Lord speak to my heart and ask if I was ready to serve Him. I didn't really understand much then, but I said yes to Him, and my parents and I gradually began performing together occasionally. We didn't intend to start a new group, but God obviously did, and we sang together as the Talleys for the next 25 years.
My parents retired in 2020, and I've been a full-time solo artist ever since. I'm incredibly grateful for how God has blessed my life and career. This season is so much fun.
Q: After decades in music ministry, what are some of the most important lessons God has taught you about worship, faithfulness, and serving His people through song?
Life has a way of making you confront your own beliefs. It's one thing to stand on stage and proclaim how good God is; it's another thing entirely to cling to the words of these songs when you're brokenhearted and scared and questioning everything.
I want people to understand that I'm just a person like you, who's had to walk through some hard things, and I know He's real and faithful. Every day we have to choose how we're going to live that day. We can choose to give up, or we can decide to believe that He is good, and we can choose to live in the victory He has for us.
Q: Your new single, "Look At The Lamb," was inspired by a powerful worship experience. Can you tell us the story behind the song and what first moved you to write and record it?
About three years ago, I was going through some things, and I was at the gym one day scrolling to find something to distract me while I was on the treadmill. I ran across a video that said, "THAT moment at the Passion Conference." Passion is a very large conference in Atlanta started by Louie Giglio and ministers mostly to college students.
This particular video showed approximately 50,000 college students worshipping at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kristian Stanfill and other worship leaders were on stage singing, and the presence of God became so real in that room that the music stopped, the worship leaders fell on their faces, and the crowd went silent. A faint refrain of "Agnus Dei" started from the back of the stadium and moved like a wave across the crowd. Eventually, Kristian Stanfill read a passage from Revelation 1.
I was so moved by what I was seeing that I asked the Lord, "Why don't we see worship like this in our churches and in my concerts? What do we need to do to get that?"
He said, "Look at those worship leaders. They don't care who's watching, what's supposed to come next, how they look or what anybody might think. They're only focused on Me, nothing else. If you'll just pursue My presence like that, I'll take care of everything that concerns you."
That experience has changed everything about how I look at my job and what I do. My desire is to successfully corral the audience's attention to ultimately point it back where it belongs-on Christ.
I took that experience and that sentiment to Tony Wood, one of the most prolific writers in Christian music, who I count as a dear friend, and we wrote "Look At The Lamb" based on that. We also included the passage from Revelation 1 that was read at the Passion Conference.
Q: The track features a Scripture reading by Gloria Gaither, which adds a special depth to the recording. How did that collaboration come about, and what was it like working with such an influential figure in Christian music?
When we included the passage from Revelation 1, I knew it had to be read by a compelling voice, but I had no idea who it would be. At first, I thought I might have to read it myself, but I wanted a special guest appearance-and did I ever get one!
I've been blessed to be part of the Gaither Music family for many years, and I'm now a co-host on Homecoming Radio. During a taping back in January, I asked Gloria if she'd be willing to record the narration, and of course she asked to hear the song first. (I cannot describe how nerve-wracking it is to send your song to the greatest lyricist of our time and wait for her opinion on it). She was so kind and gracious, and agreed to do the narration, and I've never been so honored.
Q: "Look At The Lamb" is a powerful new release. Does this song point toward a larger musical vision, and can fans expect more new music from you in the near future?
Sometimes I think my vision is a little too big for what I can realistically accomplish, but I have a desire to write the songs that the church will sing. I'll always record and perform the fun songs like "Walls" and others that are coming later this year, but my number one goal is to help lead people into the presence of God, and I feel like "Look At The Lamb" is the type of transcendent song that does that. This album is Walls: Part One, so it makes sense that there will also be a Walls: Part Two.
Q: Finally, on a personal note, what are some of the simple things in life that bring you joy and help keep you grounded when you're away from the stage?
As I write this, it's an ordinary Monday night. I've just cooked dinner for the family, beans and vegetables...as Southern as it gets, like me! I've got the Men's College World Series championship baseball game on TV. The simple things like that are the core of my life, and they're just as important as what I do on stage. I have a very blessed life.
