‘Outlaw gospel’: Cody McCarver set to perform in Hanceville Jan. 19

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Courtesy of Cody McCarver

HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Chart-topping Nashville recording artist Cody McCarver will return to Hanceville Jan. 19 to perform at Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church. The former member of Southern rock supergroup Confederate Railroad has had a successful year with his hit country gospel album “Blessings.” The album has duets with John Schneider and John Anderson. 

“I love going and playing in churches. That’s where my heart’s at,” said McCarver, “and when I came down and did the Welcome Back Hanceville thing, it was a little bit of country and I did some gospel music. I guess some of the folks there heard my testimony and liked the gospel music, so the church asked if I would be able to come back.”

Since his first visit to Hanceville, McCarver recorded a song with his good friend, Schneider.

“He was trying to record and write and get songs back out and get back into the music industry,” he said. “I told him where I was in my life and personal life with my faith and John began to tell me how Johnny Cash introduced him to Jesus. He lived in Johnny Cash’s house when he first came to Nashville. He really loved this idea that I have of a genre of Christian music called outlaw gospel.”

Schneider and McCarver recorded the song “These Hands” last spring, and by December, the song had become the no. 1 country gospel song in America.

McCarver added, “It’s a great song and moves a lot of people.”

The duo recorded a live album from a prison in Louisiana in December. 

McCarver had another no. 1 hit with his song “Rise Up,” which he will also perform when he visits Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church.

As for performing Confederate Railroad favorites, he smiled, “I guarantee someone is going to say, ‘You was part of Confederate Railroad and I remember a song called “Trashy Women.’” It happens everywhere I go, but I can’t play that at a church.”

He does have a couple of songs from the Confederate Railroad days that he can and will perform if asked. “Jesus and Mama Always Loved Me” and “Daddy Never was a Cadillac Kind” are a couple he mentioned.

The concert is free of charge and begins at 5 p.m. A love offering will be collected. Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church is located at 3561 County Road 8, Hanceville, AL 35077.

McCarver said, “Just show up, come in and bring the whole family.” 

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