Cody McCarver
Cody McCarver
By Sarah Murray
Cody McCarver: How an Outlaw can Change While Jesus Remains the Same
In the small town of Dunlap, Tenn., you will find an average man who once had fame and a
lifestyle that was nothing short of where most good Christian folks try to steer us all from.
Cody McCarver is a 49-year- old man who built his life on music a long time ago. He’s a man
who spent most of his music career with the country music group Confederate Railroad selling
six million albums, winning Academy of Country Music (ACM) vocal group of the year, having
No. 1 Country Music Television (CMT) music videos, and even acting in the movie “Cole
Younger and the Black Train” with the popular movie makers, Lions Gate.
Even with this kind of fame though, nothing seemed to make McCarver happy. He cruised
through a lifestyle of alcohol and partying. Most people would be overjoyed to see their name
plastered on CDs in stores across the world. However, something was still missing fromMcCarver’s life.
While McCarver vividly remembers growing up in church and sitting at his first church piano at
the young age of nine, unable to reach the foot pedals even, his home life was very different.
McCarver’s parents lived a life of drugs, alcohol and prison. He recalls his dad murdering a man
on his birthday and being sent to prison for 15 years. With not much left to turn to, McCarver
then found himself at an old-fashioned altar. It was here he realized that God’s plan for him was
still music, but the setting would change a bit.
It was at that same altar in 2013 that McCarver asked God to help him stand and live for Him
again. He asked God to remove the drinking and to physically show him where to go next.
McCarver began going back to church and seeking the will of God in his life. McCarver was and
continues to be very real with God and about his own relationship with Him.
“I remember asking God to please help me free my father from prison, after hearing he had
received Christ in prison,” McCarver shares. “I just kept asking God to help me find a way to get
him out.”
God quickly answered that prayer for him in a way that was very unexpected. McCarver’s father
died of a heart attack while he was in prison.
The vocalist used this experience to write a song called, “The Lord’s Will.” The lyrics tell of
McCarver praying for God to deliver a way out and believing that even though His will was his
father passing away, God was indeed answering his prayers and taking care of something he
himself couldn’t physically do.
In such a life change, many onlookers are naysayers and skeptics. Some people don’t believe
there could be such a life change or decision process. However, while McCarver has been living
such a different lifestyle, he has only seen positive changes.
“I don’t believe God changes your personality, but He changes your ways,” McCarver explains.
“I think people see me as the same guy. I just don’t deal in the nature of those same sins. Now,
people see me as just saved.”
McCarver found some revelation after reading a book, “Beautiful Outlaw.”
“It was then I quickly realized that God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He does qualify the
called,” McCarver points out.
McCarver remembers feeling so unworthy, but he knew that God had a plan for his music and
for his ministry.
Shortly after giving his life to Christ and dedicating all he had to the One who had saved him,
McCarver went to a nearby Lifeway store and bought numerous CDs of what today’s Christian
music is like. He wanted to get to know the industry itself. With the Christian music genre being
so diverse in so many ways, McCarver says he hasn’t quite found his fit yet.
“I jokingly described my music as Outlaw Gospel, and in ways, it has just stuck,” McCarver
says.
He explains his music as the type that people wouldn’t come to a church to hear, but they will
find Christ in the lyrics when they do hear him.
“My music reaches people that typically won’t listen to a pastor,” McCarver says. “I can
honestly stand there and tell someone, ‘I’ve been to jail. I’ve lived that life, but I’ve found the
man who changes things. That’s Jesus.’”
Because of the fact that McCarver can be so real with people, not only does his testimony grow,
but so does his music. In our society today, people are just looking for someone to tell them they
are wrong so they can build a defense. But what happens when someone can go toe to toe with
you, may even have worse situations than you and still claim the blood of Jesus?
This is why McCarver wrote the song “Rise Up,” which is currently sitting at No. 74 on the
charts. The song talks about Jesus being taken out of our society and our world being in
desperate need of a revival. In songs such as these, people are finding they can be as real as
McCarver has been and continues to be. Sometimes, it’s not about where you’ve been but where
you’re going. McCarver recorded a music video for his song “Rise Up” that currently has over
350,000 views.
“I want to grow my music ministry, and I want to learn more and more about this industry,”
McCarver explains. “But I want people to know that my music is literally just Jesus. The Bible
tells us that we can’t get to the Father without the Son, but the Son is who we are forgetting and
leaving out. My music is about my testimony and how to get back to the Son.”
When you have a testimony like this that, you can either choose to use it for good or for bad. It’s
evident who McCarver is letting guide him and mold him.
You may or may not always see McCarver performing in a typical church setting, but you will
always hear him singing about Jesus. McCarver recalls being before crowds that don’t portray
your average church-goers but seeing them show up just to see what he’s about and what his
music is like. The result of his testimony is seeing up to 144 people give their life to Christ in
one setting.
This year alone, McCarver has performed more than 100 dates, consisting of churches, festivals,
fairs, and even the Grand Ole Opry. McCarver may not be singing your typical Southern gospel
music, but he’s singing about a message of Christ that everyone can understand.
Not too long ago, a friend asked McCarver what made him make the change in lifestyle and
change in music he was singing. His response was simple … “I was literally dying, until I met
Jesus,” McCarver points out.
Because of McCarver’s obedience and bold faith, he’s now interacting with people who want to
know how to obtain the same happiness he has, which is solely what this industry should be
about.
To this day, McCarver is proudly four years sober and living completely for Christ. He also
boasts with pride about his 24-year- old daughter, Raven.
McCarver’s life has been far from easy. He’s seen the highest highs in the music industry and
he’s seen the lowest lows in life in general. However, one thing has remained the same for this
Outlaw Gospel singer … Jesus is enough.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us that, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” While McCarver
was being transformed from the old man to the new, Jesus remained the same for him, just as He
can for you. “The music is about the message,” McCarver says. “I can’t take credit for any of my songs. It’s
just God being God.”
If you would like more information on McCarver or to hear his music, follow him on Facebook
or at his web site www.codymccarver.com.
