Oliver Anthony: ‘Light a Fire No One Can Extinguish’

Musician Oliver Anthony reading a passage from the Bible in between songs at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Annual Birthday Bash on Sept. 17, 2023 in Nashville. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

In August 2023, singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony became an overnight sensation with his hit single “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Since the independently released song went No. 1, the Virginia native has toured internationally and played sold-out shows.

After a year spent navigating the music industry, Anthony decided to head in a new direction: to leave the mainstream music business and reconnect with “the family business.” It’s what the 32-year-old artist deemed his true “calling.” And to Anthony, it can make more of a positive impact than hit singles and record deals.

Sudden Success

Anthony had no idea how much and how quickly his life would change when his anthemic tune “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuted on the YouTube channel, Radiowv. The single, which criticizes today’s political power structures on both sides of the aisle, accumulated over 184 million views and topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. According to Billboard, due to the song’s extraordinary traction, Anthony “became the first artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart without previously having a song on the charts.”

Not long after the song’s sudden success, Anthony was offered a multimillion-dollar record deal. He turned it down, opting instead to sign with the booking agency United Talent Agency. He spent much of 2024 touring across America as well as internationally for his “Out of the Woods” tour. The global trek included 42 shows at venues like North Carolina’s Greensboro Coliseum. He also traveled to London where he performed for a sold-out crowd at the legendary O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

In February 2024, he made his debut at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. While performing an acoustic set full of traditional country music and original folk songs, he took a moment to do a Bible reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 10. Over time, sharing Scripture while sharing music became an integral part of the traveling musician’s shows.

Now, for 2025, he’s ready to combine his two passions.

From Musician to Minister

After 14 short months navigating the music industry, Anthony announced his departure in a YouTube video on Oct. 29, 2024. As he chatted with viewers while relaxing in the woods with his dogs, he detailed how he wanted to maintain control over his music and career, instead of handing it over to a label or outside representative. He also talked about how he yearned for something bigger than music that could make an impact on communities that need the most help.

Drawing on his love of music and his devotion to his faith, he told viewers that he plans to change his entire focus to traveling ministry work.

Cover of Oliver Anthony's 2024 album "Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind." Oliver Anthony Music

Movieguide reported Anthony’s remarks relating to his idea for his nonprofit:

“I have this vision for this thing that I’m calling the Rural Revival Project, and it’s basically ... going to start as a grassroots music festival, but ... hopefully, it grows into something that can literally change our landscape and our culture and the way we live.”

The nonprofit initiative plans to help communities in need in several different ways. While many musicians opt for show dates in big cities, Anthony plans on visiting “towns that haven’t had music in them in a long time.” He hopes that the live shows will stimulate local economies.

In his Youtube video, he said, “You’re not having to drive out to Pittsburgh to some concrete amphitheater to see a show. It’s done out at a farm or on a Main Street ... that desperately needs the economic impact.”

He also plans to use local vendors and musicians for each date booked.

Helping Communities in Need

Oliver Anthony performs in Nashville during his Out of The Woods tour, 2024.Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Relief efforts will also be offered through the Rural Revival Project. Though the nonprofit is still in its early stages, it has already helped those recovering from natural disasters. His first official show associated with the organization took place on Nov. 2, 2024 in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Virginian troubadour headlined the hurricane relief show alongside several other artists who helped raise funds for those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Anthony plans to have resources available through Rural Revival Project that help people struggling with mental health conditions like PTSD. Offering these types of resources is important to the artist, who has struggled with his own mental health over the years and wants to help those in need.

By focusing on farm-oriented communities, Anthony hopes his organization can reconnect people to nature, something he feels is very important for both spiritually healthy communities and individuals.

For his Rural Revival Project performances, he will continue sharing Scripture and messages of faith in between songs.

Anthony will also continue to release new music as he focuses on his nonprofit efforts.

The Family Business

Musician Oliver Anthony reading a passage from the Bible in between songs at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Annual Birthday Bash on Sept. 17, 2023 in Nashville. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

While the Rural Revival Project is a new endeavor for Anthony, its mission is one that has been important to his family for generations. His great-grandfather was a traveling minister, and Anthony views the Rural Revival Project as a continuation of his great-grandfather’s legacy.

While music is important to him, he calls ministry work his “calling.” He shared with viewers that he believes his ministry work combined with his musical abilities could make a “real impact in this world.”

Music brought Anthony unexpected stardom, but the songwriter is more interested in spending the coming years cultivating a legacy that involves helping people through the musical gifts he’s been given.

For Anthony, his decision to leave the music industry and start up a traveling ministry leads to an all-important goal. Regarding his music and the Rural Revival Project, he said, “This voice from God … keeps putting this vision in my head of a way to make a real impact in this world, to make a real change.”

Just as his great-grandfather’s ministry work left such a lasting impact on Anthony, he said of his own musical and charitable efforts, he wants, “to help light a fire that no one can ... extinguish in my lifetime or after.”

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