Josiah Queen is an American Christian singer-songwriter born in 2003 in Clearwater, Florida, the son of pastors. Discovered in 2023 while still working as a janitor at the church where he grew up, he broke through with the album The Prodigal in 2024, a number one on Christian sales charts, and became Billboard's new artist of the year.
Josiah Queen was born on January 11, 2003, in Clearwater, Florida, into a family of pastors based in New Port Richey. He became a Christian at age nine during a youth gathering in Kansas, started writing songs at that same age, and released his first single, God of Miracles, in 2020. In the spring of 2023, he was still working as a janitor at the church where he grew up when his song I Am Barabbas entered the Billboard Christian songs chart, marking the true starting point of his career.
The following year, his debut album, The Prodigal, took the top spot on the Billboard Christian albums chart and earned him a GMA Dove Awards nomination as well as the title of Billboard's Best New Christian Artist of 2024. Songs like Can't Steal My Joy, with Brandon Lake, and Dusty Bibles, with Avery Anna, went gold or platinum. Signed to Capitol CMG in 2025, he released the album Mt. Zion that same year, before announcing a third project, Damascus Road, and an arena tour planned for spring 2027.
- Origin
- Clearwater, Florida, USA
- Style
- Christian folk rock / contemporary pop
- Active since
- 2020
- Good to know
- Discovered while still working as a janitor at his church, before becoming number one on Christian sales charts
How did Josiah Queen get started?
The son of pastors based in New Port Richey, Florida, Josiah Queen became a Christian at age nine during a youth gathering in Kansas and started writing songs from that same age. He released a first single, God of Miracles, in 2020, but stayed under the radar for several years.
In the spring of 2023, he was still working as a janitor at the church where he grew up when his song I Am Barabbas, released through Acts 29 Worship, entered the Billboard Christian songs chart. That first commercial signal opened the door to a meteoric rise the following year.
What makes Josiah Queen distinctive?
His songwriting owns doubt and failure before it gets to victory: songs like judas or demons speak of betrayal and inner struggle before pointing to grace, a rawer tone than classic worship music. This authenticity, combined with a journey that took him from janitor to headliner of arena tours in barely three years, largely explains the response he finds among a young audience.
Where should you start to discover Josiah Queen?
Start with demons, his gold certified and most streamed song, before listening to judas and when I see You, which show the range of his work between confession and worship.
songs
demons
Certified gold, this is Josiah Queen's most streamed single, about inner struggle and deliverance.
judas
A song about betrayal and grace, among the most listened to tracks in his catalog.
when I see You
A worship song looking forward to meeting God face to face.
Discography
- 2026Damascus Road· announced for October 23, 2026
- 2025Mt. Zion
- 2024The Prodigal
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Josiah Queen?
Josiah Queen is an American Christian singer-songwriter born in 2003 in Florida, the son of pastors. Discovered in 2023 while still working as a janitor at his church, he became Billboard's Best New Christian Artist of the Year in 2024.
Is Josiah Queen a Christian artist?
Yes, he grew up in a family of pastors and his entire body of music is built around his faith, often handled with unusual honesty about doubt and failure.
What is Josiah Queen's best known song?
demons, certified gold, is his most streamed song and the one that made him known beyond the traditional Christian audience.
Where is Josiah Queen from?
He was born in Clearwater, Florida, and grew up in New Port Richey, where his parents serve as pastors.
What is Josiah Queen's new album?
Damascus Road, his third album, was announced for October 23, 2026, followed by an arena tour planned for spring 2027.
Where can you listen to Josiah Queen?
His songs are available on all streaming platforms and on his official YouTube channel.