The singer-songwriter released his new song, ‘Make Heaven Crowded,’ on Sept. 26
Country artist Cole Swindell has released a new song inspired by the poignant remarks made by Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, after her husband’s assassination.
“Make Heaven Crowded,” a ballad that encourages listeners to draw closer to Jesus and uphold biblical values in their lives, debuted on Friday.
“What if churches had a longer line outside than all them bars on Friday night. What if people prayed for people who ain’t on their side?” Swindell sings in the chorus before belting out: “This old world will look a lot better than we found it. If we make heaven crowded.”
Swindell, 42, who released his self-titled debut album in 2014, took to Instagram earlier this month to tease the new track, co-written by Greylan James, Joel Hutsell, and Blake Pendergrass.
His post, which featured a few lines of the song, came days after Erika Kirk addressed the nation following her husband’s murder.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking to college students at an event at Utah Valley University. The conservative commentator and father of two young children was 31.
“I know my husband is still here. He’s watching over us … rest in the arms of our Lord as He blankets you with the words I know your heart always strived to hear: ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant,’” Erika Kirk said in her first public address on Sept. 12 after her husband’s death.
“And my goodness, am I so humbled to witness Charlie—you alongside Jesus right now doing what you always want to do, Baby, making heaven crowded … I can’t wait to see you again one day.”
Swindell—who welcomed his first child with his wife, Courtney, in August—found Erika Kirk’s words deeply moving.
“The heartbreak I felt, and still feel, for her and their kids was so heavy thinking about my wife and baby girl. I knew I had to get those feelings out of my heart and head and down on paper,” he said in a statement.
“But when I released a social clip of performing a few of the lyrics, the response was unlike any reaction I’ve ever had to a song. It’s truly amazing what music is able to do, especially when real life inspires it … This may be the most important song of my career, and I’m ok with that.”
Just one day after releasing “Make Heaven Crowded,” Swindell revealed that the song had soared to the top of the streaming charts.
“Woke up to a text this morning that we were No. 2 all genre, No. 1 on country … unbelievable. I just wanted to say thanks again because it truly does mean the world [that you’re] supporting me, my music. But this is bigger than that; this is bigger than anything I’ve ever been a part of musically because of the message,” the singer said in an Instagram video on Saturday.
“We cannot stop now, y’all. Be strong. Too many times we go through things that bring us all together, and as time passes, we slowly drift back apart. But let’s not do that this time. Let this song be a reminder that we can do this, we can do better, be good to each other, and let’s tell somebody about Jesus.”
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