Country music singer Oliver Anthony revealed that he overcame despair, by placing God first and not worrying about himself as much.
In an interview with Joe Rogan on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Anthony who garnered national attention this summer with his song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” shared the moment when he realized he needed God. He described the moment as equivalent to when a “child feels hopeless” when they can’t find their parent.
“To anyone struggling right now, there is hope on the other side of despair,” Anthony wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a video of his interview.
To anyone struggling right now, there is hope on the other side of despair. pic.twitter.com/33933lXzvX
— Oliver Anthony Music (@AintGottaDollar) December 21, 2023
Anthony added that as he sat in an emergency room feeling immense “shooting pains” in his jaw, wrists, and legs, he began feeling that he couldn’t “do this anymore.” He promised God he would give up marijuana, drinking, and getting angry, and “start over” making God “the focus” of his life.
When asked by Rogan how Anthony did that, the singer revealed he changed his perspective on life.
“I quit worrying about me and I started worrying about what is that I’m supposed to do,” Anthony explained. “You know, like it talks in the Bible about being a servant. And, you know, giving up, I guess my desire and my will and whatever it is I want to do. I don’t know the best way to describe it, it’s about trying to use what I have as a tool, versus doing what I can in the moment to give myself whatever satisfaction that it is I’m trying to get. It’s about trying to let go of your ego.”
Soon after the release of Anthony’s song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” many people viewed it as a conservative anthem for the working class against the politicians and corporate businessmen in Washington, D.C., who seemingly control the economy. After his song was used in the first GOP debate, Anthony dispelled the notion that his song was a Republican anthem.