Michael W. Smith takes 'Sovereign' tour to Cape church

Grammy-Award-winning Christian artist Michael W. Smith's "Sovereign" tour will stop in Cape Girardeau for a night of gospel music at Cape First Church on Sunday evening.

Few artists achieve the type of critical and popular acclaim Smith has enjoyed in his 29-year career, in which he has sold over 15 million albums had and a No. 6 pop single, "Place in This World."

He said via email this year has been especially busy, having produced three new records.

"I don't think a year ago I could have predicted what 2014 was going to be like," he said.

It ended up including his scheduled release of "Sovereign," a hymns record made exclusively for Cracker Barrel and a Christmas album of duets with names such as Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Vince Gill and Amy Grant.

"What made it craziest was that this wasn't planned out a year in advance," he said. "[But] let me quickly say, I'm not complaining. I loved every minute of it, and I'm really happy with all three projects!"

At 57 years old, after so many years making music, he said he is still as motivated today as he was when he made his first record.

"I feel that God has a call on my life and I enjoy playing today just as much as I did when I was first starting out," he said. " I've got a great bunch of guys around me, I feel like the wind is at my back, and we're getting to do -- every night -- what I always wanted to do."

But success in the recording industry isn't what he says is important. He says he tries not to get hung up on chasing awards or accolades.

"There was probably a time when that was important to me, [but] I've figured out that awards don't last," he said. "Whatever record you set today will be broken by someone else tomorrow. The things that really last are investing yourself in someone else."

Smith, for instance, prefers to invest his time in his children.

"I've always tried to put family first," he said. "When my kids were younger, I'd fly home after shows so I could drive carpool in the morning. I didn't know at the time if they even noticed, but they did. Even now that they're all grown, I try not to be gone more than three or four nights at a time."

He says that's not always possible during international tours, but he says he finds himself wanting to be home more often as he and his family members get older.

In the meantime, he said helping strangers is the way to be happy in day-to-day life.

"If you want to be happy, help someone less fortunate than yourself," he said. "Those are the things that really bring peace. I don't mean to sound like I'm perfect or have it all figured out -- I just know what has brought the most happiness."

Tickets are available through iTickets, Lifeway Bookstore, and khisradio.org; general admission tickets are $28. VIP tickets are $75. Cape First Church is at 254 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau.

tgraef@semissourian.com