Leah Payne

The rise and resurgence of Christian music Gospel and Christian music call this city home.But until now, there hasn’t been an obvious physical location.

Thanks to @jewlyheight, @wpln.bsky.social, and @thisisnashville.bsky.social for the chance to talk about the history of #CCM & the new Museum of Christian & Gospel Music in Nashville!
wpln.org/post/episode...

What a joy to be with the postdoctoral fellows of the @louisvilleinstitute. Thanks to @ericabryandramirez and the Rev Dr Vanessa Lovelace for their warm hospitality (and the dance party!) in the beautiful city of San Antonio!

I’d love to talk with him! I reached out several times to try to speak with him while I was writing the book!

@drleahpayne.bsky.social I enjoyed your latest podcast. I might have chosen 1998 as a key year for CCM. That was, in my opinion, a year of crisis for the industry as popular artists made music that didn't mention Jesus and radio didn't know if they could/should play it or not. 1/2

Excellent analysis here from a scholar who knows the big-money/influence world of CCM better then most, @drleahpayne.bsky.social.

At Charlie Kirk's memorial, Christian artists play a role as GOP's political messengers (RNS) — Political activists have recruited Christian musicians to sell policy, and Christian musicians have used their concerts to condemn abortion and support sexual abstinence campaigns.

I mean, she did write the book on this stuff…(doesn’t make the subject matter any more pleasant). religionnews.com/2025/09/22/a...

At Charlie Kirk's memorial, Christian artists play a role as GOP's political messengers (RNS) — Political activists have recruited Christian musicians to sell policy, and Christian musicians have used their concerts to condemn abortion and support sexual abstinence campaigns.

@drleahpayne.bsky.social, meanwhile, has a helpful breakdown on yesterday's ceremony. I'm not sure how to characterize all the choices made by those involved. 2/x religionnews.com/2025/09/22/a...

At Charlie Kirk's memorial, Christian artists play a role as GOP's political messengers (RNS) — Political activists have recruited Christian musicians to sell policy, and Christian musicians have used their concerts to condemn abortion and support sexual abstinence campaigns.

OPINION: Since its birth in the late 1970s, contemporary Christian music has encouraged conservative political activism, and it has thrived on marketing a religiously inspired American patriotism.
religionnews.com/2025/09/22/a...

Thank you, @bleaktheology.bsky.social !! 🎸✝️

New on my Substack: I write about my appearance on @drleahpayne.bsky.social & @andrewgill.biz’s Rock That Doesn’t Roll podcast, my new talk with Marissa Nadler, & @wastoids.com’s new partnership with @spectrevision.bsky.social Radio.

Read: open.substack.com/pub/jasonpwo...

Did @OzzyOsbourne invent Christian metal? Hear @jasonpwoodbury.bsky.social make his case to @andrewgill and me on Rock that Doesn't Roll #RTDR! 🤘✝️

I've admired @drleahpayne.bsky.social & @andrewgill.biz's Rock That Doesn't Roll (@prx.org) podcast since it started, so it was a special pleasure to appear on it this week & argue my case that Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne invented Christian metal.

Tune in: pod.link/1703257857/e...

events.baylorisr.org
Still time to book for @baylor.bsky.social #Evangelical Studies Program online conference "Evangelicalism and the Holy Spirit', 1-3 October. Speakers inc @drleahpayne.bsky.social , Kerrie Handasyde, Bruce Hindmarsh, J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Priscilla Pope Levison & Thomas Kidd

I missed this live but just watched this excellent webinar with @pauldjupe.bsky.social @daracolebydelgado.bsky.social @drleahpayne.bsky.social and @melissadeckman.bsky.social

Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson (Claire Hoffman) -- A Review A blog about Christianity, theology, religion and public life.

Review - Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life & Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson by Claire Hoffman, pub by @fsgbooks.bsky.social. The story of the #Pentecostal evangelist, warts & all. www.bobcornwall.com/2025/07/sist... #booksky #theosky @erbks.bsky.social @drleahpayne.bsky.social

Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music Rock That Doesn’t Roll looks at how Christian music shaped the world we're living in now by telling individual stories from the peak era of the contemporary Christian music industry. In the 80s, 90s a...

Finally listened to this episode where @andrewgill.biz and @drleahpayne.bsky.social interview journo Emma Madden about Xian music on the current pop charts. Madden is finishing a book on goth so I’m all for it.

pod.link/1703257857/e...

Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music Rock That Doesn’t Roll looks at how Christian music shaped the world we're living in now by telling individual stories from the peak era of the contemporary Christian music industry. In the 80s, 90s a...

Stoked to have @masonmennenga.bsky.social join @drleahpayne.bsky.social and I on Rock That Doesn't Roll. He is such a specific guy! pod.link/1703257857/e...

Looking forward to this conversation! 🔥🕊️

Join us Tuesday, August 5, at 1:00 PM ET for a conversation on charismatic Christians’ influence in American politics. We will be joined by experts @drleahpayne.bsky.social, @pauldjupe.bsky.social, Dara Delgado, Ph.D., and @melissadeckman.bsky.social.
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Charismatic preacher Jimmy Swaggart dies aged 90 - ABC listen He was the charismatic preacher in the sharp suit and flashy car, who preached personal purity – until he came undone in a sex scandal.  Jimmy Swaggart was a global institution in the 1980s.  He die...

I enjoyed speaking with Andrew West of ABC Australia about Jimmy Swaggart's scandalous ministry and lasting legacy: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Great Falls of Fire - Christianity Today How Jimmy Swaggart’s legacy of scandal shaped the evangelical landscape.

“Scandal does not have to be an end. It can also be a beginning.” Thanks to @christianitytoday.com for the chance to write about how Jimmy Swaggart, and his tight-knit Pentecostal family from Ferriday, Louisiana changed the American cultural landscape. www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/jimm...

Charismatic preacher Jimmy Swaggart dies aged 90 - ABC listen He was the charismatic preacher in the sharp suit and flashy car, who preached personal purity – until he came undone in a sex scandal.  Jimmy Swaggart was a global institution in the 1980s.  He die...

I enjoyed speaking with Andrew West of ABC Australia about Jimmy Swaggart's scandalous ministry and lasting legacy: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Great Falls of Fire - Christianity Today How Jimmy Swaggart’s legacy of scandal shaped the evangelical landscape.

“Scandal does not have to be an end. It can also be a beginning.” Thanks to @christianitytoday.com for the chance to write about how Jimmy Swaggart, and his tight-knit Pentecostal family from Ferriday, Louisiana changed the American cultural landscape. www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/jimm...

Great Falls of Fire - Christianity Today How Jimmy Swaggart’s legacy of scandal shaped the evangelical landscape.

Jimmy Swaggart’s story is bigger than one famous Christian leader’s lasciviousness.

“It is also the story of how celebrity culture and mass media are shaping the American evangelical landscape,” writes @drleahpayne.bsky.social.

Thank you so much for listening! It’s an honor. 🙏🙏🙏

I hope you're ready for more subversive podcasting, because @drleahpayne.bsky.social and I are gearing up to launch season 3 of Rock That Doesn't Roll. Our listeners demand it!

Good day to listen to @drleahpayne.bsky.social on the @straightwhitejc.bsky.social feed talking immigration, ICE, and Latino churches:

www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/spi...

We are delighted to welcome a new group of smart and talented Affiliated Scholars at PRRI! Check them out and be sure to follow their work! @drleahpayne.bsky.social @pauldjupe.bsky.social @profsamperry.bsky.social @aflor017.github.io

www.prri.org/press-releas...

Thrilled to be an affiliated scholar with @prri.org. The data & reports they’ve provided over the years have been an absolute gift & im honored to be included with Kelsy Burke, Eric McDaniel, @pauldjupe.bsky.social, @aflor017.github.io, & @drleahpayne.bsky.social. www.prri.org/press-releas...

What an honor to join @prri.org as an Affiliate Scholar alongside @profsamperry.bsky.social, @aflor017.github.io, @pauldjupe.bsky.social, Kelsy Burke, & Eric McDaniel! Stay tuned for more from me about religion & public life, fueled by insights from PRRI! www.prri.org/press-releas...