Country sensation Oliver Anthony reveals he's leaving music industry to focus on traveling ministry

FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA: Country music sensation Oliver Anthony, who soared to fame with his hit 'Rich Men North of Richmond', has announced he is leaving the music industry to dedicate himself to a traveling ministry focused on fostering revival and community.

The 32-year-old, born Christopher Anthony Lunsford, shared this decision in an emotional YouTube video this week, where he discussed his plans, motivations, and his growing disillusionment with the industry he once embraced, as per Fox News.

Oliver Anthony says he’s seeking a path beyond influence of Nashville’s production circles

Seated in a peaceful wooded setting, accompanied by his two dogs, Oliver Anthony opened up about his life-changing choice, sharing how the call to leave music for ministry aligns with his deep-seated family values and faith.

Anthony's announcement comes after a transformative year in the spotlight, propelled by his raw, honest lyricism that resonated with millions.

While he gained massive success with his music, Anthony now says he’s seeking a path beyond the influence of Nashville’s management and production circles.

“I’ve decided that moving forward, I don’t need a Nashville management company,” he expressed candidly in his video. “I don’t even need to exist within the space of music. So, I’m looking at switching my whole business over to a traveling ministry.”

This shift, he explained, is inspired by his conviction that “our system is broken” and no longer serves the everyday people he feels most connected to.

Anthony pointed to his great-grandfather, a traveling minister, as a key influence on his decision to create a similar path.

Driven by what he calls “a calling from God,” Anthony is hoping to establish what he terms the Real Revival Project.

“I have this vision for this thing that I’m calling the Real Revival Project,” he said. “It’s basically going to start as a grassroots music festival, but hopefully, it grows into something that can literally change our landscape and our culture and the way we live.”

The vision for the Real Revival Project includes hosting festivals in small towns that often lack live music events.

“I want to create something that exists parallel to Nashville, that circumvents the monopolies of Live Nation and Ticketmaster,” he explained.

This way, he aims to bring music and culture back to towns that might have been forgotten or overlooked, potentially revitalizing local economies by using homegrown musicians and vendors.

Oliver Anthony claims he feels fulfilled financially and professionally

Despite his swift rise to fame, Oliver Anthony said he feels fulfilled financially and professionally.

“I never have to work another day in my life. I have everything that I wanted,” he shared, adding that he doesn’t feel the need to chase fame or wealth any longer.

Instead, Anthony revealed he feels a powerful “calling” that he describes as “a voice from God that keeps putting this vision in my head of a way to make a real impact in this world, to make a real change.”

Reflecting on his life and the society around him, he said he wanted to be part of a larger purpose.

“I just want to help bridge the gap between millions of people who all believe in the greater vision of us all just getting back to living a normal life,” Anthony explained. For him, that normal life is one rooted in community, faith, and simplicity.

The singer, who identifies as conservative but isn’t strictly aligned with any political party, admitted he’s frustrated with the current state of American society.

“I’m a conservative because I believe in the First and Second Amendment,” he stated, but added, “I don’t know if I’m a Republican.”

Anthony voiced his disapproval of the current system, stating, “I’m just somebody who thinks the whole way we live is backward and so stupid, and it serves nobody but the people at the top of the hierarchy that we no longer really need to serve.”

Anthony also expressed concerns about the surveillance and control he has observed during his time in the music industry.

“The analytics that I can pull on just my fan base is terrifying. It’s information that I feel the FBI shouldn’t even have, much less me,” he said, highlighting the unsettling level of control exerted over public data and personal information.