Travis Greene

Travis Greene is an American gospel singer, songwriter, worship leader and pastor known for combining contemporary gospel, worship and urban-influenced sounds with deeply personal expressions of Christian faith. Born Travis Montorius Greene on January 17, 1984, in Delaware, he was raised in Warner Robins, Georgia, and later built his ministry and music career in the Carolinas. He is particularly recognized for songs such as “Intentional,” “Made a Way,” “You Waited” and “Won’t Let Go,” as well as for his work as a pastor and worship leader.

Greene emerged as one of the prominent voices in contemporary gospel music during the 2010s. His breakthrough came with the success of his 2015 album The Hill, which produced “Intentional” and “Made a Way” and established him as a major figure in modern gospel and worship music. His career has since expanded through live recordings, collaborations, church ministry and projects created with Forward City, the church he leads with his wife, Dr. Jackie Greene.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Musical Background

Travis Greene was born in Delaware and spent much of his childhood in Warner Robins, Georgia. His early life was marked by experiences that later became important to the way he understood faith and ministry. He has spoken publicly about surviving serious incidents during childhood, including being resuscitated after his birth and surviving a fall from a fourth-floor building in Germany when he was four years old.

Music became an important part of Greene’s life from an early age. Growing up around church and ministry, he developed his abilities as a vocalist and musician while also becoming increasingly interested in songwriting and worship. Rather than viewing music simply as performance, Greene came to see it as an extension of his Christian faith and ministry.

His musical outlook was shaped by contemporary gospel and worship artists who demonstrated that gospel music could be both musically adventurous and accessible to a younger generation. In interviews, Greene has identified figures such as Kirk Franklin and Israel Houghton as important mentors and influences, while also acknowledging the influence of artists including William McDowell and Mary Mary.

Beginning of His Music Career

Greene’s professional recording career began in the 2000s. In 2007, he released The More, an early project that introduced listeners to his approach to gospel music. He followed it with Stretching Out in 2010, which became his first release to appear on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.

Although these early projects helped establish his identity as a recording artist, Greene’s major breakthrough was still several years away. His music gradually developed around a combination of energetic praise, contemporary production and worship-centered songwriting. His ability to connect personal experiences with broader themes of faith also became one of the defining characteristics of his work.

Breakthrough with The Hill

Greene’s career changed significantly with the release of The Hill in 2015. The album became the foundation for his rise to national prominence and introduced some of his most recognizable songs, particularly “Intentional” and “Made a Way.”

“Intentional” became an important early success for Greene and earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song. “Made a Way” proved even more influential. Greene wrote the song during a difficult period surrounding the premature birth of his son, turning a deeply personal experience of uncertainty and fear into a declaration of faith.

The success of The Hill was reflected in Greene’s awards recognition. At the 2017 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, the project and its songs earned seven awards, including Song of the Year for “Made a Way,” Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year.

Major Albums and Notable Songs

Following The Hill, Greene expanded his catalog with projects that emphasized live worship and increasingly broad musical arrangements. Crossover: Live from Music City, released in 2017, included “You Waited,” another of his best-known worship songs. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album.

His 2019 album Broken Record continued the blend of contemporary gospel and worship that had become central to his sound. Songs such as “Won’t Let Go” and “Respond” extended his reputation for writing music centered on perseverance, trust and dependence on God. “Won’t Let Go” later earned another Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song.

Other important releases include Oil + Water in 2021, Tent Revival in 2022, Strike the Ground with Forward City in 2023, and Made In The South in 2025. His discography also includes live recordings and collaborative projects that reflect his increasing connection between music and church ministry.

Musical Style and Influences

Greene’s music occupies a space between contemporary gospel, worship and urban gospel. His songs often begin with accessible melodies and rhythmic arrangements before developing into larger worship moments. This approach has helped his music reach both traditional gospel audiences and listeners who primarily engage with contemporary Christian worship.

Thematically, Greene frequently writes about God’s faithfulness, perseverance, hope, gratitude and personal transformation. His songwriting often draws from real experiences rather than abstract religious language. “Made a Way,” for example, came directly out of a difficult family experience, which helped give the song its unusually personal emotional weight.

Greene has described his music as passionate and worship-oriented, with an emphasis on creating songs that are energetic, accessible and liberating. His ability to combine those qualities with modern production has become a central part of his musical identity.

Ministry and Forward City Church

Music and ministry have developed side by side throughout Greene’s career. He and his wife, Dr. Jackie Greene, founded Forward City Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where they serve as co-pastors. The church has become an important part of Greene’s public ministry and has also provided a creative environment for worship music.

Forward City’s worship ministry eventually became closely connected to Greene’s recording career. Projects such as Tent Revival, Strike the Ground and Here Comes the Wind reflect this relationship, bringing together church worship, live performance and Greene’s established approach to contemporary gospel.

Greene’s role as a pastor has also influenced the way he approaches music. Rather than separating his recording career from his ministry, he has consistently presented the two as complementary expressions of the same calling. His official biography describes his work as an attempt to use music and ministry to encourage people and point them toward the Christian faith.

Awards, Collaborations and Recent Work

Greene has received extensive recognition throughout his career. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, including nominations for “Intentional,” “Made a Way,” Crossover: Live from Music City, “See the Light” with Jekalyn Carr, and “Won’t Let Go.”

His collaborations have also taken him beyond his own recordings. He has worked with artists including Jekalyn Carr, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Le’Andria Johnson, and other contemporary gospel and worship musicians. His participation in collaborative worship projects has become increasingly visible as his ministry has grown.

Greene has remained active in the 2020s. In 2025, he released Made In The South and its deluxe live edition, while also contributing to collaborative releases including “Jesus United.” In 2026, Forward City and Travis Greene released Here Comes the Wind, a 22-track worship project featuring contributions from members and collaborators associated with the Forward City ministry. Greene also released new music including “Leper’s Song,” continuing his work as both a recording artist and worship leader.

Personal Life and Legacy

Travis Greene is married to Dr. Jackie Greene, an author, dentist and mentor. Together they lead Forward City Church and have three sons. Their family life and shared ministry have remained an important part of Greene’s work beyond his recording career.

Greene’s significance in contemporary gospel music comes from the way he has connected personal testimony, modern worship and church ministry. His rise through The Hill established him as a major gospel recording artist, while songs such as “Intentional,” “Made a Way” and “You Waited” gave him a lasting presence in contemporary Christian music. His continued work with Forward City has also allowed him to develop a model in which recording, live worship and pastoral ministry operate together.

Rather than relying solely on the traditional gospel format, Greene has helped demonstrate how contemporary worship music can retain a strong gospel identity while incorporating modern rhythms, production and songwriting. His career continues to develop at the intersection of music and ministry, with Forward City increasingly serving as both a church community and a source of new worship music.