Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Alex Warren have all dabbled in secular praise music. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News, photo: Erika Goldring/WireImage via Getty Images, Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images and Jason Kempin/Getty)"They say, 'The holy water's watered down, and this town's lost its faith,'" a man sings soulfully.
This is not a religious condemnation of the terrible things that have happened on Earth. It's a tune that follows you as it plays on car radios, blasts from the grimy speakers in dive bars and rears its head in countless Spotify playlists. You can't escape it - the deep-voiced crooning of a former TikToker who finally cracked mass virality with a hit that sounds religious but isn't.
Those words are the opening lyrics to "Ordinary," Alex Warren's 2025 breakout hit, which has now spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's just a love song. And it's everywhere.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf its sheer ubiquity hasn't given it away, there's a strong chance "Ordinary" could become 2025's song of summer, according to Billboard's annual chart.
Even when the speed and mood of the song pick up, it stays borderline religious. Warren sings about "the angels up in the clouds," the "hopeless hallelujah on this side of Heaven's gate" and "at your altar, I will pray, you're the sculptor, I'm the clay." He references the Bible frequently, but he's talking about his real-life, present-day wife. It sounds religious, but "Ordinary" is part of a growing genre of secular praise music.'Close their eyes, lift their hands and transcend the moment'As someone who grew up playing music in church, Americana artist Nate Currin has seen the way religious music gets a physical reaction in its audiences. There's something "inherently emotional about praise and worship music," he tells Yahoo, that "invites people to close their eyes, lift their hands and transcend the moment."Secular praise music takes that feeling and emotion, harnesses those elements and markets it to both religious and nonreligious audiences. It's a trend now, but it's been around forever.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Artists have long wrestled with themes of God, heaven, mystery and meaning. Some call it 'Christian' or 'worship,' but to me, it's simply a poetic exploration of the universe and what might lie beyond," Currin says, citing U2 as an example. "The continued connection people feel to this kind of music reveals something deeply human - a curiosity, a longing, a hope - that maybe there's more to all of this than what we can see."Alex Warren at the 2025 American Music Awards. (Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)So, how do you know if a song is secular praise music?For starters, it sounds like something that might be performed by a band in a church, when the congregation is asked to stand and sing along as they worship God. It's a common occurrence for many Americans - 62% of U.S. adults describe themselves as Christians, according to the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study from Pew Research Center. Those who go to church are listening to many of the same songs - ones that are trending among other members of their denominations and timeless classics - but the sound of worship music has pervaded even nonreligious airwaves.
There are at least four other songs like "Ordinary" on the Billboard Hot 100 right now, including "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims (No. 9), "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone (No. 16), "Good News" by Shaboozey (No. 24) and "Backup Plan" by Bailey Zimmerman featuring Luke Combs (No. 44).
Take me to churchSecular praise songs like these include poetic verses that build to a striking, emotional chorus that singers belt at the top of their lungs. The lyrics appeal to members of a community or to someone powerful - a woman, a family member or the concept of a better time - and when they mention God, it's usually as part of a familiar phrase rather than an actual appeal to a spiritual being. Elements of stomping and clapping in the background - or even the addition of a backing choir - only add to the praise song vibe.
Benson Boone at Lollapalooza Berlin. (Pedro Becerra/Redferns via Getty Images)Tero Potila, a music producer and composer, tells Yahoo that streaming has shaped this format, because now, "songs must grab the listener's attention quickly and deliver a strong emotional payoff to keep them engaged."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"From a producer's perspective, the use of reverb, gospel-like chord progressions and dynamic builds all help create a church-like experience - something that uplifts and draws listeners in," he says. "Artists like U2 and Coldplay have done this for years, but what's different now is how emotionally raw and direct this style has become."Take "Ordinary," for instance. Mentions of angels and altars distract from the fact Warren is clearly singing about his wife, who's featured in the song's music video. "Y