I’ve been following Anne Wilson‘s career for the last few years and I’ve never seen someone with so much maturity so early into their career. With her third album, Wilson tackles the subjects of loss, grief, and perseverance with the penmanship of a seasoned veteran and a beautiful voice to match. Having co-written each of the 12 tracks on her album, Stars, she continues to straddle the line between Christian artist and country artist, carefully balancing each genre like a tightrope walker.
The title track, “Stars,” which is an homage to her aspirations as a kid to become an astronaut, kicks off the album as a nod to all the dreamers. “God Story,” the first single released for the album, follows as a testament to how we all live our lives for God, and our story is really his story. “Till the Road Runs Out” is a country song about living our lives to the fullest because we never know which day will be our last.
“Devil is Too” is a reminder that we have to remember that even though God is real, so is the devil, and we need to protect ourselves from him. “Hold Your Horses” keeps the country vibe going by suggesting that you take things slow before deciding that you’ve found “the one” when it comes to relationships. “Jesus on the Radio” is a love letter to Christian music on the radio, and even name checks three different country Christian songs in its lyrics.
“Dead in the Water” is a parable about giving up your vices and demons and letting God take over your life, while “Carry Me” (an album highlight) sees Anne ask for someone to carry her after she’s spent the last few years carrying the weight of her brother’s death. “The Carpenter” serves as a homage to Jesus, the most famous carpenter in history.
“Those People” reminds us that we’re all the same in God’s eyes, and “Still Do” sees Anne praying that when they say that “God loves us despite all our sins,” that He still does. “Twenty Three” is probably the most personal song on the album and an excellent closer. The song sees Anne grappling with the reality that now that she is twenty three years old, she is going to outlive her brother, who died at the age of twenty three. It’s a beautiful tribute to her brother’s life and memory.
All in all, Anne Wilson showcases that she is still a force to be reckoned with in this industry, and her career is only getting better with each release. I look forward to seeing where she goes from here.
JFH Reader Review:
Review date: 10/20/25, written by Matthew Spiker for Jesusfreakhideout.com