ANTHNY Opens His Heart on Debut Album Worship Leader’s Diary, Bringing Faith, Vulnerability, and R&B Together

The GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer delivers a deeply personal 13-track project featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, Naomi Raine, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Ahjah Walls.

What happens when the church service ends, the microphone is turned off, and the person who spent Sunday encouraging everyone else has to face their own Monday?

For GRAMMY-nominated artist ANTHNY, that question becomes the foundation of his debut studio album, Worship Leader’s Diary, available now via Sony Music/Provident Entertainment.

Written and produced entirely by ANTHNY, the 13-track project pulls back the curtain on the personal experiences behind public worship, exploring faith, identity, vulnerability, and the complicated emotions that often exist beyond the spotlight.

Blending contemporary R&B with the spiritual foundation that shaped his artistry, ANTHNY invites listeners into a musical journal that does not pretend faith is always easy or that those leading others never experience struggles of their own.

And that honesty is what gives this project its voice.

Beyond the Microphone: The Man Behind the Worship

There is a certain expectation placed on those who lead others spiritually. They are often expected to have the answers, remain encouraged, and show up for everyone else, even when navigating their own personal battles.

Worship Leader’s Diary explores what happens when those expectations meet reality.

Across the album, ANTHNY examines the distance between the person standing before a congregation and the individual who must continue living, believing, and growing when nobody is watching.

“Worship Leader’s Diary is a collection of songs I’ve woven together through honest language and emotional melodies to highlight a young man’s relationship with God,” ANTHNY shares.

He explains that his experiences as a worship leader serve as a metaphor for anyone seeking reconnection and a deeper relationship with God, regardless of where they are in life.

Rather than presenting a polished image of spirituality, the album makes room for uncertainty, personal reflection, repentance, and the process of rediscovering faith.

It is a perspective that extends beyond the church and speaks to anyone who has ever carried the responsibility of encouraging others while quietly searching for encouragement themselves.

Honoring Gospel’s Foundation Through a New Sound

While contemporary R&B drives much of the album’s musical direction, ANTHNY makes certain that the gospel influences that shaped him remain present.

The Dove Award-nominated track “imposter syndrome” interpolates Donald Lawrence’s “Spiritual,” using a familiar piece of gospel history to explore questions surrounding identity, confidence, and calling.

The record addresses the internal struggle of believing in one’s purpose, particularly when personal insecurities challenge the confidence displayed publicly.

That musical connection continues throughout the project.

“prepare me,” featuring Naomi Raine, reimagines the familiar melody of “Sanctuary,” while “show up,” featuring Kierra Sheard-Kelly, draws inspiration from John P. Kee’s “Show Up!”

Rather than simply revisiting familiar gospel records, ANTHNY incorporates their musical foundations into contemporary arrangements, creating a conversation between the sounds that raised him and the music he is creating today.

It is an approach that honors gospel’s legacy while giving a new generation an opportunity to experience those influences through a different musical lens.

A Collaborative Sound Rooted in Authenticity

The album also brings together an impressive collection of voices.

BJ The Chicago Kid joins ANTHNY on “pass me by,” delivering a soulful collaboration that leans into the project’s R&B foundation.

Naomi Raine and Kierra Sheard-Kelly bring their distinctive musical identities to the album, while Ahjah Walls also contributes to the project.

Each collaboration adds another layer to the album’s emotional and musical landscape without overshadowing the personal story ANTHNY is telling.

The result is a project that allows gospel and R&B to coexist naturally, without requiring either genre to compromise its identity.

From Behind the Scenes to Center Stage

Although Worship Leader’s Diary marks ANTHNY’s debut studio album, his influence within the music industry has been developing for years.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he began touring nationally at just 11 years old and has since established himself as a songwriter and producer.

His credits include work with DOE, Kierra Sheard, Chandler Moore, and Jubilee Worship, including the worship collective’s song “No Bondage.”

He has also toured with Maverick City Music and recently opened for Tye Tribbett on the We Outside Tour alongside Jonathan McReynolds.

His songwriting contribution to Tasha Cobbs Leonard and John Legend’s “Church” earned him a GRAMMY nomination, further establishing his presence within contemporary gospel music.

Now, with his own album, ANTHNY moves from helping shape the stories of other artists to sharing his own.

A Breakout Year for ANTHNY

The release arrives during a significant year for the emerging artist.

ANTHNY enters the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards with three nominations, including Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “imposter syndrome” and Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for his diary entry 1 EP.

His songwriting contribution to “Church” also earned recognition in the Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year category.

Beyond awards season, ANTHNY was recently named to EBONY’s 2026 STAMPED: Gentlemen of Sound class, recognizing a new generation of Black male artists contributing to the evolution of music.

His breakout record “Mercy” has also generated more than 30 million views across social media since gaining momentum in 2024.

With a growing audience, industry recognition, and an expanding musical catalog, ANTHNY is stepping into a new chapter with a project that introduces listeners to more than his musical abilities.

It introduces them to his story.

Faith Beyond Sunday

At Snubb3d Magazine, we recognize the importance of artists who are willing to share the experiences that exist beyond the public image.

For ANTHNY, Worship Leader’s Diary creates space for a conversation that is not always comfortable but remains necessary: the humanity of those who are often expected to carry everyone else.

The album reminds listeners that faith does not eliminate personal struggles, that vulnerability can exist alongside purpose, and that the person behind the microphone deserves room to grow, question, and rediscover themselves.

Through 13 songs, ANTHNY offers a musical reflection on what it means to remain connected to faith when the applause fades and everyday life begins again.

Because sometimes the most meaningful worship happens long after Sunday.

ANTHNY’s debut album, Worship Leader’s Diary, is available now via Sony Music/Provident Entertainment