“Thank God,” “Water Into Wine” & Trusting the Journey | Leanna Crawford
Leanna Crawford joined Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza during CMA Fest 2026 to talk about her sophomore album Thank God, the faith that guides her career, and learning to trust God through both the exciting and difficult seasons of life.
From winning the 2025 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year to performing at the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, Leanna has experienced an incredible season of growth. But behind those milestones is a singer-songwriter who remains focused on why she started making music in the first place.
Leanna Crawford opens up about her sophomore album Thank God, “Water Into Wine” and creating music rooted in faith, hope and authenticity.
The Meaning Behind Thank God
Leanna's sophomore album Thank God represents the season of life and faith she's currently walking through.
During her Heart of the Gulch interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind the project and the message she hopes listeners carry with them after hearing it.
Songs including “Thank God” and “Water Into Wine” reflect the honest, faith-centered songwriting that has become an important part of Leanna's connection with her audience.
Rather than separating her personal faith from her music, the two naturally exist together.
Faith Through the Difficult Seasons
Success doesn't mean life suddenly becomes easy.
Leanna talks openly about her relationship with Jesus and learning to trust God during seasons when the path ahead isn't clear.
That perspective has helped her navigate an industry filled with uncertainty, comparison and pressure.
Instead of measuring every season by accomplishments, Leanna has learned to trust that closed doors, waiting and unexpected changes can still have purpose.
It's a lesson that extends far beyond music.
Staying True to Herself in Nashville
Building a career in Nashville inevitably comes with outside opinions.
Leanna reflects on learning how to stay true to herself while navigating the expectations that come with being an artist.
For her, authenticity starts with understanding who she is before worrying about what everyone else wants her to become.
That foundation has become increasingly important as her audience grows and more opportunities arrive.
It's also part of the advice she offers young Christians pursuing dreams of their own: don't allow success to become the thing that defines you.
From Songwriting to the Studio
Leanna also takes Heart of the Gulch inside her creative process.
She discusses songwriting, recording and how an idea eventually develops into a finished song.
Creativity doesn't always arrive on command, and part of growing as an artist has meant learning when to push an idea and when to give it room.
With Thank God, those songs came together to document a chapter of Leanna's life while giving listeners something they can apply to their own.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza sits down with Leanna Crawford during CMA Fest 2026 to talk faith, songwriting and trusting God through difficult seasons.
A Big Year for Leanna Crawford
The past year has brought several major milestones.
Leanna was named New Artist of the Year at the 2025 Dove Awards and performed during the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, adding to a growing list of career moments.
Then came another first: performing at CMA Fest.
For an artist rooted in Contemporary Christian Music, stepping into the CMA Fest world also allowed Leanna to explore her connection to country music and the storytelling traditions that have influenced her.
Leanna Crawford reflects on her growing career, the 2025 Dove Awards and bringing her music to CMA Fest for the first time.
More Than the Milestones
Awards are meaningful. Bigger stages are exciting. Growing an audience can change a career.
But Leanna's perspective remains centered on something deeper.
Her goal is to create songs that give people hope and remind listeners they're not walking through difficult seasons alone.
That's what makes Thank God more than another milestone on an increasingly impressive résumé.
It's a reflection of where Leanna Crawford is right now.
And as the stages get bigger and more people discover her music, she's determined to keep her faith at the center of wherever the journey takes her next.
Watch Leanna Crawford on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full Leanna Crawford interview from CMA Fest 2026 as she joins Tony Mendoza to discuss Thank God, “Water Into Wine,” her faith journey, trusting God through difficult seasons, songwriting, the Dove Awards and performing at CMA Fest.
Interview Chapters
0:00 — Leanna Crawford Interview at CMA Fest 2026
0:32 — Leanna Crawford's Most Underrated Song
1:20 — How Leanna Crawford Stays True to Herself in Nashville
3:54 — Faith, Jesus & Trusting God Through Difficult Seasons
5:55 — Leanna Crawford Reflects on Her Journey to Success
7:00 — Advice for Young Christians Chasing Their Dreams
8:00 — Creativity, Music & Artistic Inspiration
8:47 — The Meaning Behind the Thank God Album
10:03 — Leanna Crawford's Songwriting & Recording Process
11:21 — First CMA Fest Performance & Country Music Dreams
12:17 — Leanna Crawford's Message to Her Fans
13:12 — Final Thoughts
Tony Mendoza and Leanna Crawford together following her Heart of the Gulch interview during CMA Fest 2026 in Nashville.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
