The world learned Oliver Anthony’s name in August 2023, when the then-unknown country-folk artist released the viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Resonating with a wide swath of country music fans, the song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100. However, almost as soon as his star had ignited, Anthony announced his departure from the music industry to pursue ministry. Now, it looks like that plan will soon come to fruition
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Oliver Anthony Announces First Rural Revival Project
With polarizing political commentator Jordan Peterson among its founders, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship is an international organization aiming to unite conservative voices and uphold “traditional Western values.” Beginning Monday (Feb. 17), 4,000 people converged on London for the second global ARC Conference, where Oliver Anthony delivered the keynote speech.
After railing against the creeping influence of technology, “spineless politicians,” and “self-centered celebrities,” Anthony ended on a somewhat hopeful note. “[Do] not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. For like the grass they will soon wither… Trust in the Lord and do good,” he said.
Then, the Virginia-born artist, 32, announced “the first official gathering” for his Rural Revival Project, set for April 5 in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.
“It is now my life’s mission to revive rural America, one town at a time,” he concluded.
So What is the Rural Revival Project?
According to its official website, the Rural Revival Project aims to transform abandoned farms into places where people struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse can “reconnect with nature and learn to exist outside of a system that has just kind of been placed on us as a generation.”
“We plan to play shows in towns and counties that have not had live music come to them in a very long time and might be finding themselves in a financial deficit,” it continued.
Elaborating on his plan, Oliver Anthony said, “I have this vision for this thing that I’m calling the Rural Revival Project, and it’s basically going to start as a grassroots music festival, but hopefully, it grows into something that can literally change our landscape and our culture and the way we live.”
He first hinted at the decision in October, saying, “I’ve decided that moving forward, I don’t need a Nashville management company. I don’t even need to exist within the space of music. So, I’m looking at switching my whole business over to a traveling ministry.”
Featured image by Aaron P/Bauer-Griffin/Shutterstock
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