Groundbreaking Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning country artist Ty Herndon is bringing awareness to suicide prevention week by officially releasing his music video “God or the Gun.” Previously previewed on PEOPLE.com, this emotional video visualizes the track, available on his newest release, JACOB, chronicling Herndon’s near suicide and reminding listeners that hopes beyond the darkness. Watch “God or the Gun” now here.
The video was filmed in Nashville and produced and directed by Neighborhoods Apart Productions.“Though God or the Gun begins at one of the lowest points I have experienced in my life, it ends with a message of hope and redemption,” said Herndon. “There’s a universal truth in this song for everyone who listens — we all have the power within us to change our endings. No one is ever truly alone. Someone is out there ready to help us. There’s nothing too big for us to handle if we simply reach out and ask when we need it most.”
Herndon burst onto the scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first No. 1 song and garnered a Song of the Year award (Music Row Magazine). It was also the title track to his first album, which debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.
Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No.1s and numerous top 10 hits, such as “I Want My Goodbye Back,” “Loved Too Much,” “A Man Holding On,” and “Hands of a Working Man.” He topped the charts in 1996 with the single “Living in a Moment” and again in 1998 with “It Must Be Love.”
In 2014, Herndon became the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay in an exclusive with People magazine. He received an outpouring of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans and the country music community, expanding his reach to new and diverse audiences. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists. In 2020, he created the Foundation For Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ youth.
Herndon found himself back at No. 1 in 2020 — this time on iTunes with his remake of “Orphans of God,” a collaboration with Kristin Chenoweth and Paul Cardall featured on his holiday release, Regifted. Over the last year, he has been working on the new album, JACOB, his first of all-new music since 2016’s House On Fire.
Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning, Herndon’s voice is stronger than ever, and he’s using it to make a difference. In addition to his own foundation, Herndon lends his time and talent to MusiCares, which has supported Herndon through his struggles and supports those in the music industry with a safety net of services. In 2022, he joined Pivotal Moments Media as a Brand Ambassador and as the first artist signed to the organization’s new record label, Pivotal Records.
For more information on Ty Herndon, please visit TyHerndon.com, and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Press photo from “God or the Gun” official music video
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