David Leonard

David Leonard co-wrote “Great Are You Lord,” one of the most sung worship songs in the world.

But last year, he almost walked away from music entirely.

After doing an entire tour where the promoter never paid (yes, a completely free tour he didn’t know about until the end), David had to ask himself a brutal question:

“Would you do this again for nothing?”

His answer will challenge the way you think about worship leadership, success, and what it really means to serve.

In this raw, honest conversation, David also shares:

• Why we’ve stopped serving the body and started entertaining it instead

• The identity crisis that hit after All Sons & Daughters ended

• What a pastor said that gave him permission to lead without having it all together

• How he’s finding joy again with new music (including his upcoming single, “Well Done”)

If you’ve ever felt undervalued, burnt out, or wondered “Do I still matter if my big thing goes away?”— this episode is for you.

Listen now and rediscover why you started leading in the first place.

About David Leonard

David Leonard is an American worship leader, songwriter, and recording artist known for honest lyrics, thoughtful theology, and a deeply pastoral tone. He first gained widespread recognition as one half of the worship duo All Sons & Daughters and as co-writer of the global anthem “Great Are You Lord.” Leonard’s voice in worship has consistently leaned toward authenticity over performance. Whether writing for a local church or leading on larger stages, his heart has remained centered on serving people, not building platform. Across every season, David Leonard has prioritized formation, surrender, and spiritual depth.

Origins and Formation

David Leonard grew up immersed in church life. His father served as a worship pastor, college pastor, and youth pastor, and Leonard spent his childhood in the church parsonage. Though he was initially more drawn to sports than music, he began leading worship as a teenager when his dad invited him to help with a college gathering. At just 15 or 16 years old, he stepped onto a platform without fully understanding what it meant.

Those early years shaped his understanding of willingness over perfection. Leonard has often reflected on how powerful it was to be invited to lead even while still navigating personal struggles. A defining moment came when a pastor encouraged him to step forward not because he had everything together, but because he was willing. That season reframed his understanding of God’s grace and laid the foundation for how he would approach ministry for decades to come.

All Sons & Daughters and Breakthrough

In 2010, Leonard helped form All Sons & Daughters alongside Leslie Jordan at a church in Franklin, Tennessee. It was the first time he intentionally began writing worship songs specifically for a local body rather than writing “faceless” songs. The shift toward writing for real people in a real community changed him permanently.

All Sons & Daughters became known for stripped-down, intimate worship that resonated deeply during the early 2010s worship movement. Their song “Great Are You Lord” became one of the most widely sung worship songs of its generation. While the song’s global reach brought recognition, Leonard often describes it as part of a much longer journey. By the time he co-wrote it, he had been writing songs for nearly two decades. The breakthrough may have appeared sudden, but it was built on years of quiet development.

The Wait and Solo Identity

After All Sons & Daughters concluded, Leonard stepped into a new chapter with his first solo record, The Wait, released in 2019. The transition was both freeing and exposing. Having spent years known primarily through a duo, he found himself asking deeper questions about identity and value. Who was he apart from a specific project? What did he carry that was uniquely his?

The Wait became a space to process those questions. The album reflected personal wrestling, family transitions, and the challenge of redefining success. Rather than chasing past impact, Leonard leaned into honesty and creative growth. The record marked an important developmental season, allowing him to integrate the many chapters of his career into a clearer sense of calling.

Hard Seasons and Open Hands

In recent years, Leonard has spoken openly about a difficult season where he nearly walked away from music entirely. Industry shifts, unmet expectations, and personal setbacks created significant pressure. One particularly challenging moment included completing a full tour that ultimately went unpaid. In the aftermath, he faced a defining question: would he still serve if there were no visible reward?

His answer revealed the heart beneath the calling. Leonard concluded that if the songs genuinely served people, the obedience was worth it. That season reshaped his posture. Rather than striving to control outcomes, he embraced an open-handed approach. He describes waking each day simply asking God what faithfulness looks like in that moment.

A New Chapter (2025–26)

David Leonard’s newest music reflects renewed joy and resilience. After a season marked by fatigue and doubt, he intentionally began writing songs that carried hope and lightness. His upcoming releases explore perseverance, encouragement, and the quiet confidence that comes from trusting God through uncertainty.

The new material is less about proving something and more about enjoying the gift of songwriting again. Leonard has described this chapter as learning to look for the good rather than dwelling on the hard. It represents not reinvention, but renewed perspective. This season feels grounded, open-handed, and expectant.

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