Over the past two decades, Marie Miller’s music has topped both Christian and contemporary music charts. The folk artist even performed for Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to the Festival of Families in Philadelphia. Now, the 34-year-old songwriter pivots her career toward an entirely Catholic audience.
Miller has deep roots in the Arlington diocese. She grew up attending St. Peter Church in Washington, Va. She has toured the country, playing in nearly all 50 states, but has always returned to perform in her home diocese.
Her first solo project, “Little Dreams,” was released in 2019. Now, Miller will embark on an all-Catholic focus. Years ago, she felt the call to take her career in a faith-filled direction. “I never wanted to say that I was a Catholic artist necessarily, really because I didn’t feel like I had the right,” she said. “I’m just a broken person; I’m a sinner. How can I proclaim the Gospel?”
After watching “The Chosen,” a popular Christian television series about Jesus and his disciples, Miller saw a similar brokenness in Jesus’ disciples. She realized that “Jesus can use his broken people to proclaim his unbroken message.” She embraced the call to share her love of the faith in folk music. “Now, I’m singing songs about the Eucharist and Our Lady and St. Thérèse,” she said.
Miller’s new album will be released in early 2024. “I’m just going for it, and I’m scared a lot of the time and feel unworthy to do it, but am going for it anyway,” she said, laughing.
In recent years, Miller has traveled across the country to speak and sing for Catholic retreats. “I have a few different presentations that I give, and I weave stories and songs together,” she said.
Last fall, Miller married John Hunt and moved to Memphis. She said marriage has helped her grow in both her faith and her music career.
“Marriage has taught me already (that) to have a good marriage, you have to be holy; you have to be a saint. And I’ve realized I’m not that,” she said. When she sings and participates at Catholic retreats, she said the blessings she receives strengthen her marriage.
Catholic artists should feel encouraged to embrace their God-given talents, Miller added. “Jesus will work with you. And making art that reflects his beauty is good for the world. So make beauty, even when you don’t feel beautiful or feel like you’re worthy of doing that,” she said.
Fans can hear Miller’s new music at Jammin Java in Vienna Sept. 10. Inspired by the Eucharist, Mary, St. Thérèse and the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, Miller will perform two unreleased songs from her new album: “Sweet Company” and “Woman,” a song about Catholic femininity that Miller will sing with Catholic artists Sarah Hart and Sarah Kroger.
With the intercession of saints such as Blessed Carlo Acutis, Miller said her faith has been her comfort as she enters a new season of life. “Cling to the sacraments and good friends,” she said. “Even though God loves us in our brokenness, he doesn’t want to keep us there. He wants us to become saints.”
Find out more
For more on Marie Miller, go to mariemillermusic.com/home/
See Miller perform at Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Va., Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
