The album was supported by the release of "Can't Steal My Joy","Yesterday Is Dead","Two Wooden Beams","Cloud and Fire",and "I'll Fly Away" as singles. The songs "Dusty Bibles","The Meaning of Life","Adonai (Lord of My Life)","Watch Your Mouth","Slow Down,Please",and "Mt. Zion" were released as promotional singles.
Release and promotion
The lead single off Mt. Zion was "Can't Steal My Joy",released on January 10,2025,featuring guest vocals from Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandon Lake. Several teasers to the song were released to social media predating the song's release,achieving a combined three million views.[1] On DSPs,the song accumulated 12.5 million digital streams within three months of release.[2][3] On January 9,2025,an official music video was released,featuring song lyrics.[4][5][6] Queen said about the song that it,"came from the idea that our joy isn't dependent on the situations we face in our lives".[7]
Following the release of "Can't Steal My Joy",Queen released the album's second single,"Yesterday Is Dead" on March 14,2025.[8][9] He spoke about it,saying,"Yesterday is Dead feels like a weight being lifted off of my back. This song is all about the freedom and new life I have found in Jesus. I have lived through times with regrets of the past and this song came from the release of those cares."[10] Teasers from the song surpassed three million views,and both a music video and lyric video were released.[11][12] On Easter Sunday of that year,the song was performed on the FOX News channel Fox &Friends.[13] "Yesterday is Dead" gave Queen his highest ever streaming debut without a feature. Within two months,the song achieved nine million global streams and 22 million short form video views.[14]
On May 16,2025,the album's third single was released,titled "Two Wooden Beams".[15][16] In support of the song's release,an official music video was released.[17][18] Queen spoke about the song and its inspiration,saying,"I spent a long time searching for love and I finally found it –on two wooden beams where God gave everything for me. His sacrifice taught me that love is much more about sacrifice than it is a feeling."[19]
On June 20,2025,Queen released a promotional single titled "Dusty Bibles",which he deemed as "one of the most honest songs I’ve ever dropped".[20] Alongside the song's release,he announced Mt. Zion as his second album,slated for release on August 22,2025.[21][22]
The album's fourth single,"Cloud and Fire",was released on July 29,2025,described as being a "gentle,emotional track".[23] Queen spoke about the song saying,"I wrote Cloud and Fire after reading about the story of Moses and the Israelites journeying through the desert,led by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. It’s a reminder of God’s steadfast guidance through every trial," referencing the Biblical story of The Exodus.[24][25] The single was supported by the release of an official lyric video.[26]
On August 8,2025,"I'll Fly Away",a collaboration with Benjamin William Hastings,was released as the fifth single from Mt. Zion.[27] The song was supported by an official lyrics video.[28]
Predating the album's release,five tracks were released exclusively to Air1 radio stations,including "The Meaning of Life" on August 18,2025,"Adonai (Lord of My Life)" on August 19,"Watch Your Mouth" on August 20,"Slow Down,Please" on August 21,and the title track,"Mt. Zion",on August 22.[29]
Lindsay Williams of K-Love observed that,similair to Queen's The Prodigal (2024),Mt. Zion writing contains "honest,conviting delivery" and "acoustic-grounded sound",building on its predecessor's "Americana-threaded storytelling".[32] The album is characterized by "rich storytelling" and "definitive folk-pop stylings",in which Queen writes lyrics inspired by various Bible passages.[33] Jesus Freak Hideout observed the album to be folk,nu-folk,and country.
Josh Balogh of Jesus Freak Hideout awarded Mt. Zion a 3.5-out-of-5 star review,identifying Queen's "authentic lyrics" and "folk-infused sound". He recognized that the album features a "stomp and shout" template,criticizing its lack of diversity.[35] Speaking for Jubilee Cast,Timothy Yap praised the album for being more "rustic" than the average Christian music's "slick,synth-layered worship ballads". However,he stated that "the record is not without flaws",observing that,"the country-folk approach is refreshing,but its repeated application across 12 tracks can feel a bit draining". He credited the album with a 3.75-out-of-5 star review.[36]
"Dusty Bibles" peaked at No. 17 on the Hot Rock &Alternative Songs,No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs,No. 28 on the Christian Airplay,and No. 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[45][46][47][48] The song notably marks Queen's first top 10 debut onto the Hot Christian Songs chart.[49] "Cloud and Fire" peaked at No. 28 on the Hot Christian Songs,and "I'll Fly Away" hit No. 25.[50][51]
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