The Prodigal (Josiah Queen song)

Last updated
"The Prodigal"
Josiah Queen The Prodigal.jpg
Single by Josiah Queen
from the album The Prodigal
ReleasedSeptember 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Josiah Queen
Josiah Queen singles chronology
"Fishes and Loaves"
(2023)		"The Prodigal"
(2023)		"Garden in Manhattan"
(2023)
Music video
"The Prodigal" on YouTube

"The Prodigal" is a single by American folk rock musician Josiah Queen. The song was released on September 1, 2023, through F&L Music Group and Josiah Queen Music. [1] It was used as the title track for Queen's 2024 record-breaking debut studio album, The Prodigal, [2] [3] which achieved a peak of No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums, [4] and is credited as the biggest streaming debut album in Contemporary Christian music history. [5] [6] On March 31, 2025, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling at least 500,000 copies within the United States. [7] In February 2024, the song achieved over 20 million digital streams in one week. [1]

Contents

Background

Queen spoke about the song, "We've all been at a point in our lives at one time where we tried to find satisfaction in money or fame or all of those things, but the truth is that nothing else can satisfy the desires in our heart except for being in the presence of God. If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, this song's for you." [8] The song is a reference to the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Bible. [1]

"The Prodigal" was written by Queen and Jared Marc. [9] On August 31, 2023, an official lyric video was released for the song. [10] [11] On June 2, 2024, Queen performed the song at the Grand Ole Opry. [12]

The song's style has been described as pop, folk, and acoustic. [13] [14] Queen stated that the song's style was mainly influenced by the style of Zach Bryan. [15]

On November 22, 2024, a remixed version of the song was released, title "The Prodigal (Oasis Coffee Session)". The song was included on the deluxe edition of his album, The Prodigal. [16] [17]

Commercial performance

"The Prodigal" performed significantly on charts. The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, [18] No. 15 on the Christian Airplay chart, [19] No. 10 on the Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay chart, [20] No. 3 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart, and No. 3 on the Christian Streaming Songs chart. [21] Additionally, the song reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, [22] and No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary Airplay. [23] At its peak, the song achieved 2.2 million on airplay audience and 1.8 million digital streams in one week. [24]

On the year-end charts of 2024, "The Prodigal" achieved No. 4 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, [25] No. 35 on the Christian Airplay, [26] No. 25 on the Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay, [27] and No. 13 on the Christian Streaming Songs. [28]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s) Producer(s) Length
1."The Prodigal"
 Josiah Queen 3:13
Total length:3:13

Accolades

"The Prodigal" was nominated for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 2024 GMA Dove Awards. [9] That year, the song was also nominated for Breakout Single of the Year at the K-Love Fan Awards. [29]

On March 31, 2025, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling at least 500,000 copies in the United States. [7]

YearOrganizationCategoryResultRef.
2024 Billboard Music Awards Top Christian Song Nominated [30]
GMA Dove Awards Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Nominated [31]
We Love AwardsSong of the YearNominated [32]
2025 GMA Dove Awards Song of the YearPending [33]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "The Prodigal"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [37] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Josiah Queen releases "The Prodigal"". Louder Than Music. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  2. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (2024-06-27). "Josiah Queen on Topping Christian Albums Chart as a Gen Z Indie Artist: 'I Think God Has Used These Songs to Reach My Age Demographic'". Billboard . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  3. ↑ Zaloum, Joel (2024-05-24). "The Prodigal". JesusFreakHideout. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Top Christian Albums". Billboard . 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  5. ↑ "Josiah Queen Debut Album Hits No. 1 on Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart". Billboard . 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  6. ↑ "Independent artist Josiah Queen's album The Prodigal debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Top Christian Albums chart". JesusFreakHideout. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  7. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America . 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  8. ↑ "The story behind "The Prodigal", by Josiah Queen". The Promise.fm. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  9. 1 2 "2024 Nominees". Gospel Music Association . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  10. ↑ "Josiah Queen - The Prodigal". Wava. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  11. ↑ Queen, Josiah (2023-08-31). "Josiah Queen - The Prodigal (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  12. ↑ "Grand Ole Opry - July 2". Grand Ole Opry . 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  13. ↑ Brandon, Kyle (2024-04-01). "Josiah Queen- The Prodigal". KAMB Celebration Radio. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  14. ↑ Williams, Lindsay (2024-02-29). "Josiah Queen Brings Viral Hit 'The Prodigal' Home to K-LOVE". K-Love . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  15. ↑ Williams, Lindsay (2024-09-17). "Conversations with Josiah Queen". K-Love . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  16. ↑ "The Prodigal (Deluxe Edition) by Josiah Queen". NewReleaseTuesday. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  17. ↑ Clarks, Jesse (2024-11-22). "Josiah Queen release deluxe edition of The Prodigal". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  18. 1 2 "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard . 2025-05-25. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  19. 1 2 "Christian Airplay". Billboard . 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  20. 1 2 "Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard . 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  21. ↑ "Christian Streaming Songs". Billboard . 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  22. 1 2 "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard . 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  23. 1 2 "About - Josiah Queen". Josiah Queen. Archived from the original on 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  24. ↑ Asker, Jim (2024-06-05). "Josiah Queen's 'The Prodigal' Debuts at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  25. 1 2 "Hot Christian Songs - Year end". Billboard . 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  26. 1 2 "Christian Airplay - Year end". Billboard . 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  27. 1 2 "Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay - Year end". Billboard . 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  28. ↑ "Christian Streaming Songs - Year end". Billboard . 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  29. ↑ Williams, Lindsay (2024-05-14). "2024 K-LOVE Fan Awards: Breakout Single of the Year Nominees". K-Love . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  30. ↑ "2024 Winners". Billboard Music Awards . Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  31. ↑ "2024 Nominees". Gospel Music Association . Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  32. ↑ "2024 (13th Annual) Nominees by Category - Winners Highlighted". New Release Today. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  33. ↑ @gmadoveawards ; (2025-07-30). "Congratulations to the 56th #DoveAwards nominees for Song of the Year, presented by MultiTracks.com:" . Retrieved 2025-07-30– via Instagram.
  34. ↑ "Good Morning Y'all!". Facebook . 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  35. ↑ "ChristianPowerPraise.Net". ChristianRock.Net . Archived from the original on 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  36. ↑ "TCM Top 100 Songs of 2024". Facebook . 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  37. ↑ "American single certifications – Josiah Queen – The Prodigal". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
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