GRAMMY®-nominated, Stellar and Dove Award-winning gospel powerhouse James Fortune continues to shape the sound of modern Gospel with his latest No. 1 hit, "In The Room." Dominating both Billboard Gospel Airplay and Mediabase Gospel Radio charts, the single marks another milestone in a career defined not just by success, but by spiritual conviction. As his IN THE ROOM: Preluxe EP resonates with listeners worldwide, Fortune opens up about sustaining his calling, the power of God's presence, and why authentic, faith-rooted music matters now more than ever.
With more than 10 No. 1 hits, multiple awards, and a global audience, James Fortune continues to redefine contemporary Gospel. "In The Room," written alongside Bravis Cave, Carvena Jones, and David "DLo" Outing, captures a message that resonates deeply in today's culture: when God's presence shows up, everything changes.
Q: You've had an incredible run of No. 1 hits... what has sustained your calling and kept your passion alive?
What's sustained me isn't success... it's surrender. There were seasons when the numbers were high and seasons when things slowed down, but my assignment never changed. I've learned that if your identity is built on charts, you'll constantly be chasing validation. But when your identity is rooted in calling, you can create from a place of purpose instead of pressure.
For me, it's always been about remembering why I started. Real people. Real pain. Real testimony. Music was never just a career... it was ministry. And the more life I live, the more I realize people don't just need songs, they need something that meets them where they are.
That's what keeps me passionate-knowing that what I'm singing could be the thing that helps somebody hold on.
Q: Your new single "In The Room" centers on God's presence... what inspired this message right now?
Honestly, this song came out of a season where I had to be reminded that God's presence is enough.
We live in a time when people are chasing outcomes, favor, doors, and opportunities, but I've learned that everything we're looking for is connected to His presence. When God shows up, things shift. Not just externally, but internally.
There were moments where I felt like I needed answers, clarity, direction... and God kept bringing me back to one truth: stay in the room.
That's where the peace is. That's where the strength is. That's where the real transformation happens.
So this song isn't just a concept, it's a conviction.
Q: The song carries joy, freedom, and favor-how do you balance uplifting music with real-life struggles?
I think the balance comes from honesty. I've never tried to create "perfect" music. I create honest music. And honesty includes both the struggle and the victory. The joy in my music doesn't come from pretending life is easy; it comes from knowing God is faithful in the middle of real life.
People can feel when something is manufactured. But when it comes from a real place, it connects differently.
So even when the song feels uplifting, it's still rooted in something I've lived. That's why people can celebrate with it but also find healing in it.
Q: You collaborated with Bravis Cave, Carvena Jones, and DLo... what was that dynamic like?
It was one of those rooms where everybody understood the assignment spiritually and creatively.
There was no ego in the room-just alignment. We weren't trying to force a hit; we were trying to capture a moment. And I think that's why the song feels the way it does. Everybody brought their gift, but more importantly, everybody was sensitive to what God was doing in that space.
Those are the best kinds of collaborations when it feels less like writing and more like receiving.
Q: With your success and global audience, how do you see your music continuing to meet people today?
I think now more than ever, people are looking for something real. We're living in a time where there's so much noise on social media, opinions, pressure, and people are tired. They're searching for peace, for clarity, for something that feels grounded.
My goal is to keep making music that cuts through that noise. Not just songs people can sing, but songs people can stand on. Whether someone is in a season of loss, growth, waiting, or breakthrough, I want the music to meet them there and remind them that God is still present... and still working.
Q: How has your relationship with God been deepened in this season?
This season has really been about alignment for me. Not chasing what worked before but being sensitive to what God is doing now.
I've learned to slow down more. To listen more. To not confuse activity with purpose. And to trust God even when things don't look the way I expected. My relationship with Him has become less about performance and more about presence. And that's shaping everything how I create, how I lead, how I live. Because at the end of the day, if He's in the room, that's enough.
Watch the companion lyric video for "In The Room" here.
