Editing Michael W. Smith (section)

=== Orchestral instrumental, hymns, and studio worship albums (2011–2016) ===

Smith's second instrumental album, ''[[Glory (Michael W. Smith album)|Glory]]'', was released on November 22, 2011. Unlike his first instrumental album, ''Freedom'' (2000), this album features a 65-piece orchestra recorded at [[Air Lyndhurst|AIR Studios Lyndhurst Hall]] in London and Wildwood Recording Studio in Nashville.<ref name="cduniverse">{{cite web|title=Glory|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8622747 |publisher=CD Universe|access-date=December 10, 2011}}</ref> The following year he released his third compilation album, ''[[Decades of Worship]]'' (2012).

Smith's concert in Draper, Utah, on July 24, 2012 was almost canceled due to a complaint filed by a Utah resident on July 16, 2012. He claimed that a show "conflated with prayer and worship" should remain in church or private property, not in the "public's backyard". The following day the city council decided to cancel the concert, but a day later they decided to host the show as planned after all, following a criticism from a Utah evangelical group that equated cancelling the concert to an assault on religious liberty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Christian concert in Draper on again despite lawsuit threat|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54512569-78/concert-draper-walker-money.html.csp|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> The Mayor of Draper and several city council members were present at the event and were recognized for their support.

[[File:Michael_W._Smith_in_June_2014.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Michael W. Smith performing in June 2014]]
In 2014, Smith released three albums, ''[[Hymns (Michael W. Smith album)|Hymns]]'', ''[[Sovereign (album)|Sovereign]]'', and ''[[The Spirit of Christmas (Michael W. Smith album)|The Spirit of Christmas]]''. ''Hymns'' is Smith's first effort at doing his own rendition of traditional hymns, and it was released exclusively at [[Cracker Barrel Old Country Store]] on March 24, 2014.<ref name=newreleasetuesday>{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=117|title=Michael W. Smith Announces Exclusive "Hymns" Release at Cracker Barrel|publisher=NewReleaseTuesday.com|date=March 8, 2014|access-date=March 14, 2014}}</ref> The album sold 12,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at No.&nbsp;24 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name=billboarddebut>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/chart-alert/6039653/chart-moves-gods-not-dead-sales-surge-london-grammar-gains|title=Chart Moves: 'God's Not Dead' Sales Surge, London Grammar Gains, Karmin's Full-Length Arrives|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref> It was also the best-selling [[Christian music]] album for the week of April 19, 2014,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Christian Albums (link shows current list and at the bottom there's an archive for every week back to year 2000)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-albums|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> and won a 2014 Dove Award for "Inspirational Album of the Year".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dove Awards 2014 Winners: Pre-Show Awards Given Out to Switchfoot, Skillet, Michael W. Smith, and More|url=http://www.breathecast.com/articles/dove-awards-2014-winners-pre-show-awards-given-out-to-switchfoot-skillet-michael-w-smith-and-more-list-20467/|publisher=BREATHEcast|access-date=November 4, 2014|date=October 7, 2014}}</ref> ''Sovereign'', released on May 13, 2014, is his first studio worship album and his first album released through Capitol Records,<ref>{{cite web|last=Papadatos|first=Markos|title=Interview with Michael W. Smith: 'You Won't Let Go'|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/music/interview-with-michael-w-smith-you-won-t-let-go/article/376209|work=Digital Journal|access-date=March 14, 2014|date=March 14, 2014}}</ref> after leaving his long-time label Reunion Records in 2013.<ref name=Capitol/> The album sold almost 16,000 copies in its first week,<ref name=debutcharts>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6092255/billboard-200-black-keys-michael-jackson-albums-rascal-flatts|title=The Black Keys Earn First No. 1 Album, Michael Jackson Debuts at No. 2|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=May 21, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> and debuted at No. 10 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], making it the highest-charting album in his career as of 2014.<ref name=debutcharts/> ''The Spirit of Christmas'', officially released as ''Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas'', is Smith's first duet album. Released on September 30, 2014, it features duets with [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Lady Antebellum]], [[Little Big Town]], [[Jennifer Nettles]], [[Martina McBride]], [[Vince Gill]], [[Bono]], [[Amy Grant]], and [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Horton|first=Carrie|title=Michael W. Smith Announces Christmas Album with Lots of Country Stars|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/michael-w-smith-christmas-album-country-stars/|work=Taste of Country|access-date=September 16, 2014|date=August 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stephens|first=Samantha|title=Carrie Underwood, Lady A Get Festive With Michael W. Smith|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1730274/carrie-underwood-lady-a-get-festive-with-michael-w-smith.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822171621/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1730274/carrie-underwood-lady-a-get-festive-with-michael-w-smith.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 22, 2014|work=CMT|access-date=September 16, 2014|date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> The album marks Smith's third new album in 2014 to enter the Billboard 200,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|title=Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Herb Alpert Returns After 27-Year Absence|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6281527/herb-alpert-returns-charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 10, 2014|date=October 12, 2014}}</ref> peaking at No. 16 {{as of|2014|12|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Michael W. Smith - Chart History|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310914/michael-w-smith/chart?f=305|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 25, 2014}}</ref> It also won a 2015 Dove Award for "Christmas Album of the Year".

Smith, along with Amy Grant, was honored as the "cornerstone of Christian music" by [[ASCAP]] in 2014 for his significant influence on the genre.<ref name="ASCAP Christian Music Awards"/> In 2015, Smith and his son Tyler wrote the score and soundtrack for the film ''[[90 Minutes in Heaven (film)|90 Minutes in Heaven]]'', in which he also has a small acting role.

In November 2015, Smith and Amy Grant started their annual Christmas tour again after a roughly 15-year break.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amy Grant reflects on Christmas traditions and keeping family close in advance of Hershey show with Michael W. Smith|url=http://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/amy-grant-reflects-on-christmas-traditions-and-keeping-family-close/article_5e66bc8c-dba0-11e7-b4cd-6bb07f9e027b.html|website=lancasteronline.com|access-date=January 12, 2018|date=December 10, 2017}}</ref>

Smith's second hymns album, called ''[[Hymns II (Michael W. Smith album)|Hymns II - Shine on Us]]'', was released on January 29, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Partners with Michael W. Smith to Sponsor Nationwide Christmas Tour|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151202005268/en/Cracker-Barrel-Country-Store%C2%AE-Partners-Michael-W.|website=businesswire.com|access-date=December 2, 2015|date=December 2, 2015}}</ref> Like his first hymns album released in 2014, the album was sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

On June 21, 2016, Smith released a new single titled "He Will Never End" which was originally released in March 2016 as a bonus track on the [[Target (store)|Target]] exclusive edition of ''The Passion: New Orleans'' soundtrack CD (2016).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Passion: New Orleans, Soundtrack arrives March 18. Target version of the album features a brand new Michael W. Smith song inspired by the Passion!|url=http://michaelwsmith.com/the-passion-new-orleans-soundtrack-arrives-march-18-target-version-of-the-album-features-a-brand-new-michael-w-smith-song-inspired-by-the-the-passion/|website=michaelwsmith.com|access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> On June 27, 2016, he released the music video for the single which was filmed entirely in Israel in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael W. Smith "He Will Never End" Music Video|url=http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/official-videos/2308-michael-w-smith-he-will-never-end-music-video|website=thechristianbeat.org|access-date=July 15, 2016|date=June 27, 2016}}</ref>

Later in 2016, Smith released a Christmas musical project in a collaboration with Wes King, Bradley Knight, and Luke Gambill called ''Almost There – A Christmas Musical''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Almost There – A Christmas Musical – Now Available for Church Worship/Choir Directors… (Listen to the musical here)|url=http://michaelwsmith.com/almost-there-a-christmas-musical-now-available-for-church-worshipchoir-directors-listen-to-the-musical-here/|website=michaelwsmith.com|access-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref> The musical is named after a song Smith wrote a few years ago for his Christmas album ''The Spirit of Christmas'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web|title=Almost There Arrangers: Michael W. Smith, Wes King, Bradley Knight, Luke Gambill|url=http://brentwoodbenson.com/Choral/Christmas/Almost-There/001SC05190AF|website=Brentwood Benson|access-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref>