Q&A-After bottoming out, Michael English "Comes Home"

By Deborah Evans Price

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Few artists in Christian music have had a more checkered career than Michael English.

After early stints with Southern gospel groups and Bill Gaither's famed Gaither Vocal Band, he embarked on a successful solo career in the 1990s. But after winning five Dove Awards in 1994, it became public knowledge that English, who was married, had had an affair with another married Christian artist. His label dropped him, and Christian radio and retail banned him.

His career screeched to a halt, and his personal life spiraled out of control. In the decade that followed, English battled substance abuse and was arrested on drug-related charges, but his life is now back on track. He just released a new album, "The Prodigal Comes Home," via Curb.

Q: This is your first studio album since 2000. Why has it been so long?

Michael English: The honest reason is I didn't want to do another record and (have) something else happen in Michael English's life that was negative. I did the "Heaven to Earth" CD, and the day it came out, I was in rehab with drug addiction. I'm tired of disappointing God. I'm tired of disappointing my fans, friends and family and everyone around me.

Q: At your lowest point, what happened? How did you bounce back?

English: It got to a place where I was basically homeless. I didn't have any money anymore. I had exhausted every avenue trying to support the drug habit that I had. I was selling anything and everything that I could find that was worth anything on eBay. I didn't have a voice. I couldn't even sing anymore. I lost my reputation, my life, my family, my finances, my home and my voice, so I had nothing. I felt like I couldn't be a Christian unless I was a Christian singer and it was over for me. But God let me know you don't have to have a pretty voice for God to love you.

Q: When you first signed with Curb in the mid-'90s you said your intent was to leave Christian music and go into the pop field. What happened?