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Chris Tomlin plots 'Good Friday Worldwide' broadcast concert

Matthew Leimkuehler
Nashville Tennessean

For years each spring in Nashville, audiences packed Bridgestone Arena for a "Good Friday Nashville" worship concert led by Christian music mainstay Chris Tomlin. 

The concert sold out the downtown arena in 2017 and '18, only to break its own ticketed Christian concert attendance record inside the venue in 2019. 

Then, of course, the pandemic happened.

COVID-19 precautions prevented audiences from gathering in 2020, but it didn't stop Tomlin from singing worship songs last spring. He debuted a made-for-pandemic broadcast version of the long-running Good Friday concert, called "Good Friday Worldwide." 

And "Good Friday Worldwide" returns this year to religious television network TBN, as well as faith-based radio outlets K-LOVE, Air1 and 30 additional stations, Tomlin announced Monday via The Tennessean. The broadcast concert lineup includes best-selling Christian author Max Lucado, musician Pat Barrett and family band We The Kingdom, plus an unannounced special guest — a Good Friday concert tradition. 

Chris Tomlin performs during his 'Good Friday Nashville' concert at Bridgestone Arena on April 19, 2019.

The show airs April 2 at 7 p.m. CST; "Good Friday Nashville" returns to live audiences at Bridgestone Arena on April 15, 2022

"Seeing different people with different resources come together to do this is so special," Tomlin told The Tennessean. "It'll be on TV with TBN and it'll be on K-LOVE and many, many different radio stations across the nation. One effort, on Good Friday, sharing this message. Sharing the hope and the love of God with people." 

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"Good Friday Worldwide" reaches audiences in at least 32 countries, according to a news release. When addressing listeners on Good Friday, Tomlin said, he's celebrating that "life isn't perfect, life isn't easy ... but there's a hope that we have in [Jesus Christ]." 

"Good Friday is a moment to remember the cross and what Jesus has done," Tomlin said. "Every year, it's a time to pause and remember the grace of God. Remember the hope that we have. Life over death." 

And Tomlin looks forward to returning to Bridgestone Arena in 2022. He'll bring "Good Friday Nashville" to live, in-person Music City audiences for years to come. 

What can concertgoers expect when the show returns to downtown Nashville? 

"The moment of next year, thinking about really being able to come together after two years of this pandemic," Tomlin said. "I think there's this readiness, this excitement ... all that coupled with it being Easter weekend, we definitely have some big dreams." 

Tune in

 "Good Friday Worldwide" features Chris Tomlin, Max Lucado, Pat Barrett, We The Kingdom and an "award-winning unannounced special guest," per a news release. The show airs April 2 at 7 p.m. CST via TBN, K-LOVE, Air1 and more. Find more information at  christomlin.com