Josiah Queen might easily be the Noah Kahan of Christian music, but no song proves that point better than “Can’t Steal My Joy,” Queen’s latest collaboration with nine-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner Brandon Lake.
Together, the fast-rising newcomer and the red-hot hitmaker deliver an acoustic-grounded “joy bomb” that’s an easy contender for song of the summer. Galloping percussion chases foot-stomping guitars across an original duet that finds the pair blending effortless vocal runs and lyrical truth.
Noting that circumstances can’t change a deep-rooted contentment found in Jesus, “Can’t Steal My Joy” speaks less to the euphoria of happiness and more to a steady, consistent heartbeat of surrender.
Interpolating a fragment of the classic Vacation Bible School staple, “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy,” the fresh collaboration reminds listeners of the joy that is ours for the taking on both the mountaintop and in the valley.
“This song came from the idea that our joy isn’t dependent on the situations we face in our lives,” Queen shares. “It says in the Bible, ‘The joy of the Lord is our strength.’ A lot of times we read that verse and don’t think about the power we have in joy. All of my life, the enemy has tried to rob me of my joy, but he can’t have something he never gave me.”
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“Can’t Steal My Joy” serves as the lead single from Queen’s sophomore LP, “Mt. Zion,” releasing Aug. 22, 2025. The project arrives a little over a year after his full-length debut, “The Prodigal.”
It’s highly likely Queen and Lake will treat fans to an exuberant version of “Can’t Steal My Joy” on the upcoming installment of the annual “Summer Worship Nights” tour, a co-headlining outing between Lake and Phil Wickham. Queen is set to open all North American dates for the duo.
