Michael English rose to fame as the lead singer of the Gaither Vocal Band in the late '80s, contributing to the modern Southern gospel movement. Despite a successful solo career in the early '90s, highlighted by multiple Dove Awards, his career took a hit in 1994 when news of fathering a child out of wedlock surfaced. English briefly ventured into pop music before returning to Christian music with the release of "Gospel" in 1998, solidifying his place in the genre through consistent live performances and occasional recordings.

Born in North Carolina in 1962, Michael English began his music career at a young age, eventually joining renowned groups like the Singing Americans and the Gaither Vocal Band. Following a turbulent period in the mid-'90s, English re-embraced his gospel roots and continued to release albums, such as "Heaven to Earth" in 2000 and "A Michael English Christmas" in 2003. His autobiography, "The Prodigal Comes Home," accompanied by an album of the same name in 2008, marked a significant chapter in his journey back to Christian music. Despite a brief return to the Gaither Vocal Band from 2009 to 2013, English maintained a successful solo career, collaborating with various record labels and releasing albums like "Worship" in 2015 and "Love Is the Golden Rule" in 2017.