Nashville, TN (September 25, 2026) — REAL Southern Gospel Radio recently welcomed two of Southern Gospel music’s most celebrated songwriters, Phil Cross and Joel Hemphill, to the REAL Southern Gospel Radio Studios for a special visit with Les Butler—and listeners will soon have the opportunity to hear both legends in a whole new role. Cross and Hemphill will each be featured as special guest DJs on REAL Southern Gospel Radio in upcoming broadcasts, sharing music, memories, and stories from their remarkable careers in Southern Gospel music.
Few songwriters have contributed as many enduring songs to the genre as these two men.
Phil Cross has written or co-written an impressive catalog of Southern Gospel favorites, including “Champion of Love,” “When I Get Carried Away,” “I Am Redeemed,” “Wedding Music,” “One Holy Lamb,” “Jesus Built a Bridge,” and “Saved to the Uttermost.” His contributions to Southern Gospel music will be recognized this year as Cross is inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026.
Joel Hemphill, already a member of the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, has written hundreds of songs during his extraordinary career. His timeless compositions include “He’s Still Workin’ On Me,” “Consider the Lilies,” “Master of the Wind,” “I Claim the Blood,” “Pity the Man,” and “The Only Real Peace.” Hemphill was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
REAL Southern Gospel Radio listeners will get to hear some of these men's great stories—and the music behind them—when these legendary songwriters take a turn behind the microphone.
Stay tuned to REAL Southern Gospel Radio for more information and for the opportunity to spend some time with two men whose songs have helped provide the soundtrack of Southern Gospel music for generations. Dates and times for the special Guest DJ programs will be announced soon!
