Oliver Anthony, a young singer from Richmond, Virginia, gained overnight fame with his song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ The country tune with a populist message, which critiques excessive taxes and long working hours for low pay, quickly resonated with listeners.
The song quickly shot to the top of the iTunes chart.
WATCH: Oliver Anthony Sings About Government, Taxes and Working Long Hours
Following the song’s viral success, Anthony took the stage for a performance attended by hundreds of fans. But before he began, the singer shared a passage from the Bible, Psalm 37: 12-20, visibly moved as he read through the verses.
“But the wicked will perish. Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, and they will go up in smoke,” Oliver read.
The crowd’s response was captured on a YouTube video. They cheered and applauded in support of the singer’s heartfelt reading.
“I’m still in a state of shock at the outpouring of love I’ve seen in the comments, messages, and emails. I’m working to respond to everyone as quickly as possible,” he wrote on social media after the performance.
WATCH: Oliver Anthony Reads Psalms 37 Before his Show