William Earl has been singing and entertaining for years, captivating audiences with his charismatic, soulful performances. With his roots deep in country music, he's opened for such stars as Patty Loveless, Colin Raye, Roy Clark, and George Strait. During his successful career in Branson, Missouri, he was nominated "Branson's Newcomer of the Year" and became known as Silver Dollar City's "Favorite Son." He quickly established himself as an artist and all-around entertainer, performing for well over a million people by the age of 25. In 2000, William stepped away from the music business. That critical hiatus provided clarity and purpose. Made more sensitive, yet stronger by his life's journey, William has learned the value of hard times and has truly come to appreciate every one of life's good moments. With the release of his new album, Just to Know My Heart, William Earl returns one more time, to his lifelong passion for singing with a much bigger perspective of life, love, and most importantly, the power of his relationship with God. William Earl was born on September 19th, 1972 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He loved music from the start and remembers when his great-grandma Essie gave him his first record player for his seventh birthday. "I still think it was one of the best gifts I ever received. I would sit, rocking back and forth, listening to the Muppets, and sing along." When he first sang in front of an audience in his 5th grade talent show, he couldn't believe the positive response. "I sang Juice Newton's 'The Sweetest Thing' and I just remember how all the kids, who had paid little attention to me before, cheered so loudly." William kept singing and began to fall in love with music ranging from Patsy Cline to Sheena Easton. Music became his refuge from an often tumultuous childhood. "Looking back, I think God gave me the love for music as a way to escape during some pretty bad times." All the time he was growing up, his grandparents, Earl and Wanda Edwards, were right there for him. "No matter what else was going on in my life, I could always count on Ganny and Papa," William remembers. "Ganny was the one who started sitting with me while I was singing and she would sing, too." Wanda would be the one who constantly encouraged William to pursue his music. And pursue, he did, singing every chance he got. After graduating from Bentonville High School and then working for Wal*Mart, he was selected to perform in Branson, Missouri, as a featured male vocalist in Silver Dollar City's 4,000 seat Echo Hollow theater. "I really couldn't believe they hired me, considering that most of my fellow cast members were seasoned performers and had already experienced much success in their careers. It was scary, but I was determined to do well and thrilled to have the opportunity." His tenacity would pay off, marking the beginning of a wonderful career. In 2003, William reconnected with his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Janell Hendren. They soon realized that time had only strengthened their love for one another and that they wanted to be together. Don Morrow, the couples friend and minister of the Bentonville First Christian Church, married them before their family and friends on November 12, 2005. In early 2007 they took a leap of faith and returned to Branson, so William could pursue some new business ventures and get back to singing more. "Janell and I spent a long time talking it over. After being out of the music scene for several years, I really felt I had something more to give." At first, he was thinking of doing music similar to what he had done on his previous country albums, like Cryin' Time. "The further I got into the process, though, I kept thinking about all the ways God had blessed my life and it just felt natural deciding to record my first inspirational album." In Just to Know My Heart, William teamed up with Branson's Tracy Heaston and some of Nashville's top players and singers to create a unique sound, combining his country roots and soul with his love for traditional gospel music. The fresh arrangements bring new life to these timeless gospel hymns. "Each of these songs have inspired me over the years, but I never quite got the full meaning of them until poring myself into this project." Some of the songs include "Blessed Assurance," "Just a Closer Walk," "His Eye is On the Sparrow," "Every Time I Feel the Spirit," and "When We All Get to Heaven." In a driving worship song called, "Search Me, Lord," William sings with the legendary Barbara Fairchild, best-known for her 1970's hit "Teddy Bear," and who now has a thriving music ministry. William also introduces his original song, Just to Know My Heart. "I wrote Just to Know My Heart at a time when I was struggling. Through this time, I really embraced God's hope and grace. I thought it made sense to name the album Just to Know My Heart because it's full of so much I want to share. I didn't realize until well into the project is that God has used this journey to strengthen my faith and reveal more of His heart to me." During the making of the album, there were several bumps in the road including William's having emergency surgery and a difficult recovery just before recording his vocals. "This was a big setback, and I got pretty discouraged not knowing if I would sing well enough to finish. I found myself drawing on the strength and the power of the very words I was singing. Throughout every step of the journey, God never let me down. I can't say I know where the road will go from here, but I do know that I've put my heart into these recordings and there’s never been a time in my life when I felt more excitement, hope, and peace about the future."