It Finally Found Its True Purpose!” Stephen Stanley Unveils The Emotional True Story Of How Hit Series ‘The Chosen’ Resurrected His Shelved Track “Exile”! In a powerful full-circle moment of faith and timing, Christian powerhouse Stephen Stanley has revealed the incredible backstory behind his newly unveiled track “Exile,” featured on the landmark companion record Songs Inspired by The Chosen: Seasons 1–5.

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“It’s Got a Home Now”: Stephen Stanley Reveals How The Chosen Revived His Unreleased Song “Exile”

Stephen Stanley The Chosen

Christian singer-songwriter Stephen Stanley has opened up about the full-circle journey behind his latest track, “Exile,” which features on the companion album Songs Inspired by The Chosen: Seasons 1–5. In an interview with ChurchLeaders, Stanley revealed that the song was written years prior—originally sparked by watching the series premiere—before nearly being shelved indefinitely.

The Spark: Mary Magdalene’s Redemption

Stanley’s creative process began the first time he encountered Dallas Jenkins’ groundbreaking historical drama:
  • The Scene: Watching the first episode of The Chosen, Stanley was deeply moved by the climactic scene where Jesus encounters, delivers, and redeems Mary Magdalene.
  • The Immediate Concept: Before finishing the subsequent episodes, Stanley felt compelled to jot down the title “Exile” and develop the song’s emotional core around feelings of estrangement, brokenness, and restoration.
  • A Missed Track Listing: While “Exile” became one of Stanley’s personal favorite compositions, it was cut from his previous album due to timing and sequencing constraints, leaving it unreleased in his archives.
  • The Call: Years later, organizers assembling The Chosen companion project reached out asking for that exact unreleased track, giving the song a dedicated thematic home.

Inside the Album: Songs Inspired by The Chosen: Seasons 1–5

Stephen Stanley's Exile Song Inspired by The Chosen Scene

Released on Friday, October 30, the 11-track compilation brings together an eclectic roster of mainstream and contemporary Christian artists reflecting on the first five seasons of the show:
  • Key Contributors: Phil Wickham, Boyz II Men, Lady A, Franni Cash, Anne Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, and Blessing Offor.
  • Raising Industry Standards: As a cinema enthusiast, Stanley praised The Chosen for transcending low-budget expectations historically associated with faith-based media, noting that the production values and storytelling regularly exceed standard television benchmarks.
  • Streaming Ahead of Season 6: The record arrives as a curtain-raiser ahead of The Chosen Season 6, scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on November 15.

A Message on Imperfection and Surrender

When asked what message he would offer to listeners feeling alienated from faith communities or abandoned by God, Stanley pointed to the unvarnished reality of the Gospel:
“Christians try to act perfect sometimes, but we’re not. We’re not perfect and God loves us anyway. It’s God came down himself, fully God, fully man. He sacrificed himself for sinners like you and me. And then he rose from the dead. And if you believe in him, you can spend eternity with him. That’s what it is. That’s the truth we believe.”

Looking Ahead: Third Studio Album in Progress

Stanley also confirmed that he has already moved into production on his next major solo project:
  • Recording Underway: Studio tracking for his third full-length album officially began the day before the interview.
  • Active Sessions: The singer noted that he conducted the interview directly from the recording studio, heading straight back to the tracking booth to cut another song immediately following the conversation.