Jonathan Pierce: Designed for God's Glory

LISA RYAN: It moves.

JONATHAN PIERCE: You can get jiggy with it, which I love, but it does break down issues in peoples life. Thats what I want it to do.

LISA RYAN (reporting): Now, for that second major outlet for Jonathans creative energy. You may have seen him in his role as head designer for Country Music Televisions Ultimate Country Home. When a friend first told him he was being considered for the job, Jonathan didnt really think it would happen.

JONATHAN PIERCE: I just kind of laughed it off thinking, Yeah, right, theyll call. Im in the middle of finishing a record, really getting that ready to come out, so the last thing is like yeah, Im going to do design for the world to see. Ive always kept it really quiet. I havent talked about it. Ive never done an interview within this realm about interior design ever until today. Even the producer of the show asked me, 'Why do you want to do this so bad?' I said, 'Because I think that it proves the bigness of God, that the desires of our hearts can be fulfilled.' In some ways it just says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' I dont have to put so many roofs and ceilings and walls on the idea. He will make it work. I guess seeing this finished house proves to me He let me do both and made it work.

LISA RYAN: What was it like working with so many celebrities on this house?

JONATHAN PIERCE: It was a little overwhelming because Im used to doing design without a camera. Ill watch some of the design shows--I think most of America watches these design shows--so its been kind of strange now to have done this show with an artist in the room trying to figure them out. Theyre celebrities and I admire most of them. But working with all these great artists and then a camera over your shoulder kind of watching how you respond and a lot of times there was no script, it was reality TV in the sense that I was given a little bit of coaching in a sense, but it was just completely spontaneous. Just whatever happened happened.

LISA RYAN: You were the head designer on this whole project.

JONATHAN PIERCE: Yeah. The host of the show was Lynnette Cole, Miss USA, and she was wonderful. There was another designer that worked with me, and she and I just worked together because it was such a big job. But she worked with me so great. Her name was Kim Non. Shes an awesome painter-photographer. And then a guy named Ken Cross from Miami moved to Nashville. He was a carpenter and helped us kind of build some things and made sure things got installed. It was a great cast. I cant go anywhere in Nashville. I was in Atlanta last weekend. People recognized me from the show. Its really strange to be recognized. It was always flattering when they recognized me as a singer. Now its strange when they call my name, because the show, I guess, made the name. They changed the name value somehow. 'Hey Jonathan, Im watching you on TV,' that kind of thing. Im like, 'Thats right. Im on TV.' It's strange, and it means I have to be nice all the time.

LISA RYAN: Dont you hate that?

JONATHAN PIERCE: Its really messing up my life! (Laughs)

LISA RYAN: You have got to be nice to everybody. (Laughs)

What is one of your favorite things that they did in this house?

JONATHAN PIERCE: I like where were sitting [in the kitchen] This kitchen is awesome because I like the cabinets. They go all the way to the ceilings, 10-foot ceilings. The whole cast thought I was crazy when I said we were putting paper like a sea grass on the ceiling.

LISA RYAN: Oh, I just noticed. I hadnt seen that before. Cool.

JONATHAN PIERCE: We hung every roll. We have stone, tumble marble on the counter tops in little 2x2 tiles.

LISA RYAN: Its very inviting.

JONATHAN PIERCE: It has the modern conveniences and some stainless around.

LISA RYAN: You said that your mom was a great hero to you but that you also greatly admire your wife.

JONATHAN PIERCE: Yeah. They asked me on the show, they said, 'Who is the person that you most admire? Whos your biggest hero?' I think they probably wanted me to say Margaret Thatcher, George Bush, or Billy Graham, but for me it would be Denise. What she did for me was she stepped in and in a time when I questioned a little bit about God and maybe questioned people and their intent. She stepped in and was Jesus to me. She was not just my wife and not just my soul mate and not my best friend, but she stepped in and made me look at God as not being difficult, but as being approachable.

LISA RYAN (reporting): Jonathan is a big believer in stepping in and giving encouragement to others.

JONATHAN PIERCE: If you do step in and you say, 'Hey, youre going to be awesome. You can do this,' you speak it into their life, you help them, you speak it into existence. Its not 'Name-it-and-claim-it;' its just 'Im going to stand with you and Im going to be your armor bearer and Im going to tell you that you can do this. You can go all over the world. You can be anything you want to be. What do you want to do? Just figure it out. Theres something for you.'

LISA RYAN: You have won Dove awards. Youve recorded four albums. Youve acted on Broadway. Youve been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band. Youve sung with the Imperials. I mean, the list goes on and on. You have also sung alongside incredible dignitaries like Margaret Thatcher, George and Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Dole, Colin Powell, and so many more. Why do so many people find your music appealing, and how does it touch them?

JONATHAN PIERCE: I havent figured that out yet. These people are great. Theyre awesome. Im honored to have met all of them. Im honored to be around them, but the only thing theyve taught me is that I stand my ground and believe, and that if I never meet anyone, thats fine. Ive met the Master. That was enough.