Prayed for You
{{Infobox song
| name = Prayed for You
| cover = Matt Stell - Prayed for You.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Matt Stell
| EP = Everywhere but On
| released = {{Start date|2019|5|28}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=30}}
| label = {{hlist|RECORDS|Arista Nashville}}
| writer = {{hlist|Matt Stell|Allison Veltz|Ash Bowers}}
| producer = {{hlist|Matt Stell|Ash Bowers}}
| next_title = Everywhere but On
| next_year = 2019
}}
"Prayed for You" is a song recorded by American country music singer Matt Stell. It is his debut single and appears on his debut extended play Everywhere but On. Stell co-wrote the song with Ash Bowers, with whom he co-produced it, and Allison Veltz.
Content
Stell wrote the song with Allison Veltz and Ash Bowers. According to Stell, Veltz presented himself and Ash with the lyric "Didn’t know you from Adam, it was more than I could fathom, but I prayed for you" when the two were waiting for Bowers to arrive at a writing session. He told the site PopCulture.com that "We took off from there, and kind of infused it with our own relationship experiences, and not only relationships; the song is about a relationship, but it's also about persevering, in anything, whether it's school, work, family, just hanging in there long enough to allow good things to happen."{{cite web | url=https://popculture.com/country-music/2019/08/26/matt-stell-reveals-story-behind-debut-single-prayed-for-you/ | title=Matt Stell Reveals Story Behind Debut Single, 'Prayed for You' (Exclusive) | work=PopCulture.com | date=August 26, 2019 | accessdate=October 5, 2019 | author=Gayle Thompson}} The song appears on Stell's debut EP, Everywhere but On.{{cite web | url=https://people.com/country/matt-stell-prayed-for-you-climbs-charts/ | title=Matt Stell Reflects as 'Prayed for You' Climbs the Charts: 'All of This Has Been Quite a Trip' | work=People | date=July 12, 2019 | accessdate=October 5, 2019 | author=Julia Despres}}
Critical reception
In Digital Journal, Markos Papadatos wrote that, "Stell’s song is meaningful and its lyrics are pure poetry."{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/review-matt-stell-charms-on-prayed-for-you-country-single/article/544903 |title=Review: Matt Stell charms on ‘Prayed For You’ country single |website=Digital Journal |date=March 9, 2019 |access-date=February 5, 2023}} Robert K. Oermann of MusicRow gave the single a mixed review, stating that "The winsome song is well crafted, and he sings with gusto. The paint-by-numbers production does nothing for me."{{cite web | url=https://musicrow.com/2019/05/disclaimer-luke-combs-brandon-ratcliff-debut-top-new-tunes/ | title=DISClaimer: Luke Combs, Brandon Ratcliff Debut Top New Tunes | work=MusicRow | date=May 2, 2019 | accessdate=October 5, 2019}}
Commercial performance
"Prayed for You" reached No. 1 on Billboard{{'}}s Country Airplay chart dated October 12, 2019.{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8532297/matt-stell-prayed-for-you-no-1-country-airplay-chart |title=Matt Stell's 'Prayed For You' Becomes First Debut Country Airplay Chart No. 1 This Year|date=October 7, 2019 |first= Jim |last=Asker |magazine=Billboard }} It was certified Platinum by the RIAA on September 18, 2019.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States |title=Pray for You|artist=Matt Stell |type=single}} The song has sold 134,000 copies in the United States as of December 2019.{{cite web |last=Bjorke |first=Matt |title=Top 30 Digital Country Tracks - Pure Sales: December 9, 2019 |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2019/12/44071-top-30-digital-country-tracks-pure-sales-december-9-2019 |work=Rough Stock |date=December 8, 2019 |accessdate=January 1, 2020}}
Music video
The music video for the song first premiered at People on July 9, 2018{{cite web |url= https://people.com/tv/savannah-chrisley-first-ever-music-video-todd-approval/ |title=Savannah Chrisley Stars in Her First Music Video (with Her Boyfriend!) After Dad Todd's Approval |publisher=People |last=Mizoguchi |first=Karen |date=9 July 2018 |accessdate=23 November 2019}} and stars reality TV star Savannah Chrisley and her fiancé, hockey player Nic Kerdiles.
A man in his pickup truck (played by Nic), parked at a church, glances one last time at a photo of him and his ex-girlfriend, before swiftly tossing it out his window. The pastor of the church soon comes out and greets him, and a woman inside (played by Savannah) greets him as well. The pastor instructs the two what needs to be cleaned in the church and leaves. Soon after they begin cleaning, however, the two begin flirting by throwing rags at each other (as well as spraying one another). When the pastor walks in to check on them, the two have thrown rags all over the church, making a mess. The pastor walks away with a stern expression on his face.
The two soon finish cleaning, with the pastor thanking the man, and drive off in the man's pickup truck, holding hands. Later in the evening, the two head to a Matt Stell concert, still holding hands, where he is performing the song. When it ends, the two kiss.
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (2019)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Country Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/country-airplay-songs|title=Country Airplay – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2019}}
| 17 |
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2019}}
| 19 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Matt Stell|title=Prayed for You|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=October 8, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Matt Stell|title=Prayed for You|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|number=2|certyear=2022|access-date=September 22, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}