Melanie Penn reveals jubilant new Easter anthem 'Roll That Stone Away'

Press Release

Offering a unique perspective on the resurrection – voiced from the heart of God as he commanded an angel to unseal the tomb on the third day – acclaimed singer/songwriter Melanie Penn delivered the jubilant new anthem “Roll That Stone Away” ahead of Easter. Now available on streaming platforms, the track was produced by Ben Shive and co-written by Penn, Shive and Sandra McCracken.

Poised to be a perennial Easter favorite, “Roll That Stone Away” opens with expectancy: “You angels have been waiting for the moment to arrive/The grave’s become a window to eternal life.” The hopeful verse ultimately gives way to a powerful, joyful chorus boasting of an empty grave and proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection. 

“At first I felt intimidated and terrified to write a song from God’s perspective,” Penn said of “Roll That Stone Away.” “Then I began to think about how we could capture such a thrilling moment and what God might have felt when Jesus arose.”

“My favorite line in the song is, 'He's walking the garden, and He is radiant,’ ” she added. “That vision and the joy of Easter should stay with us all year long. My hope for ‘Roll That Stone Away’ is that it's part of a daily soundtrack pointing us to Jesus’ resurrection and the realization that God allowed us to see inside the empty grave. Like the stone, he is always removing obstacles and helping us see his work in our lives with more clarity.”

“Roll That Stone Away” is the highly anticipated debut single from Penn’s first full-length set in three years, “The Rising: A Resurrection Album,” slated for release later this year. 

WATCH:

Penn is a classically trained vocalist known for her portrayal of Sandy in the Broadway national tour of “Grease!” She starred alongside legendary actor and entertainer Frankie Avalon. A veteran of New York’s theater scene, Penn also served as a worship leader at the city’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church under the leadership of the late bestselling author and theologian Tim Keller. 

A noted songwriter now residing in Nashville, Penn has released multiple albums in collaboration with Dove Award-winning producer Shive, including “Wake Up Love” (2010), “Hope Tonight” (2015) and “More Alive Volume 1” and “Volume 2” (2020, 2022). Her critically acclaimed 2017 concept project, “Immanuel,” a journey through the Christmas story, reached No. 1 on Amazon’s Christian, worship and holiday download charts. 

For further information, visit melaniepenn.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow Melanie on Facebook and Instagram.