Skillet spoke with ChurchLeaders to discuss the band’s first-ever Christmas song, a haunting rendition of the classic hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
Composed of members John Cooper, Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger, and Seth Morrison, Skillet is approaching 30 years since it became one of the most recognized rock bands in Christian music. The band has never been shy about using its platform to proclaim and share the gospel the Jesus Christ, even when touring and performing with non-Christian bands.
Over the years, Skillet has toured with Korn, Papa Roach, Theory of a Dead Man, Saint Asonia, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether, Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd, and Stone Sour, to name a few.
Skillet’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” began as Korey’s passion project after fans repeatedly asked for a Christmas release. She crafted the arrangement largely on her own before bringing John and Seth into the process.
The group handled all production internally, including a quickly assembled music video shot just days before leaving for a South America tour.
The song features one of the heaviest riffs in Skillet’s history, tuned extremely low, requiring new guitars and custom-drilled hardware to make it work. The band describes the track as a blend of “tragedy and triumph,” pairing somber piano sections with explosive guitar work.
Skillet shared that the heaviness of the project was intensified by the news of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk being shot on the day they tracked guitars, adding emotional weight to the recording process.
Skillet says the message of the song—and the band’s message for Christmas—is rooted in hope despite the evil in the world and that Christ has come, Christ is present, and Christians are called to shine light, speak truth, and love even their enemies.
This song was “Korey’s brainchild,” John, the lead singer and “Cooper Stuff Podcast” host, said. “It just all came together in such a weird quick way. Nothing is ever easy in this business except for this song.”
Korey shared that the band was tracking guitars for the song when they heard the news Kirk had been assassinated. “We were sitting down to track guitars and our phones are blowing up that Charlie Kirk just got shot,” she said, explaining that the news contributed to some of the “heaviness” fans will hear in the song.
