Greylan James Teams With Cole Swindell, Others, to Write Charlie Kirk-Inspired Song

Following the shooting death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, country singer Cole Swindell channeled his grief into song. His tribute "Make Heaven Crowded" dropped on streaming platforms in September 2025. Greylan James, who will be part of our 2025 Stars & Guitars lineup, served as one of the co-writers.

"The evil-doers responsible for my husband's assassination have no idea what they have done. They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God's merciful love... making heaven crowded, right?" said Erika Kirk to Parade.

The shooting happened on September 10th. A shooter positioned on a nearby rooftop fired once, hitting Kirk in the neck while he spoke about mass shootings.

Swindell wrote the song with Joel Hutsell, James, and Blake Pendergrass. The song reached millions of listeners on streaming platforms within weeks.

Swindell shared on Instagram: "This is possibly the most important song I'll ever write and be a part of. I'm so fortunate to have this platform, and if this message helps one person, it was worth writing it."

People packed State Farm Stadium for the memorial on September 21st. World leaders spoke out against the attack, fueling heated discussions about political violence in America.

Several companies fired employees who posted nasty comments about Kirk's death, leading to new debates about free speech at work.

As footage of the shooting spread online, the Trump administration pushed for stricter laws on extremism, while free speech advocates pushed back.

The song fits with Swindell's other emotional songs about loss, including ones he wrote about his parents and his wife.

Kirk's death sparked new fights over free speech and political division. Throughout his career, he'd always defended First Amendment rights, even for those who disagreed with him.