LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- On New Year's day in Orvieto, Italy thousands of people stayed after the mass of peace to hear the sounds of praise pouring from the soul of a Louisville gospel artist.

The worship bellowing from Jason Clayborn filled the air and filled hearts in a 750-year-old cathedral as he led a choir far from home.

"It's almost surreal. I had to catch myself when I went back and watched the stream," Clayborn said. "I was kind of in tears, because I'm like, 'wow, God, you really did what you said you were going to do years ago.'"

The concert was part of the Umbria Jazz Festival, which is said to be one of the largest in Europe boasting 12 stages and 580 artists from all over the world. The festival marked one stop on a month-long gospel tour produced directed and fronted by Clayborn, the worship leader from West Louisville's Saint Stephen Church.

"I'm just honored to be able to open up the doors for other people as God opens up doors for me," Clayborn said.

He brought 28 singers and musicians from all across the United States on this tour including Sunday Best winner Tasha Page-Lockhart who had the rare honor of singing for Pope Francis at a gathering in the Vatican.

The group fronted by Clayborn performed as the Benedict Gospel choir.

"It gave me goosebumps," choir member Lorenzo Burnside said. "At a few of the venues some people said they never heard gospel music."

Gilbert Corsey on European tour.jpg

WDRB's Gilbert Corsey performs during a gospel tour in Europe. (Photo courtesy of Paolo Piga)

WDRB anchor Gilbert Corsey also went on the journey but not as a reporter, as a host and singer in the choir. The storyteller within couldn't ignore what came to light each night because despite a language barrier and a style of worship as foreign as the choir on stage, pictures show how people felt their faith. You see common ground forged in Christ as they clapped along, swayed, and at times even cried watching the performance.

The tour included 27 concerts in 25 cities spread over 30 days all across Hungary and Italy, highlighted by a performance in a Vatican theatre broadcast Christmas night throughout to the entire country.

"As I'm singing I'm thinking about how we were all made in HIS image," choir member Candace Mumphrey said. "It's not just me, it's them too, and so it gives me great pleasure to be able to share that message with them through song."

Eleven people on the trip came from Louisville including Clayborn's sister Daria Raymore, a soloist in her own right, and his daughter and mom who also got to meet the Pope.

"Pope Francis spoke for about five to seven minutes and then row by row we all went up and shook his hand," Jason's mother Jocelyn Clayborn said. "It was great. God is a universal language. I really believe that."

After decades in the music industry Clayborn said he is blessed now to be a blessing.

The Grammy nominated gospel music producer and national recording artist is perhaps best known for writing the Hezekiah Walker hit "Better" in 2016. The song stayed on top of the Billboard gospel charts for nearly six months as its encouraging lyrics uplifted communities around the world.

"It will get better GOD is in control," the song says.

IMAGES | Jason Clayborn leads gospel tour to European stages

Life has indeed been better for Clayborn ever since as he emerged as a highly sought after singer/songwriter releasing more of his own albums and working on many others too. He even helped pen the hit "Same Guy" for rapper Jack Harlow and performed on the track.

"God is in control and I know that in my heart," Clayborn said. "I had some lady coming to me in tears in Italy and say 'I don't know what this God thing is.' (I told her) GOD is love, GOD is peace, GOD is joy."

For Clayborn, Better wasn't just a song -- it was a testimony --and a belief in what would eventually manifest in that Catholic church in Italy on New Year's day.

He is hoping the blessing continue next month. Ricky Dillard's "Choirmaster 2" is up for "Best Gospel Album" this year, and Clayborn is featured on it as a soloist and co-writer on the song "Not Far Away."

The 67th annual Grammy Awards takes place Feb. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles.

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