MercyMe Hit Song “I Can Only Imagine” Goes Hollywood (Dennis Quaid Interview)

“Imagine” dominated Christian radio in 2001.

Dennis Quaid stars as Arthur Millard, father of MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard, in the Christian drama I Can Only Imagine. The movie is based on the story behind the most played Christian radio single of all time.

In this BackstageOL interview, Dennis talks about helping with Hurricane Harvey relief, growing up in Texas, and finding redemption in MercyMe’s hit song “I Can Only Imagine”.

The film’s synopsis:

It’s the song that brings ultimate hope to so many … often in the midst of life’s most challenging moments. Amazingly, the song was written in mere minutes by MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard. In reality, those lyrics took a lifetime to craft.

Although he found faith at a young age, life wasn’t easy for Bart. He leaned into an active imagination and his love of music as escapes from a troubled home life. As he grew older, Bart turned to football in hopes of somehow connecting with his abusive father. But a career-ending injury—combined with the vision of a teacher who saw unlimited potential—set Bart on a musical pathway.

Chasing a dream while running from broken relationships with his father and Shannon, his childhood sweetheart, Bart hits the road in an old, decrepit tour bus with his new band MercyMe—named for his grandmother’s favorite expression. With the guidance of a grizzled music-industry insider, the band begins a journey none of them could ever have imagined.

I Can Only Imagine hits theaters March 16th. Check out the full interview with Quaid below!