Benjamin Hastings has become one of the most influential voices in modern worship music. The Northern Irish songwriter contributed to “So Will I (100 Billion X),” a song that’s been streamed over 1.5 billion times globally and resonates in churches across six continents. But his bio from busking on Belfast streets to topping Christian music charts tells a story that’s far more interesting than just chart success.
Hastings spent a decade with Hillsong UNITED before launching a solo career. He’s now based in Nashville, Tennessee, where he continues writing songs.
Biography
Benjamin William Hastings was born on November 15, 1991, and grew up in a profoundly musical household in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Music wasn’t just a hobby in the Hastings home; it was practically the family language. His father wrote music, led the choir, and played in the brass band at their local Salvation Army church. His mother, Vivian, directed the children’s choir, which meant the young.
As a teenager, Hastings busked on Belfast’s streets. Those years performing for passersby taught him how to connect with an audience.
The turning point came when he was about 15 or 16. He discovered a Hillsong United CD in a local bookshop, and the music captivated him. When the band played a show in Belfast, he attended and actually got to meet some of the members.
At 19, Hastings made a bold decision. He left Northern Ireland for Sydney, Australia, enrolling at Hillsong Bible College from 2011 to 2014. He studied at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution before making this move. At college, he met Jessa, an Australian native whose childhood friends happened to be members of Hillsong UNITED. They married in 2014, and the rest became history.
Career
Hastings began writing for Hillsong in 2013, starting with the Easter song “Victory” for Hillsong Worship. His first breakthrough came in 2015 with “O Praise The Name (Anástasis),” which he co-wrote with Marty Sampson and Dean Ussher. The song earned a Dove Award nomination and showed that Hastings had serious songwriting chops.
2017 brought his defining moment. “So Will I (100 Billion X),” co-written with Joel Houston and Michael Fatkin for Hillsong UNITED’s Wonder album, became a global phenomenon. Hastings didn’t just write it; he provided lead vocals on the track. The song’s ambitious scope, tracing God’s nature through creation, science, and redemption, struck a chord with millions. It earned RIAA Platinum certification and won the 2018 Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year.
His Hillsong catalogue grew substantially over the years. He wrote “Highlands (Song of Ascent)” from the People album, along with “Seasons,” “As You Find Me,” “Rescuer (Good News),” “Captain,” and “Echoes.” One particularly personal song, “P E A C E,” was written for Jessa about her struggles with anxiety. Beyond Hillsong, he co-wrote Cory Asbury’s “The Father’s House” and Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude,” which reached number one and achieved Platinum certification.
Solo Career
In 2022, Hastings took a significant step. He signed with Capitol Christian Music Group and released his self-titled debut album, a sprawling 25-track collection that eventually grew to 50 tracks in its Songwriter’s Edition. The timing was significant. He released it while processing what he describes as struggles with mental health and wrestling with the church’s failings amid Hillsong’s widely publicised scandals.
He’s described himself as a “recovering deconstructionist,” though he’s quick to clarify that his faith is maturing rather than diminishing.
The family relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles around 2022, then recently settled in Nashville with their two children. His 2024-2025 period brought both professional peaks and profound personal challenges. In summer 2024, his young daughter Juniper sustained life-threatening injuries in an accident. This experience influenced his sophomore album, “Sold Out, Sincerely,” released on October 4, 2024.
His songwriting for other artists reached new heights when “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” co-written with Brandon Lake, debuted at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song held the number one position on Hot Christian Songs for 20 consecutive weeks, won Song of the Year at the 2025 K-Love Fan Awards, and achieved RIAA Platinum certification in June 2025.
In April 2025, Hastings released “How I’d Sing It on a Sunday (From the Studio),” an eight-track worship album featuring reimagined versions of his songs arranged specifically for church services. His touring schedule has been his evolution from band member to headline artist, including opening for Phil Wickham and joining Brandon Lake’s tours.
Personal Life and Family
Benjamin is married to Jessa Hastings, whom he met at Hillsong Bible College. They married in 2014 and now have two children: daughter Juniper (nicknamed “Junie”) and son Bellamy Jack T. Hastings. The family currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
His brother Luke Hastings is married to Hannah Ivey Hastings. Benjamin, his mother Vivian, and Luke all moved from Northern Ireland to Australia, though Benjamin has since relocated to the United States.
Jessa has achieved her own success as an author. Her “Magnolia Parks” novel series became a bestseller with Penguin Random House and is being adapted for television by A24. She has joked that she still struggles with Benjamin’s Northern Irish accent even after all these years of marriage.
Net Worth
While Hastings’ exact net worth hasn’t been publicly disclosed, his financial standing is clearly substantial. Estimates his net worth to be around $500,000. His booking fee reportedly ranges from $25,000 to $39,999 per appearance. His income streams include his Capitol CMG recording contract, substantial songwriting royalties from songs streamed over 1.5 billion times globally, and touring revenue.
He maintains roughly 2.7 million monthly Spotify listeners and has accumulated over 196 million solo career streams. When combined with his extensive catalogue for Hillsong and other artists, his commercial success is undeniable.
