You’ve heard the songs. Even if you aren't a regular churchgoer, "What a Beautiful Name" or "Oceans" has likely drifted through your speakers at a wedding, a funeral, or just while scrolling through social media. But there is a weirdly common misconception that the group is just one band. It isn't. Not really. When people talk about the members of Hillsong Worship, they’re often blending three different groups—Worship, United, and Young & Free—into one giant, blurry Australian mega-group.
It’s messy.
Honestly, trying to pin down a definitive "lineup" is like trying to nail jelly to a wall. People move. They transition into solo careers. They move to different campuses across the globe. Some stay for decades; others are gone after one album cycle. But if you want to understand the engine behind the most influential music in modern Christendom, you have to look at the specific individuals who have steered the ship for the last thirty years.
The Core Faces You Definitely Recognize
Darlene Zschech is the name that basically started the whole thing. She isn't technically a current touring member anymore—she and her husband Mark lead Hopeuc now—but you can't talk about this group without her. She was the one who penned "Shout to the Lord" in the early 90s, which was really the catalyst for the entire Hillsong Music brand. For a long time, she was the face of the group.
Then you have the "stayers."
Brooke Ligertwood is probably the most recognizable figure in the current era. You might know her as Brooke Fraser from her mainstream pop career (the "Something in the Water" singer). She joined the team in the mid-2000s and eventually became the head of the Hillsong Worship wing. Her songwriting is dense. It’s theological. It’s lightyears away from the "Jesus is my boyfriend" lyrics that people used to mock in the 90s.
Ben Fielding is another pillar. He’s the guy who co-wrote "What a Beautiful Name" with Brooke. He’s been there forever, often acting as the steady hand behind the scenes and on stage. While Brooke brings the poetic flair, Ben brings a certain structural groundedness to the music.
Then there’s Joel Houston. He’s the son of the church’s founders, Brian and Bobbie Houston. While he’s more synonymous with Hillsong United—the "edgier," youth-focused spin-off—the lines between the groups are so thin they might as well not exist. He’s a primary songwriter for both. His style is more atmospheric, often leaning into that "wall of sound" vibe that defines modern worship music.
The Vocal Powerhouses
If you’ve watched a live recording recently, you’ve seen Taya Smith-Gaukrodger. She’s the voice behind "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)." That song changed everything. It stayed on the Billboard Christian charts for years. Literally years. Taya has this incredibly distinct, airy-yet-powerful soprano that became the "sound" of the 2010s.
But it’s not just about the superstars.
👉 See also: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
The members of Hillsong Worship also include people like Jad Gillies and JD (Jonathan Douglas). These guys have been the backbone of the live sound for ages. They provide that gritty, male vocal lead that balances out the more ethereal female vocals.
And don’t forget Reuben Morgan. He’s one of the most prolific songwriters in the history of the genre. "Cornerstone," "Mighty to Save," "Hosanna"—all him. He’s spent time leading the London campus and the Sydney campus, showing how the "membership" of this group is more about a global collective than a static band.
Why the Lineup Always Seems to be Shifting
Most bands have four or five members. Hillsong Worship has dozens.
It’s a collective.
Because the music is born out of a local church, the "band" you see on a YouTube video with 100 million views is actually just a representation of the worship team at the Sydney campus. At any given weekend, there might be 50 different people leading those same songs across different services.
When they go on tour, they pick a "dream team" of sorts.
The Breakout Solo Careers
Being a member often serves as a massive platform. We’ve seen this recently with several key figures moving into their own spaces.
- Brooke Ligertwood: While still deeply connected, she has released solo worship albums under her own name (SELAH, EIGHT).
- Taya: She released her self-titled solo debut in 2022, moving slightly away from the collective identity to find her own voice.
- Cody Carnes & Kari Jobe: While not "members" in the Australian sense, they are so frequently featured in the same circles that people get them confused.
The reality is that the "membership" is a revolving door by design. The goal was never to create celebrities, though that’s exactly what happened. The goal was to provide songs for churches to sing on Sundays. When a member gets "too big," they often transition into their own ministry or solo career to make room for the next 19-year-old prodigy coming up through the Hillsong International Leadership College.
The Controversy Factor and the Current State
It’s impossible to talk about the members of Hillsong Worship without acknowledging the massive elephant in the room. The last few years have been brutal for the Hillsong brand. Between the documentary "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed" and the resignation of Brian Houston, the church has been under a microscope.
✨ Don't miss: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
Some members left.
Marty Sampson, a longtime songwriter and leader, publicly announced he was "losing his faith" (or at least deconstructing it) a few years back. That sent shockwaves through the community because he had written so many of the anthems people sang every week.
Others stayed to weather the storm.
The current lineup has leaned heavily into a "back to basics" approach. You’ll notice the recent albums feel a bit more stripped back, a bit less "stadium rock," and more focused on liturgy. They are trying to distance the music from the celebrity culture that arguably caused a lot of the friction in the first place.
How the "United" vs "Worship" Distinction Works
This is where people get tripped up. Basically, if you want to be a nerd about it, here is the breakdown:
- Hillsong Worship: This is the "adult" group. They represent the whole church. The songs are designed to be easy for a congregation to sing. Think piano, acoustic guitars, and clear melodies.
- Hillsong United: This started as the youth band. It’s more experimental. Lots of synthesizers, long instrumental bridges, and more "rock star" energy. Joel Houston and Taya are the mainstays here.
- Hillsong Young & Free: This is the youngest tier. It’s basically electronic dance music (EDM) with Christian lyrics. Members here are usually in their late teens or early 20s.
The funny thing? The members of Hillsong Worship often play in all three. You might see Jad Gillies playing guitar for United one night and leading a hymn for Worship the next morning. It’s all one big pool of talent.
The Modern Lineup: Who is Running the Show Now?
If you go to a conference or a recording in 2025 or 2026, these are the names you are going to see on the credits:
Matt Crocker is a big one. He’s a quiet guy, but he’s a songwriting powerhouse. He’s responsible for "This I Believe (The Creed)." He’s got this unique, slightly raspy voice that cuts through the polished production.
Hannah Hobbs is another key leader. She’s been instrumental in the "Hillsong en Español" and "Hillsong em Português" projects, which are massive. We often forget that the membership extends to South America and Europe, where the songs are translated and led by local leaders who are just as famous in their own regions.
🔗 Read more: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Alexander Pappas and Aodhan King are the bridges between the youth movement and the main worship team. They bring a bit more of a modern, indie-pop sensibility to the table.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Group
People think they’re all millionaires.
Some are, sure. The top-tier songwriters who have credits on "What a Beautiful Name" or "Mighty to Save" earn significant royalties because those songs are sung in millions of churches every Sunday. CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) payouts are no joke.
But many of the people you see on stage are just staff members or even volunteers.
There’s also this idea that they are a "band" in the sense that they live on a bus together. They don’t. Most of them have day jobs within the church hierarchy. One might be a creative director, another might be a youth pastor, and another might just be a session musician who gets hired for the tours.
Actionable Steps for Understanding Their Music
If you’re trying to dive into their catalog or understand who does what, don't just hit "shuffle" on Spotify. You’ll get whiplash.
- Check the songwriting credits: If you see "Ligertwood/Fielding," you're getting a theological powerhouse. If you see "Houston/Crocker," expect something more atmospheric and "vibe" heavy.
- Watch the "Live" versions: Hillsong Worship is meant to be seen. The studio versions are often sterilized. The live recordings from the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney are where you actually see the chemistry between the members.
- Look for the "New Song Cafe" videos: If you want to see the "real" members without the lights and smoke machines, these videos feature the writers sitting around a piano explaining why they wrote the song. It’s the most "human" version of the group you’ll find.
The landscape of the members of Hillsong Worship is constantly shifting. People age out, people move on, and new voices emerge. But the core "sound"—that blend of congregational accessibility and high-end production—remains the benchmark for the entire industry. Whether you agree with their theology or not, the sheer scale of their influence is undeniable, and that influence is carried by a specific group of people who have mastered the art of the modern anthem.
The best way to keep track of the current roster is to follow their "Creative" blog or their specific Instagram handles, as they’ve moved toward a more individual-focused social media presence lately. This gives you a better look at their personal lives and solo projects away from the "Mega" brand.
Check the liner notes of the These Same Skies or Lord Send Revival albums for the most accurate list of who is currently "in" versus who has moved into a legacy role. It’s a fascinating study in how a brand survives scandal and turnover by focusing on the collective rather than any one single star.