Scott Stapp was up very early on August 31, and the multitalented lyricist and lead singer of Creed was considering much more than just what to throw on the grill on this Friday just before Labor Day weekend. As he has done often in the past, Scott Stapp was priming his unmistakable baritone for a before breakfast performance with his band on "Fox and Friends."

Creating a setlist is never an issue for this artist because his catalog of hits with Creed and his songs from two solo albums give him a wide array to choose from. Songs such as his Grammy-winning “With Arms Wide Open,” “One Last Breath,” “Higher,” and “Faceless Man” have drawn loyal listeners for more than two decades, filling a yearning for hope and purpose through life’s dark places that is often missing from the majority of material on heavy metal playlists.

Hope and faith are presiding themes in Scott Stapp's music, and being the last headliner for this summer’s All-American Concert Series on the network, he aimed to give fans outside the studio all the songs they love to hear. The composer now resides in Nashville, and he lit up when he talked with the morning hosts about being a devoted dad while dedicating himself to creating his new album. The faith rooted through so many of his songs becomes real and relatable through his charity outreach with his wife and family, and the fulfillment they feel from their foundations was another part of the morning chat.

Dad still rocks

Scott Stapp took some playful ribbing about doing it all, from being his kids’ baseball coach or football coach, to driving the carpool before doing a concert.

Dad wasn't there for carpool this morning, but he clearly relishes the morning routine of taking care of nine-month-old Anthony in the early hours, reminding that “there's no sleeping till noon” for this rockstar, who often does the drop-off or pickup duties for his older daughter and son at school or sports practice. An infectious smile broke out for the singer as he gushed that he and his wife Jaclyn “love being involved in our kids’ lives,” and that devotion often means going right from a tour bus to a recital or practice.

The family makes their time together a priority.

The songwriter openly stated “I'm a Christian,” when asked about the themes permeating through his music. “It's a part of me” he related to Ainsley Earhardt, “so I can't help that those thoughts and feelings and beliefs are gonna come out.” Such threads through his musical content are nothing new for Scott Stapp.

“It's always been a theme that runs through everything I've written,” the songwriter declared.

He enjoys the freedom that being a solo artist gives, admitting that it's liberating to not always have to come to a unanimous decision on every creative matter, as with a band, especially one that ruled the rock world for almost a full decade. Creed had an artistic rebirth in 2009 that yielded their fourth album, “Full Circle,” and Scott Stapp hasn't closed the door on future endeavors, saying that the time and origin of the collaboration has to feel organic.

The songwriter assured that “I'm a rock guy,” but he still took some new musical directions with his new album, which will be out early next year.

Giving more than a song

As if making growing baby boy Anthony's bottles and breakfast at the same time he's making an album doesn't keep Scott busy enough, he always makes time for giving. His With Arms Wide Open Foundation, founded 20 years ago, has raised $1 million. The most recent project for the family was the Back to School Bash in conjunction with Jaclyn's Children Are Magical (CHARM) foundation. The initiative provided school supplies and necessary items to allow children in need to have a successful school year, with the help of many local volunteers and every member of the Stapp family.

When the time came to hit the stage, time seemed to vanish for Scott Stapp, as he and guitarists Yiannis Papadopoulos and Ben Flanders, bassist Sammy Hudson, and drummer Dango Cellan marshaled musical energy and spirit that rivaled even the original renditions of aforementioned hits. "Weathered” was an added gem, with its resilient ending chorus of “Believe what you Will/That is your right/But I choose to win -- I choose to fight,” through life’s struggles. “My Sacrifice” is more than an omnipresent and enduring classic from Creed, it is an affirmation of the power of faith to imbue freedom and joy. Freedom and joy were also celebrated today in the lives of Sen. John McCain and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.

Scott Stapp provided the perfect accentuation to remind America that even in times of loss, trial, and division, music has the overwhelming power to unite, and give reason to rejoice.
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