Among other tracks, Patty Griffin gives voice to the beautiful "Ruth's Prayer", a poem written by Graham's late wife, Ruth Bell Graham, and set to music by Alan Jackson, who was inspired to write the song after first seeing the poem in his copy of the Rev Graham's biography.
Jackson himself sings the sweetly romantic love story, "Look at Me", written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet, while Griffin's songwriting appears on the soundtrack in the form of "Heavenly Day", recorded by Brandon Heath, this year's GMA Dove Award winner for New Artist of the Year.
Making his film debut is multi-million-selling recording artist Josh Turner, whose rich baritone brought to life the role of Gospel Music Hall of Fame member and longtime Graham musical partner, George Beverly Shea.
Turner says, "It was an easy decision to make, accepting the part of George Beverly Shea. Billy Graham and everyone that took part in making those crusades happen ... going all across the world, the people they've influenced ... it's just unbelievable what they have accomplished."
Turner's rendition of the gospel classic, "Almost Persuaded", is featured on the soundtrack.
Also contributing to the album and the film is sixteen-year-old bluegrass star Sierra Hull, who portrays Graham's sister, Catherine, as a young woman. The album includes Hull's performance of "Just as I Am", joined by an all-star choir of John Cowan, Harry Stinson, Ronnie Bowman, Ronnie McCoury, and John Wesley Ryles.
Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" - a Top 10 classic from 1963 - is featured on the album, as are tracks from noted artist Gregory Page ("The Great Wild Beyond") and newcomer China Edelman, accompanied by Sam Bush on mandolin for the Buddy & Julie Miller composition, "Shelter Me".
Four-time Grammy Award winners The Blind Boys of Alabama deliver a rousing version of the traditional "Free at Last," while Brad Paisley - this year's Grammy winner for Best Country Instrumental Performance - provides a beautiful instrumental rendition of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
Released by Arista Nashville and Essential Records, Billy: The Early Years was helmed by album producer Anastasia Brown, for whom the project was also very meaningful.
"Growing up as the daughter of a preacher and an admirer of Ruth and Billy Graham, this project was particularly special for me," she said.
"From working with John Carter Cash to Alan Jackson having a co-write with Ruth Graham to working with my husband Tony Brown for the first time, this album was all I'd hope it would be and so much more. The Grahams have consistently set the bar extremely high, and it's the mark that we were aiming for while creating the music."
