Blippi to Biblical: Kids Entertainment Veterans Debut New Show
The creative team behind some of the world’s most recognizable live family productions is embarking on a new kind of adventure.
After years of bringing beloved brands like Blippi, Sesame Street, Baby Shark, Peppa Pig, and PJ Masks to theater audiences around the globe, the newly formed The Originals Live is turning its attention to stories that have captivated hearts for generations. The company’s inaugural production, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, will launch as part of a North American tour, including a stop at The Polk Theater at TPAC in Nashville on November 14.
Rather than adapting another television phenomenon, The Originals Live is building an entirely new theatrical franchise around some of the Bible’s most enduring heroes, beginning with Daniel and Queen Esther.
It’s an ambitious shift, but one the team believes is long overdue.
“When you consider how long these stories have endured and how relevant they remain, Daniel and Esther felt like the perfect place to begin,” said producer Josh Blackburn. “With a seasoned creative team behind some of the biggest brands in family-friendly live events, audiences can expect a theatrical experience that is entertaining, inspiring, and unforgettable.”
The evening opens with Esther: The Bravest Queen, telling the story of the young queen whose courage and faith saved her people. Following intermission, audiences are transported into the world of Daniel in the Lions’ Den, where one of Scripture’s most beloved heroes remains faithful despite political intrigue, betrayal, and the very real threat of the lions’ den.
Both productions feature original music, colorful staging, memorable characters, and immersive storytelling designed to engage children while offering timeless truths for the entire family.
For director Dani Davis, joining the project was an easy decision.
“When The Originals Live shared their vision for bringing these timeless stories to life for a new generation, I knew I wanted to be part of it,” Davis said. “Daniel and Esther were ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. Their stories still resonate today, and this production is just the beginning of what’s possible.”
That phrase, ”just the beginning”, captures the larger vision behind The Originals Live.
The company isn’t simply producing a one-off biblical musical. Instead, Daniel and Esther serve as the first installment in what the creators envision as an ongoing series of live theatrical productions built around the world’s foundational stories. Drawing on decades of experience producing large-scale family entertainment, the creative team hopes to offer audiences productions that feel every bit as polished and exciting as the major touring shows families have come to expect. The Originals Live hopes to meet that demand with Broadway-caliber production values wrapped around stories that have stood the test of time.
Instead of asking families to choose between entertainment and encouragement, the production aims to deliver both.
Tour Dates- 9/30, 10/5, 10/6 – Ringgold, GA
- 10/7 – Louisville, KY
- 10/8 – Akron, OH
- 10/9 – Roanoke, VA
- 10/15 – Milwaukee, WI
- 10/10 – Charleston, WV
- 10/11 – Cincinnati, OH
- 10/16 – Eau Claire, WI
- 10/17 – Dubuque, IA
- 10/18 – Ottumwa, IA
- 10/21 – Bloomington, IL – Coming Soon
- 10/24 – Interlochen, MI – Coming Soon
- 10/28 – Duluth, GA – Coming Soon
- 10/29 – Birmingham, AL
- 10/30 – Augusta, GA
- 11/1 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 11/4 – Jacksonville, FL
- 11/6 – North Charleston, SC
- 11/7 – Fayetteville, GA
- 11/8 – Hattiesburg, MS
- 11/11 – Southaven, MS
- 11/12 – Spartanburg, SC
- 11/13 – Greensboro, NC
- 11/14 – Nashville, TN
- 11/19 – Patchogue, NY
- 11/20 – Syracuse, NY
- 11/21 – Englewood, NJ
- 11/22 – Schenectady, NY
- 11/25 – Stroudsburg, PA
- 11/26 – Mississauga, ON – Coming Soon
- 11/27 – Lynn, MA – Coming Soon
- 11/28 – Wallingford, CT
- 11/29 – Reading, PA
- 12/3 – Saginaw, MI
- 12/4 – St. Charles, MO
- 12/5 – Indianapolis, IN
- 12/6 – Columbus, OH
- 12/9 – Knoxville, TN
- 12/11 – North Little Rock, AR
- 12/12 – Arlington, TX
- 12/13 – Lake Charles, LA Blippi to Biblical: Kids Entertainment Veterans Debut Show
(additional dates to be announced at a later date)
Blippi to Biblical: Kids Entertainment Veterans Debut New Show
The creative team behind some of the world’s most recognizable live family productions is embarking on a new kind of adventure.
After years of bringing beloved brands like Blippi, Sesame Street, Baby Shark, Peppa Pig, and PJ Masks to theater audiences around the globe, the newly formed The Originals Live is turning its attention to stories that have captivated hearts for generations. The company’s inaugural production, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, will launch as part of a North American tour, including a stop at The Polk Theater at TPAC in Nashville on November 14.
Rather than adapting another television phenomenon, The Originals Live is building an entirely new theatrical franchise around some of the Bible’s most enduring heroes, beginning with Daniel and Queen Esther.
It’s an ambitious shift, but one the team believes is long overdue.
“When you consider how long these stories have endured and how relevant they remain, Daniel and Esther felt like the perfect place to begin,” said producer Josh Blackburn. “With a seasoned creative team behind some of the biggest brands in family-friendly live events, audiences can expect a theatrical experience that is entertaining, inspiring, and unforgettable.”
The evening opens with Esther: The Bravest Queen, telling the story of the young queen whose courage and faith saved her people. Following intermission, audiences are transported into the world of Daniel in the Lions’ Den, where one of Scripture’s most beloved heroes remains faithful despite political intrigue, betrayal, and the very real threat of the lions’ den.
Both productions feature original music, colorful staging, memorable characters, and immersive storytelling designed to engage children while offering timeless truths for the entire family.
For director Dani Davis, joining the project was an easy decision.
“When The Originals Live shared their vision for bringing these timeless stories to life for a new generation, I knew I wanted to be part of it,” Davis said. “Daniel and Esther were ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. Their stories still resonate today, and this production is just the beginning of what’s possible.”
That phrase, ”just the beginning”, captures the larger vision behind The Originals Live.
The company isn’t simply producing a one-off biblical musical. Instead, Daniel and Esther serve as the first installment in what the creators envision as an ongoing series of live theatrical productions built around the world’s foundational stories. Drawing on decades of experience producing large-scale family entertainment, the creative team hopes to offer audiences productions that feel every bit as polished and exciting as the major touring shows families have come to expect. The Originals Live hopes to meet that demand with Broadway-caliber production values wrapped around stories that have stood the test of time.
Instead of asking families to choose between entertainment and encouragement, the production aims to deliver both.
Tour Dates- 9/30, 10/5, 10/6 – Ringgold, GA
- 10/7 – Louisville, KY
- 10/8 – Akron, OH
- 10/9 – Roanoke, VA
- 10/15 – Milwaukee, WI
- 10/10 – Charleston, WV
- 10/11 – Cincinnati, OH
- 10/16 – Eau Claire, WI
- 10/17 – Dubuque, IA
- 10/18 – Ottumwa, IA
- 10/21 – Bloomington, IL – Coming Soon
- 10/24 – Interlochen, MI – Coming Soon
- 10/28 – Duluth, GA – Coming Soon
- 10/29 – Birmingham, AL
- 10/30 – Augusta, GA
- 11/1 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 11/4 – Jacksonville, FL
- 11/6 – North Charleston, SC
- 11/7 – Fayetteville, GA
- 11/8 – Hattiesburg, MS
- 11/11 – Southaven, MS
- 11/12 – Spartanburg, SC
- 11/13 – Greensboro, NC
- 11/14 – Nashville, TN
- 11/19 – Patchogue, NY
- 11/20 – Syracuse, NY
- 11/21 – Englewood, NJ
- 11/22 – Schenectady, NY
- 11/25 – Stroudsburg, PA
- 11/26 – Mississauga, ON – Coming Soon
- 11/27 – Lynn, MA – Coming Soon
- 11/28 – Wallingford, CT
- 11/29 – Reading, PA
- 12/3 – Saginaw, MI
- 12/4 – St. Charles, MO
- 12/5 – Indianapolis, IN
- 12/6 – Columbus, OH
- 12/9 – Knoxville, TN
- 12/11 – North Little Rock, AR
- 12/12 – Arlington, TX
- 12/13 – Lake Charles, LA Blippi to Biblical: Kids Entertainment Veterans Debut Show
(additional dates to be announced at a later date)
Cochren & Co. Announces Fall 'Runs in the Blood' Tour
Forrest Frank and TPR. Conclude Historic Run with Biggest Christian Music Tour of All Time
The 36-Track Indie Rock Worship Album That Defies the Algorithm
I get a lot of press releases.
Every week it’s another album announcement, another single, another tour. After a while, your eyes naturally start looking for something that makes you stop scrolling.
A few weeks ago, one did exactly that.
A 36-track worship album. You have my attention.
Not because it sounded ridiculous… well, maybe a little… but because in an era where artists are told to release one song every six weeks to satisfy an algorithm, somebody was doing the exact opposite. I opened the email immediately.
“I remember telling Anotherland Records that I wanted to make the Christian Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, [Smashing Pumpkins]. And they said, ‘Sure, let’s do it.”
This is the furthest thing from a worship record built around radio singles. It isn’t trying to fit into anyone’s playlist. It doesn’t sound like Sunday morning. It doesn’t sound like Nashville. “I genuinely felt… that I needed to collect all of these songs… and filter them through my aesthetic, which is not worship.”
If you came of age with the Garden State soundtrack or the beautifully strange corners of Tooth & Nail Records, this might be the worship music you’ve been waiting for.
Long before he was making devotional records, John Van Deusen fronted The Lonely Forest. A band that flirted with major-label success, toured relentlessly, packed clubs, and were on the cusp of becoming something that seemed much bigger. In that the chase for acceptance, Van Deusen found something else.
Today he’s a worship pastor on the seemingly unescapable Fidalgo Island in Washington. ” I’ve lived there for 38 years and I’ve pleaded with the good Lord, ‘Let me leave,’ so many times, and He has not. And that’s okay.” While that concept may trigger visuals of The Shining, this is in fact the same island where they shot the just as triggering family drama Free Willy. Somewhere huddled up inside a cozy closet you’ll fine Van Deusen recording song after song. “I feel a lot of permission from Him to be myself in the studio, and it’s an act of worship.”
While his name may not be immediately familiar to the Christian radio crowd, he has a fiercely loyal audience. They’re not showing up because an algorithm suggested his music. They’re buying quadruple-vinyl editions. They’re listening to records front to back.
And that record is a two part opus with a fittingly obtuse title As Long As I Am In The Tent Of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise. Part 2 will be released on August 28th on Anotherland Records. John explained that he purposely wanted the title, artwork, and sheer size of the project to communicate that this wasn’t an ordinary worship record. He even admitted he wanted people to get tired listening to it. Purposefully. “I really wanted the average listener to listen to a handful of songs and go, ‘I can’t do this’… and maybe a year later decide they wanted to try again.” After hearing a few of these tracks performed live, I predict this won’t happen. I think you’ll hear a few songs, stop and then immediately text a friend, and say, “You’ve got to hear this guy.”
The first single from Part 2, “Only Living If I’m Abiding,” is available now, and we’re excited to premiere an exclusive live performance on the CCM Magazine YouTube channel. It’s one of the most immediate and accessible entry points into Van Deusen’s ambitious 36-song vision. It doesn’t sacrifice the larger artistic statement, but instead invites you deeper into it. During our conversation, John described the album version as sounding like “Nada Surf” while intentionally writing verses that were “moderately cryptic” before opening into a soaring chorus centered on abiding in Christ. The result is an indie-rock worship anthem that feels equally at home alongside your favorite alternative records as it does in a deeply personal moment of devotion. If this is your first introduction to John Van Deusen, don’t be surprised if one song quickly turns into an afternoon exploring the rest of his remarkable catalog.
Check out his additional performances and the full-length interview on our YouTube channel.
The 36-Track Indie Rock Worship Album That Defies the Algorithm
I get a lot of press releases.
Every week it’s another album announcement, another single, another tour. After a while, your eyes naturally start looking for something that makes you stop scrolling.
A few weeks ago, one did exactly that.
A 36-track worship album. You have my attention.
Not because it sounded ridiculous… well, maybe a little… but because in an era where artists are told to release one song every six weeks to satisfy an algorithm, somebody was doing the exact opposite. I opened the email immediately.
“I remember telling Anotherland Records that I wanted to make the Christian Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, [Smashing Pumpkins]. And they said, ‘Sure, let’s do it. But you need to cut it in half because it’s 135 minutes of music.’ And, you know, I’m glad I did it.”
This is the furthest thing from a worship record built around radio singles. It isn’t trying to fit into anyone’s playlist. It doesn’t sound like Sunday morning. It doesn’t sound like Nashville. “I genuinely felt… that I needed to collect all of these songs… and filter them through my aesthetic, which is not worship.”\
If you came of age with the Garden State soundtrack or the beautifully strange corners of Tooth & Nail Records, this might be the worship music you’ve been waiting for.
Long before he was making devotional records, John Van Desusen fronted The Lonely Forest. A band that flirted with major-label success, toured relentlessly, packed clubs, and were on the cusp of becoming something that seemed much bigger. In that the chase for acceptance, Van Deusen found something else.
Today he’s a worship pastor on the seemingly unescapable Fidalgo Island in Washington. ” I’ve lived there for 38 years and I’ve pleaded with the good Lord, ‘Let me leave,’ so many times, and He has not. And that’s okay.” While that concept may trigger visuals of The Shining, this is in fact the same island where they shot the just as triggering family drama Free Willy. Somewhere huddled up inside a cozy closet you’ll fine Van Deusen recording song after song. “I feel a lot of permission from Him to be myself in the studio, and it’s an act of worship.”
While his name may not be immediately familiar to the Christian radio crowd, he has a fiercely loyal audience. They’re not showing up because an algorithm suggested his music. They’re buying quadruple-vinyl editions. They’re listening to records front to back.
And that record is a two part opus with a fittingly obtuse title As Long As I Am In The Tent Of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise. Part 2 will be released on August 28th on Anotherland Records. John explained that he purposely wanted the title, artwork, and sheer size of the project to communicate that this wasn’t an ordinary worship record. He even admitted he wanted people to get tired listening to it. Purposefully. “I really wanted the average listener to listen to a handful of songs and go, ‘I can’t do this’… and maybe a year later decide they wanted to try again.” After hearing a few of these tracks performed live, I predict this won’t happen. I think you’ll hear a few songs, stop and then immediately text a friend, and say, “You’ve got to hear this guy.”
The first single from Part 2, “Only Living If I’m Abiding,” is available now, and we’re excited to premiere an exclusive live performance on the CCM Magazine YouTube channel. It’s one of the most immediate and accessible entry points into Van Deusen’s ambitious 36-song vision. It doesn’t sacrifice the larger artistic statement, but instead invites you deeper into it. During our conversation, John described the album version as sounding like “Nada Surf” while intentionally writing verses that were “moderately cryptic” before opening into a soaring chorus centered on abiding in Christ. The result is an indie-rock worship anthem that feels equally at home alongside your favorite alternative records as it does in a deeply personal moment of devotion. If this is your first introduction to John Van Deusen, don’t be surprised if one song quickly turns into an afternoon exploring the rest of his remarkable catalog.
Check out his additional performances and the full-length interview on our YouTube channel.
Autumn Nelon Finds Hope Beyond Family Tragedy with “I’ll Find You”
No one should have to write a song like “I’ll Find You.”
Yet nearly two years after the plane crash that claimed the lives of her mother, stepfather, sister, and brother-in-law and several close friends and colleagues, Autumn Nelon has done exactly that. She may never have all the answers, but she has found something even stronger: hope.
Released through Gaither Music Group just days before the second anniversary of the tragedy, I’ll Find You is one of the most personal songs Autumn has ever recorded. Written alongside Joseph Habedank and Kenna Turner West less than a year after the loss of her family, the song gives voice to grief that refuses easy explanations while clinging tightly to the promises of Christ. Rather than asking listeners to ignore heartbreak, it walks directly through it, reminding anyone carrying loss that heaven is more than a distant idea… it is a coming reunion.
“What better day than to release it… because what better way to honor them than to release a song that basically explains how I feel?” she shared. The lyrics begin with questions every grieving heart understands.
“Didn’t even get to say goodbye… Tried my best to make it all make sense… But it don’t make sense.”
It’s a striking admission from someone whose faith has been visible her entire life. Rather than pretending tragedy somehow became understandable, Autumn allows herself to admit that some pain simply cannot be explained this side of eternity.
“Until I get to heaven, I’ll never understand why this happened,” she said. “But I do believe that God has chosen me for whatever reason. He’s entrusted me with a legacy to keep going. That’s what I’m doing, and that’s what I’m trying to do, and I hope I make them proud in the process.”
That balance of holding both grief and faith at the same time has become the defining characteristic of Autumn’s ministry. The song itself ultimately turns away from unanswered questions and toward the promise of heaven. One of its most moving moments comes near the end when the lyric changes from “I’ll find you” to “Maybe I won’t have to look… because you’ll find me.”
When asked about that line, Autumn smiled.
“I’m not going to have to look for my mom or my sister because they’re going to be standing there. And any loved ones that anybody has lost, I think they’re going to be there waiting.”
It transforms the entire perspective of the song. Heaven is a joyful homecoming where those who arrived first are already waiting. That picture has resonated far beyond Autumn’s own story.
“The amount of people since this single has released that have come to me and said, ‘This makes me think of my mom,’ or, ‘This makes me think of my dad,'” she shared. Then she recounted an encounter that perfectly captured what she had hoped the song would become.
“Just today, I had a gentleman come up to me and say, ‘My brother died a week ago, and we’re going to play this song at his funeral.’ It’s doing exactly what I wanted it to do… and that is to bring encouragement to people.”
Perhaps that’s what makes I’ll Find You feel so different. It isn’t merely a song about Autumn’s loss. It has become a song that countless others are already making part of their own stories.
While grief is woven throughout the conversation, it quickly becomes clear that loss is no longer the only chapter being written.
Life has continued moving forward.
Autumn has stepped into motherhood. Her son, Rhett, was born on December 1, 2024, her mother’s birthday.
“So that was really, really sweet,” she said, reflecting on the timing. Alongside becoming a mother, she’s also spent the last two years quietly building toward a new chapter creatively, recording music and preparing a new album expected next year.
Those milestones have arrived while she has simultaneously inherited something she never expected: carrying forward one of Gospel music’s most beloved family legacies.
Ironically, she laughs that she may have been the least likely person to step into that role.
“I always joke and say I’m the least likely one to have been doing all of this. If you knew me when I was with my family… I didn’t like to do interviews. Any time I could find my way out of doing stuff like that, I would.”
Now, the woman who once avoided microphones is speaking at conferences, leading interviews, and encouraging audiences across the country.
She credits only one thing.
“God has just given me such comfort and peace along this journey. I found out that I can do things that I didn’t think I was capable of doing.”
Her ministry today looks different than it once did. Certainly she’s still singing. That’s never changed. But increasingly, people are coming not only to hear her voice, but to hear her story.
As she prepares for her first women’s conference as a keynote speaker, Autumn believes she’s finally beginning to understand why.
“What I believe that God has called me to do is obviously singing, of course, but I think it is to tell my story. I think it is to tell these people that sometimes life is hard and sometimes things happen that you’ll never understand until you get to heaven one day. But the faithfulness of God and how good He is to you… He’s always good, even though what happened to you is bad.”
Growing up, she admitted, she often prayed that the Lord wouldn’t return until after she had experienced milestones like marriage and motherhood. Today, that prayer has changed.
“Now that I have loved ones there, I’m like, ‘Lord, You can come whenever You want to. Whenever You feel the time is right.’” It’s a perspective only grief can shape.
Not because grief diminishes life here, but because it makes eternity feel wonderfully real. That reality has also changed the way she listens to the music her family created together.
“When we recorded this last album… the thought of this being the last one never crossed my mind,” she reflected. “You always hear about things happening to other people, but you just never think they’re going to happen to you.”
Even now, hearing those recordings remains surreal. Around her home, she keeps reminders of her family close. Pictures line the walls. Rhett already knows the faces and names of the grandmother and aunt he’ll never fully know this side of heaven.
“We’ll go around,” she said, “‘Who’s that?’ and he’ll say, ‘Gigi.’ ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Amber.’ I do my best to keep them in his memory so that he’ll always know who they are.”
When asked how she continues moving forward, Autumn answered with refreshing honesty.
“It’s not really something that you ever just get over. I just have learned how to cope with it. I have a wonderful support team… a wonderful husband, family, friends… God has just been really good to me. Truly without Him and the people that He has placed in my life, that’s really the only way that I have been able to keep going.”
Those words may ultimately summarize both her life and her new music.
She isn’t claiming victory because the pain is gone. She’s testifying that God’s faithfulness has remained, even while the pain remains. Before the conversation ended, one final question lingered. If Kelly and Amber could hear I’ll Find You, what would they think?
Autumn laughed.
“I think they would be like, ‘Girl, you’re not going to have to find us. We’re waiting for you.’ But I hope they’re just proud of me… for doing things that I always said I wouldn’t do.”
That’s the heart of this story.
Not tragedy.
Not survival.
Hope.
Autumn Nelon Finds Hope Beyond Family Tragedy with “I’ll Find You”
No one should have to write a song like “I’ll Find You.”
Yet nearly two years after the plane crash that claimed the lives of her mother, stepfather, sister, and brother-in-law and several close friends and colleagues, Autumn Nelon has done exactly that. She may never have all the answers, but she has found something even stronger: hope.
Released through Gaither Music Group just days before the second anniversary of the tragedy, I’ll Find You is one of the most personal songs Autumn has ever recorded. Written alongside Joseph Habedank and Kenna Turner West less than a year after the loss of her family, the song gives voice to grief that refuses easy explanations while clinging tightly to the promises of Christ. Rather than asking listeners to ignore heartbreak, it walks directly through it, reminding anyone carrying loss that heaven is more than a distant idea… it is a coming reunion.
“What better day than to release it… because what better way to honor them than to release a song that basically explains how I feel?” she shared. The lyrics begin with questions every grieving heart understands.
“Didn’t even get to say goodbye… Tried my best to make it all make sense… But it don’t make sense.”
It’s a striking admission from someone whose faith has been visible her entire life. Rather than pretending tragedy somehow became understandable, Autumn allows herself to admit that some pain simply cannot be explained this side of eternity.
“Until I get to heaven, I’ll never understand why this happened,” she said. “But I do believe that God has chosen me for whatever reason. He’s entrusted me with a legacy to keep going. That’s what I’m doing, and that’s what I’m trying to do, and I hope I make them proud in the process.”
That balance of holding both grief and faith at the same time has become the defining characteristic of Autumn’s ministry. The song itself ultimately turns away from unanswered questions and toward the promise of heaven. One of its most moving moments comes near the end when the lyric changes from “I’ll find you” to “Maybe I won’t have to look… because you’ll find me.”
When asked about that line, Autumn smiled.
“I’m not going to have to look for my mom or my sister because they’re going to be standing there. And any loved ones that anybody has lost, I think they’re going to be there waiting.”
It transforms the entire perspective of the song. Heaven is a joyful homecoming where those who arrived first are already waiting. That picture has resonated far beyond Autumn’s own story.
“The amount of people since this single has released that have come to me and said, ‘This makes me think of my mom,’ or, ‘This makes me think of my dad,'” she shared. Then she recounted an encounter that perfectly captured what she had hoped the song would become.
“Just today, I had a gentleman come up to me and say, ‘My brother died a week ago, and we’re going to play this song at his funeral.’ It’s doing exactly what I wanted it to do… and that is to bring encouragement to people.”
Perhaps that’s what makes I’ll Find You feel so different. It isn’t merely a song about Autumn’s loss. It has become a song that countless others are already making part of their own stories.
While grief is woven throughout the conversation, it quickly becomes clear that loss is no longer the only chapter being written.
Life has continued moving forward.
Autumn has stepped into motherhood. Her son, Rhett, was born on December 1, 2024, her mother’s birthday.
“So that was really, really sweet,” she said, reflecting on the timing. Alongside becoming a mother, she’s also spent the last two years quietly building toward a new chapter creatively, recording music and preparing a new album expected next year.
Those milestones have arrived while she has simultaneously inherited something she never expected: carrying forward one of Gospel music’s most beloved family legacies.
Ironically, she laughs that she may have been the least likely person to step into that role.
“I always joke and say I’m the least likely one to have been doing all of this. If you knew me when I was with my family… I didn’t like to do interviews. Any time I could find my way out of doing stuff like that, I would.”
Now, the woman who once avoided microphones is speaking at conferences, leading interviews, and encouraging audiences across the country.
She credits only one thing.
“God has just given me such comfort and peace along this journey. I found out that I can do things that I didn’t think I was capable of doing.”
Her ministry today looks different than it once did. Certainly she’s still singing. That’s never changed. But increasingly, people are coming not only to hear her voice, but to hear her story.
As she prepares for her first women’s conference as a keynote speaker, Autumn believes she’s finally beginning to understand why.
“What I believe that God has called me to do is obviously singing, of course, but I think it is to tell my story. I think it is to tell these people that sometimes life is hard and sometimes things happen that you’ll never understand until you get to heaven one day. But the faithfulness of God and how good He is to you… He’s always good, even though what happened to you is bad.”
Growing up, she admitted, she often prayed that the Lord wouldn’t return until after she had experienced milestones like marriage and motherhood. Today, that prayer has changed.
“Now that I have loved ones there, I’m like, ‘Lord, You can come whenever You want to. Whenever You feel the time is right.’” It’s a perspective only grief can shape.
Not because grief diminishes life here, but because it makes eternity feel wonderfully real. That reality has also changed the way she listens to the music her family created together.
“When we recorded this last album… the thought of this being the last one never crossed my mind,” she reflected. “You always hear about things happening to other people, but you just never think they’re going to happen to you.”
Even now, hearing those recordings remains surreal. Around her home, she keeps reminders of her family close. Pictures line the walls. Rhett already knows the faces and names of the grandmother and aunt he’ll never fully know this side of heaven.
“We’ll go around,” she said, “‘Who’s that?’ and he’ll say, ‘Gigi.’ ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Amber.’ I do my best to keep them in his memory so that he’ll always know who they are.”
When asked how she continues moving forward, Autumn answered with refreshing honesty.
“It’s not really something that you ever just get over. I just have learned how to cope with it. I have a wonderful support team… a wonderful husband, family, friends… God has just been really good to me. Truly without Him and the people that He has placed in my life, that’s really the only way that I have been able to keep going.”
Those words may ultimately summarize both her life and her new music.
She isn’t claiming victory because the pain is gone. She’s testifying that God’s faithfulness has remained, even while the pain remains. Before the conversation ended, one final question lingered. If Kelly and Amber could hear I’ll Find You, what would they think?
Autumn laughed.
“I think they would be like, ‘Girl, you’re not going to have to find us. We’re waiting for you.’ But I hope they’re just proud of me… for doing things that I always said I wouldn’t do.”
That’s the heart of this story.
Not tragedy.
Not survival.
Hope.
