How a Broadway Star Found Hope in God and America
Whether audiences discovered her on Broadway as the star of Mamma Mia, through her viral interpretation of Radiohead’s “Creep,” or during her runs as Elphaba in the touring production of Wicked, her voice has always commanded attention. But after spending time with Carrie Manolakos for our latest CCM Spotlight, I came away convinced that her latest music may be her most important work yet.
Watch the full CCM Spotlight interview plus Carrie’s stunning live performances of “America the Beautiful” and “All Eyes on Us.” They are easily two of the finest vocal performances you’ll ever hear.
Carrie’s new EP, Oh Beautiful, arrives at a fascinating moment in American history as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. The project blends patriotism, faith, personal reflection, and a call for meaningful conversation in a way that feels both timely and deeply personal.
When I asked how she arrived at this moment, Carrie explained that the last several years took her somewhere she never expected.
“I moved to Tennessee in 2021, and I sort of really saw the polarization that was happening in the country and how divided people were becoming,” she told me. “And how actually, in reality, it’s very different than what we’re led to believe.”
That desire for eventually led her to share more of her heart publicly, a decision that came with consequences.
“I got to a point where I really felt like I needed to share my heart,” she said. “And when I did that, I was on the receiving end of a lot, and it was a very intense time in my life.”
Her response was music.
“The only thing that my heart actually could do was put this in a song,” she said. “And that song was ‘All Eyes on Us.'”
What began as a simple demo became the foundation for a larger message.
“The sentiments of that song really ask a lot of questions,” Carrie explained. “Who do we want to be moving forward, both as an individual and as a nation? How can we lead differently than we have? Or lead with more love?”
Carrie believes genuine dialogue remains one of the greatest needs in our culture.
“We always have an opportunity to begin again,” she said. “We always have an opportunity to have hope for the future. And we always, through speaking with each other, have an opportunity to find common ground. It’s when we don’t that we are in big, big, big trouble.”
For longtime followers of Carrie’s career, another part of her journey may be even more surprising. Alongside the music came a renewed faith.
“The story of coming back to my faith is very much intertwined with all of this,” she said. “That was very unexpected as well.”
She credits God with carrying her through some of the most challenging seasons of her life.
“I’m so thankful that God gave me strength. He gave me endurance. He’s given me courage. He is guiding me every step of the way, even when it’s the scariest thing.”
Having known Carrie personally through much of this journey, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much she’s grown. When I asked what she would say to the Carrie of three years ago, she laughed before answering:
“Girl, hold on. You got this. You can do it. You don’t know what’s coming but hold on. It’s going to be a wild ride.”
That ride now includes some remarkable opportunities. On the 4th of July she’ll be performing during the massive Salute to America 250 celebration in Washington, D.C.
Yet despite the growing stages and audiences, her message remains remarkably simple: hope.
“I’ve really been moving into a position of standing for hope and saying that hope is possible because it is possible and we should have hope.”
That spirit runs throughout Oh Beautiful.
“This EP … was made to both honor America in this historic 250th birthday milestone, as well as it is a very deep and vulnerable offering of my personal journey over the last several years,” she said. “It goes deeply into faith, into hope, into possibility, into reverence for the country, into opening up conversations.”
Oh Beautiful EP is available now wherever you stream music. For more information check out carriemanolakos.com.
Remembering Sixpence None the Richer’s Justin Cary (1975-2026)
Our music community is mourning the loss of Justin Cary, beloved bassist of Sixpence None the Richer, following complications from a stroke.
Leigh Nash shared a tribute on her social media:
“We sure had a great time” is an understatement. Thank you, Justin. We love you forever. Please keep his dear Linda close to your hearts. She is our family. There’s never been anybody like Justin.
Just days earlier, Nash reflected on the overwhelming love surrounding her longtime bandmate:
“We love our brother so so much. Words don’t cover it. I know so many out there love him too. Saw his brilliance, second to NONE professionalism, class, humor.”
Longtime friend and collaborator Philip Madeira remembered the kindness that made Justin so much more than a world-class musician:
“A world class musician, to be sure, but more so a great human being. I was lucky enough to join his band Sixpence None The Richer for some shows in recent months. He was the musical director, and I needed his kindness during rehearsals where I certainly felt like I was drowning. His encouragement buoyed me, and thankfully I rose to the occasions… Be good to each other; you might be the buoy for someone who’s in over their head.”
Our prayers are with Justin’s friends, family, fans, and the entire Sixpence team.
Visit the Gofundme page that has been setup to help his family.LoveSong Documentary Arrives on Prime Video
Long before Christian music became an industry, before arena tours, streaming playlists, worship charts, and before our magazine coined the term “CCM” itself, there was LoveSong.
A Band Called LoveSong: The Music and Movement of the Jesus Revolution is available now for free to Amazon Prime subscribers across English-speaking countries worldwide, introducing a new generation to one of the most important bands in Christian music history.
For CCM readers, the timing feels especially significant.
Last year, we paid tribute to the late Chuck Girard, the legendary LoveSong founder whose influence can still be heard throughout Christian music today. While many younger listeners may know the names that followed, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, DC Talk, Third Day, and countless others, the roots of modern Christian music can be traced back to a handful of barefoot musicians who simply wanted to sing about Jesus in the language of their generation.
As Girard explains in the documentary, “We were using the musical style of our culture and replacing the rock lyrics with lyrics about Jesus… so people started calling it Jesus Music.”
That simple idea changed everything.
LoveSong emerged from Southern California’s Jesus Movement in the early 1970s, helping create an entirely new musical expression of faith. Their self-titled debut album arrived in June 1972, and many historians point to the band as one of the foundational forces behind what would eventually become the Contemporary Christian Music industry.
The three-part documentary explores far more than the story of a band. Through rare archival footage, interviews, and historical perspectives, it chronicles the spiritual awakening that swept through America during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The documentary’s greatest strength may be its reminder that Christian music was never merely about records, radio, or charts. It was about a movement.
A movement fueled by young people searching for truth during a season of cultural division, uncertainty, addiction, social unrest, and spiritual hunger. Sound familiar?
Whether or not another Jesus Movement is on the horizon remains to be seen. But there is little debate about LoveSong’s place in history.
The music they created helped redefine worship, establish Christian touring, inspire future generations of artists, and lay the foundation for an industry that now reaches millions around the world.
More importantly, it reminds us that behind every Christian music movement is always a story… and for much of modern Christian music, that story begins with A band called LoveSong.
See more at abandcalledlovesong.com.
