Two New Female Musicians
Kurt Neuswanger • March 1, 2022
Jen Ledger
32-year-old Jen Ledger is the drummer for the Christian rock band Skillet. She was born in England and started playing drums when she was 13, and was even a finalist as United Kingdom Drummer of the Year!
When she was 16, she moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to attend the Living Light School of Worship. The school is part of Living Light Church, which was founded by Korey Cooper’s parents. (Korey is married to Skillet frontman John Cooper.)
Two years later, Skillet’s previous drummer left the band. 17-year-old Jen auditioned with Skillet and won the job. She has been Skillet’s drummer and female vocalist since 2008.
In 2018, Ledger released her first solo album. She continues to live in Kenosha, along with the Coopers, and last year, she became a U.S. citizen.
She is also a bit of an artist. She and Korey Cooper have painted a series of murals in Kenosha featuring John 1:5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
You can hear her song Completely on KJOL.
Katy Nichole
21-year-old Katy Nichole Litwiller grew up in a farm town in Illinois. When she was in second grade, she “begged my school principal to let me sing in front of the school.” Thus began the public career of Katy Nichole!
When she was 12, her family moved to Arizona. She was named Singer of the Year with a youth program that mentors musicians.
However, she was also born with congenital scoliosis, which caused her spine to start curving after she moved to Arizona. She could barely get enough volume to sing the big notes because her lungs were being pressured by her spine.
In 2015, she had spinal fusion surgery, but it left her in bedridden in constant pain for three years, so she had the rods removed in 2019. Her pain and depression was gone and her back is strong!
Her new song is called “In Jesus Name” and has already had some 80 million streams on TikTok.
I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
Michael Tait , the lead singer for the Newsboys , has left the group . His announcement came January 16, two days before the band was to start its world tour. Tait said his decision came after prayer and fasting, saying it came as a shock even to him. He added “although I am nervous about the future, I am excited about what it holds for both myself and the Newsboys, as we all seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Adam Agee is the new lead singer . He had previously been the lead singer for the band Stellar Kart, and then became lead singer for Audio Adrenaline for two years, until they disbanded. In 2023, Agee joined the Newsboys on vocals and bass. Newsboys released a statement after Tait’s announcement, saying “As he walks into the next season of life, we are stepping into the next season of Newsboys. We want you to know that Newsboys isn’t going anywhere, we’re going everywhere!” Tait led a revival of the Newsboys when he joined 15 years ago, with chart topping albums such as Born Again and God’s Not Dead. The first release featuring Tait, in 2010, was “ One Shot ” from the “Born Again” album. After the Newsboys performed their first concert on the new tour, Agee posted on Instagram , “Had to step up to the microphone last night. [a reference to a Newsboys song ] When we found out a week ago that our leader singer Michael Tait was leaving the band, we asked ourselves a lot of questions about the future. We got together and worked hard to put on the best show we could last night. I’m excited about the future and everything God has in store for Newsboys.”
CeCe Winans has released a new Christmas album for 2024 called Joyful Joyful: A Christmas Album . It contains two brand new songs, Joy To The World and Angels We Have Heard On High. The rest of the album is new recordings of her 2018 Christmas album “Something’s Happening.” For King & Country has released A Drummer Boy Christmas: Live . You can also see the concert this week only, through December 11, at the Regal Cinema in Grand Junction. Phil Wickham’s new album, Hallelujah! It’s Christmas , includes duets with Anne Wilson and his brother Evan, plus “Winter Wonderland” featuring “The Wickham Sisters” which I am pretty sure refers to his three beautiful daughters! Thrive Worship , from Bayside Church in Sacramento, has released Christmas Volume Two . It contains seven more songs to go along with last year’s release, predictably titled Christmas Volume One. Elevation Worship has released Echo the Angels featuring “reimagined classics.” And the Gaither Vocal Band has released New Star Shining containing original songs and nostalgic favorites.
Merry Christmas friend…I am sure you have noticed we are now in our Christmas season of programming here…we have some fantastic Christmas music underway, and our Christmas specials are a go as of Monday the 9th. Something else is a go...
Two young musicians are creating a stir in contemporary Christian music this year. We told you previously about Josiah Queen , the 21 year old TikTok sensation whose album Progidal debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in June. Another TikTok sensation, Forrest Frank , has now burst onto the Christian music scene. After gaining a following as part of a pop music duo called Surfaces, Frank said he “knew the Lord was asking him to lay it all down.” He began producing Christian music in 2023, becoming Billboard’s favorite Christian artist for the year. Frank was raised in a Christian home in Texas, but drifted away from the Lord until his sophomore year at Baylor University, when he went to an evangelical church and had a “ life changing encounter with Christ. ” In 2024, he released the song “ Good Day ” which has now had at least 150 million views on TikTok and more than 80 million views on Instagram . He was named New Artist of the Year by the Dove Awards a few weeks ago, and “Good Day” was named Contemporary Song of the Year. In July 2024, he released his album Child of God (containing "Good Day") which immediately debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, and has remained #1 ever since. Last week it was nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary Christian Album. His song “ Good Day ” talks of why he knows it is a good day, because “the God of the universe knows my name.” Turning old things new Grey skies blue Hear the church saying, "Won't He do it?" I know He's got my back That's why I'm singing that I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day) No matter what they say (what they say) Sun is shining down on me Birds are singing praise I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day) In every single way The God who made the universe Knows me by my name So it's a good day
KJOL continually receives music from new artists, including some who are not on major record labels. Here are three artists and their current songs. Josiah Queen Josiah Queen is a 21 year old independent artist, the son of Calvary Chapel pastors in Florida. His musical style is described as a acoustic-based, Americana-leaning sound. Queen began releasing songs on TikTok when he was 16, and he has since garnered 1.7 million posts from fans, plus 2 million followers on Spotify, anand 5.5 million Youtube views. His album "Prodigal" debuted at #1 on Billboard in June, which was noteworthy because he does not have a record label promoting his music. His song “Prodigal” is inspired by the Prodigal Son, and Mark 8:36: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Prodigal I don't want to lose my soul Chasing after things that don't lead me straight to You I'm lost in the feeling That I ain't from this world Going back to Eden ain't gonna be easy But it leads me straight to You Now I'm running home, Like the Prodigal Terrian (rhymes with "clarion") Terrian (Woods) is a singer/songwriter from Memphis. She is also a member of TobyMac's band Diverse City (and records on his Gotee record label). And in her spare time, she serves on AngelStreet Staff in Memphis as a mentor to young girls. Honestly, We Just Need Jesus Honestly, we just need Jesus Have we all gone mad? Have we lost our minds? What used to be wrong, we say that it's right Honestly, I think we just need Jesus Nathan Sheridan Nathan Sheridan is a Louisiana native. He has faced a number of challenges on his road to success: addicted parents, the death of his sister, and enlistment in the U.S. Army. During his time serving in Kuwait, he led worship for the troops. He performed his first single “ Something Worth Singing About ” at the Grammys show last February. He Is The Way He is the hand who parts the water, He is the voice that calms the waves The compass for my wandering heart, If ever I should stray He is the lamp unto my feet that lights, the path that I should take With every step I’m trusting in my Jesus Cause He is, He is the way (And the Truth, and the Life - hey)
The 55 th annual Dove Awards were presented last week in Nashville. We've seen a lot of great songs in the last year ... and some of them got nominated. (But if it was up to me, I would have chosen a much different list!) Here’s a look at some of the winners. ARTIST OF YEAR: CeCe Winans --It’s hard to argue with CeCe Winans. Her new album is outstanding. Also nominated: Anne Wilson , for King + Country , and Lauren Daigle NEW ARTIST: Forrest Frank -Frank is an online artist who has also had considerable secular online success on TikTok. My choice would have been Seph Schlueter (“shleeter”), whose songs contains much stronger Christian content, including “Counting My Blessings” and “Running Back To You”. SONG OF THE YEAR: Holy Forever , Chris Tomlin & others --another good choice would have been “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Cody Carnes POP SONG: Good Day , Forrest Frank --This song talks about birds and sunshine and “baby in my arms, walking through the neighborhood.” But it also declares “The God who made the universe knows me by name, so it’s a good day.” Amen! --My choice would have been Any More by CAIN or Counting My Blessings by Seph Schlueter WORSHIP SONG: Praise , Elevation Worship -- Elevation Worship is pretty much the nation’s de facto worship leader. ROCK SONG: Grave Robber , Crowder --You can hear this song on Saturday nights at 6:00 pm during the Contemporary Music program on KJOL INSPIRATIONAL SONG: My Tribute , Natalie Grant with CeCe Winans --The Andraé Crouch classic! FILM OF YEAR: Unsung Hero , Joel & Luke Smallbone --(Yes, they actually have this category!) This was kind of a “no brainer.” It’s the true story of Rebecca St. James and her family, including her two younger brothers, Joel and Luke Smallbone (of For King & Country ).
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