We really do love to tell the story—and after three years of podcasting, this episode feels especially meaningful.

More than two old friends taking a walk down memory lane, it’s a reflection on the passion that has fueled this podcast from the beginning: a love for the history of Christian music and a responsibility to help preserve and share it.

Along the way, we’ve discovered that telling our own stories helps the next generation understand not just what mattered to us, but why it mattered. And maybe it will encourage you to share your own story with the people closest to you.

Because you never know who’s listening—or what they may be walking through. Sometimes your story can give someone else the courage to keep going.

Join us for the story behind the stories—and why we still love to tell them.

Don’t miss this special episode of I Love To Tell The Story.
🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg
🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com

If the music of Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Rich Mullins, or Kathy Troccoli has ever impacted your life — or if you were one of the more than 2 million readers who picked up Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness — you won’t want to miss this conversation with Michael Blanton, a man who was right in the middle of these stories plus a whole lot more.

As cofounder, along with Dan Harrell, of Reunion Records and Blanton/Harrell Management, Michael was one of the most influential creative forces in Christian music during the 1980s and ’90s — and he has the stories to prove it.

This episode runs a little longer than most, but trust us: the behind-the-scenes stories — including some you won’t hear anywhere else — are more than worth it.

So pull up a chair and join us for an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎙 Listen now at www.ILove2TelltheStory.com—or wherever you get your podcasts.

John Hammond is one of Nashville’s premier drummers—and trust us, the résumé (and the stories) prove it. With a career spanning nearly four decades, John has played behind some of the biggest names in Christian and country music. But this episode isn’t about drum fills or technique. It’s about the journey.

It’s a conversation between friends as we peel back the pages on a life in music that’s still going strong.

From Amy Grant and Russ Taff to The Cathedrals and Greater Vision… from Whitney Houston and 4HIM to Kathy Mattea and Phillips, Craig & Dean—John’s steady hands and unmistakable feel have left an indelible mark on countless recordings and stages.

But beyond the accolades and credits, John Hammond is simply one of the most respected—and most likable—musicians in the business. And as you’ll hear, the stories behind the songs are just as compelling as the music itself.

Pull up a chair and join us for stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

🎙 Listen now at www.ILove2TelltheStory.com—or wherever you get your podcasts.

Songwriter Brian White joins us for a compelling conversation in our latest episode. 

It hardly seems plausible—much less possible—that one songwriter could pen some of the most recognizable songs in Christian music—“Holding Out Hope To You” (Michael English), “The Promise” (The Martins)—and then turn around and do the very same thing in country music with hits like “Watching You” (Rodney Atkins) and “Blame It On You” (Jason Aldean).

And yet… that's what Brian White has accomplished.

With more than 400 recorded songs to his credit, Brian White has got stories for days—including a few you won’t hear anywhere else. 

Pull up a chair—this is a conversation worth hearing.
Don’t miss this special episode of I Love To Tell The Story.

🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg

🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com

While you may not recognize Zach Farnum’s name, you have almost certainly been impacted by his influence in the music business. 

As Founder of 117 Entertainment, Zach has spent years shaping careers, building brands, and amplifying the voices of some of music’s most respected artists. A trusted leader in marketing and publicity, he works behind the scenes where strategy meets storytelling.

He serves as Chair of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Troubadour Society and is a member of the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the Recording Academy — but at heart, he’s simply a fan of great music and the people who make it.

For someone who has dedicated his career to helping artists tell their stories, this episode turns the spotlight on his.

Whether you’re an artist, creative, industry professional, or passionate music fan of any genre, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In the age of social media, words like “legend” and “gamechanger” get thrown around a lot.

And then there are those rare moments when those are the only words that actually fit.

This is one of those moments.

On the newest episode of I Love To Tell the Story, we sit down with — yes — the legend and the gamechanger himself, Jim Murray. From 20 years as tenor with the iconic Imperials, to his time with the Gaither Vocal Band, and even the Elvis years, Jim brings a front-row, firsthand perspective to one of the most incredible stories in Christian music history.

This is more than a conversation — it’s a fun, honest, and deeply personal look back at the moments that helped define an era… told by the guy who was there for it all.

Don’t miss it.

Join us at www.ilove2tellthestory.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Nick Bruno—man of a thousand stories and one of the newest inductees into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame—joins us for a fascinating conversation as we peel back the pages of his legendary music career.

How did a preacher’s kid from Staten Island, New York, find himself at the center of some of the most pivotal moments in Southern Gospel history? You’ll hear it firsthand from the man who lived it.

And yes—there are incredible Elvis stories. He was there… on stage. We even dig into the full story of whether he was the one who set Graceland on fire.

It’s an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg

🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com

If you missed Part 1 of our conversation with Shaye Smith of the Chuck Wagon Gang, you missed more than just an episode — you missed something special. We hope you’ll take a moment to go back and listen, then join us again for Part 2. We think you’ll be glad you did.

As the Chuck Wagon Gang celebrates 90 years of music, Shaye Smith — the group’s manager and alto singer — carries on a remarkable legacy. She is the granddaughter of Anna Carter, one of the original members, and she brings with her firsthand stories passed down through generations — stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

We’re so glad you’re here for Part 2 of this fascinating conversation. If you’re already a fan of the Chuck Wagon Gang, this episode is a must‑see. And if you’re not yet a fan, we have a feeling you will be by the time it’s over.

🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg

🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com

It’s hard to imagine a fan of country or gospel music who hasn’t been touched in some way by the music of the Chuck Wagon Gang. But then again—that’s what happens when you’ve been doing what you do for 90 years.

On this new episode of I Love to Tell the Story, we’re thrilled to peel back the curtain on the Gang’s remarkable legacy with someone who offers a truly one-of-a-kind perspective: Shaye Smith.

Shaye isn’t just the group’s owner, manager, and alto singer in the legendary ensemble—she’s also the granddaughter of original alto Anna Carter Gordon Davis and longtime guitarist Howard Gordon. For Shaye, the story of the Chuck Wagon Gang isn’t just history—it’s family.

This is Part 1 of 2 from  an unforgettable conversation, 

🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg

🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com

We’ve got a brand-new episode of I Love To Tell The Story, and you are going to love this one.

Our guest is the legendary Johnny Minick—singer, songwriter, producer, piano player, and pastor. His journey alone is remarkable… but when you add in the unforgettable years he spent as a member of the Happy Goodman Family, you’ve got stories (and laughter!) that could fill several episodes.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:

* How to say Willie Nelson in Spanish.
* What Liberace may have learned from Howard Goodman.
* The one thing Johnny was told to never do again by the Goodmans.
* And perhaps most meaningful of all—a powerful lesson in servanthood from someone who has truly lived it.

It’s heartfelt. It’s hilarious. It’s inspiring. And it’s exactly why we love to tell the story.

Don’t miss this special episode of I Love To Tell The Story.
🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@ILove2TelltheStory-xd9fg
🌐 For more stories like this, visit:www.ILove2TelltheStory.com