Beyond Belief: Jennifer Knapp's Musical Journey

Jennifer Knapp burst onto the Christian music scene in the late 1990s with an energy and honesty that resonated with thousands of young people searching for meaning and connection. Knapp’s first three albums sold over 1 million copies and earned the singer/songwriter two Grammy nominations and a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 1999.

But success took its toll. Exhausted by the pace and pressures of the industry, Knapp stopped performing in 2002 and left the United States, moving to Australia to clear her head and nourish her heart. 

Seven years later, she returned to the U.S. with unexpected news: she was coming out with a new album, “Letting Go,” and coming out of the closet as a proud lesbian in a long-term relationship.

After a firestorm of controversy in the media, Knapp settled down in Nashville and settled into the work of recreating her career — this time outside of contemporary Christian music. 

On the eve of her upcoming U.S. tour, Knapp sat down with David Hunt to recall the early days of her career and to discuss her recent work, which still focuses on the human search for love and meaning. 

Produced for This Way Out: The International LGBTQ Radio Magazine.

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David Hunt is an Emmy-winning journalist and documentary producer who has reported on America's culture wars since the 1970s. Explore his blog, Tell Me, David.