About Jasmine Brady

 

Jasmine Brady’s story could focus on her rich heritage in Christian music. It could talk about the legacy of selfless service that runs deep in her family. It’s a story of crushing loss and perseverance in the face of disaster, and ultimately, it’s a narrative about surrendering everything to the sovereignty of God.

            Jasmine’s great uncle and aunt were Southern Gospel icons, Howard and Vestal Goodman. Her maternal grandparents are the legendary Joel and Labreeska Hemphill. And her mother, fan favorite Candy Hemphill Christmas, is well-known for leaving a successful singing career to serve the homeless population of Nashville with The Bridge ministry which she founded with her husband, Kent, in 2004. Jasmine carries this unique history into her own calling to sing, to serve, and especially to worship and lead others in worship.

            Given her family tree, it’s no surprise that at 13, she began to feel God tugging at her heart to write songs and to lead her youth group in worship. That continued throughout her high school years and led her to become part of the a cappella group Voices of Lee at Lee University during her first two years of college.

            Once again, she began to feel God calling her back home to help her parents at Resting Place Church, now known as Regeneration Nashville. Throughout her late teens and early 20’s she was leading worship as well as pursuing a solo career in the music business. “No matter how hard I tried to advance my personal career, every door remained closed,” Jasmine says. “I couldn’t understand. Why would God not want me to use the gifts that He’d given me?”

            During that season, Jasmine says the Lord spoke two scriptures quietly into her heart, and they have become what has encouraged and driven her ever since. The first was Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The other was Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Jasmine laid every gift God had given her at the foot of the cross and submitted her life to His will.

            She married Jonmichael Brady in 2009, and they have two children, Cooper and Adele. She stopped writing songs or pursuing any career dreams. “I decided that if it was God’s will, He would do it His way and in His time. God taught her that worship is what we are created to do, whatever our career path.

            “The Lord spoke to my heart and said, ‘If you never sing professionally, will I still be enough for you?’ Through tears I told the Lord yes, and I honestly never planned on singing or writing professionally again. That had to be enough because He is enough.”

            In March of 2020, a tornado tore through Nashville and hit the place where The Bridge meets each Tuesday. The following week, “stay at home orders” were issued and the pandemic began taking its toll on her city. A few days later, Jasmine’s husband lost his job of 15 years. Once again, Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6 sustained her, and gradually God started birthing new songs in her.

            “I’ve stayed at Jesus’ feet in worship while songs like ‘Faith Arise’ and ‘God is in Control’ have come pouring out of my soul,” Jasmine says. She began leading the songs that encouraged her own heart, and it wasn’t long until people at Regeneration Nashville and viewers online began asking where they could purchase her music. That led to her latest album “Shalom.”

            “My music died,” Jasmine says, “and His worship is what resurrected.” The dream she had surrendered long ago was broken, then blessed, and then multiplied. “I’m grateful for every step of this journey. I’ve learned that everything is possible when we seek Him first and His Kingdom. Then everything else will fall into place.”