Musician Jenny Simmons ponders new path

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—For singer/songwriter Jenny Simmons, The Becoming represents more than just the title of her debut album. It describes her personal journey of self-discovery and new beginnings.

Jenny Simmons’ new CD is about hope in the midst of uncertainty.After spending more than a decade as lead singer of the worship band Addison Road, formed when members were attending Baylor University in Waco, Simmons began pondering a new path and perspective as band members pursued other ventures in order to spend more time with their families.

While embarking on a new direction, Simmons kept a blog to express her feelings, questions and insecurities about this journey. 

Little did Simmons know, her writing inspired the songs for her upcoming album, filled with songs about having hope in the midst of uncertainty.

“In the beginning of the recording process and starting a solo career, I had no confidence,” Simmons said. “I didn’t know what I was good at and what I wasn’t, because I was so much a part of this little bubble with the band. I had depended on them so much. I needed to start believing in my own heart that the best days weren’t behind me.

“It was in that season of being lost that I was ultimately able to be found, and not because I knew the next step, because I didn’t, but just because the Lord showed up in that season, and he brought new things to life.”

As a result of Simmons’ writing and recording these songs to encourage others to hold on during life’s challenges and changes, the album has been well received and debuted at No. 5 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel Charts.

While performing concerts, Simmons shares the message behind the music in hopes of connecting audiences to Christ.

“I think the most beautiful part of the gospel is that Jesus uses broken people and turns their lives around for his glory,” Simmons said. “There’s just something about getting to the place in life where you’re at the end of your rope, but still trusting that Jesus is making a way for you. The song, ‘Letting You Go’ perfectly captures the process of allowing dreams to die so God can birth new ones.

“I think the tendency is to run, to try to fix it as quickly as possible, to not have to wait … or to dig your feet into wherever you were and refuse to move and refuse to change. But my hope and prayer is that people realize it’s a season, and I believe it can be a holy season.

“When our hands are gripped tightly around our plans, our future and what we think is going to happen, it just doesn’t leave a lot of space to live life with open hands and receive whatever it is God has for us.”