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About Darin Kinser
“If there was ever a song that told my family’s story, it is ‘Garden of Stone’ written by Gerald Reeder,” says Darin Kinser. “As soon as I heard the lyrics, it was as if Gerald knew my parents and was writing their biography. I knew I had to record it.”
They grew up in hard times
Both raised dirt poor
She worked in the factory
He fought in the war
‘til death do us part
Were the words that were said
On the day that Mama and Daddy were wed.
Darin continues, “Though my dad never went to war, all of the other lyrics were my parents’ story exactly.”
Darin says the night the song was previewed on Facebook as a demo, it broke his heart, but more than that, it told his story.
Darin’s mother went to a strict fire and brimstone preaching church with her best friend. His dad had been raised in church, going with his grandfather as a boy. His parents loved each other fiercely.
In 1995, Darin’s dad told everyone he loved them, walked into the bedroom, put his hands across his chest, looked toward the ceiling, and passed away. They would later learn it was a massive heart attack from blocked arteries. Darin was thirteen at the time.
“They were married twenty-one years in June, and Daddy passed in January,” Darin shares. “My mother grieved his loss for the next twenty-two years. She never went out of the house other than to visit her mom or his grave. Most of the time, she just sat in her bedroom. She would occasionally come out to the dining room to get something to eat but go right back to the bedroom to sit and stare.”
Darin says his mother would frequently say, “I don’t know why he left here without me!” She longed to be with him, so much so, her life seemed to stop when his did.
Darin’s mom succumbed to stage four breast cancer twenty-two years after his dad passed away. She spent fifty-eight days in the hospital and was given three months to live. She exceeded that time but was in Hospice a week before she finally was able to be reunited with her husband.
Dad worked the night shift,
Mama, she worked days
Raised up us boys
On a mill worker’s pay
Mama made the biscuits
Daddy mowed the grass
Raised gardens and grandkids
Till the day that he passed
Now he lies in a garden,
A garden of stone
Where the rows they are straight
And the rows they are long
Mama’s eyes grew weary
From the tears that she cried
And Mama stopped livin’
On the day Daddy died.
Sad words for sure, but somehow Darin found comfort in the lyrics Gerald Reeder had written and brought them to life in his emotional recording of the song. Darin wants others to know that no matter how hopeless a loss may feel, “we do not grieve as others who have no hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13. He has hope his mother and father are reunited and knows he can go see them one day. In the meantime, he places flowers in the garden of stone and remembers the love they shared.
Darin is available for interviews or station liners at: 812-276-9240.
The RadioMusicDJ Weekly Hot Top 100 for the week ending August 21, 2026 is now available.
Darin & Brooke Aldridge featuring Jason Crabb hold the No. 1 position for the sixth consecutive week with “It’ll Be Worth It After All” on Billy Blue Records.
View the Official Weekly Chart
The chart confirms the song is at No. 1 for its sixth consecutive week.
Congratulations to Billy Blue Records recording artists Darin & Brooke Aldridge, along with all the gifted artists on this week's RadioMusicDJ Hot Top 100 Chart!
Their latest radio release, "It'll Be Worth It After All (Feat. Jason Crabb)," debuted on the chart at Number 1 and has now held the Number 1 position for an incredible SIX CONSECUTIVE WEEKS!
Congratulations to Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Jason Crabb, Billy Blue Records, and everyone involved with this outstanding release.
RadioMusicDJ Hot Top 100 – Top 10
Week Ending August 21, 2026
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"It'll Be Worth It After All (Feat. Jason Crabb)" – Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Billy Blue Records
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"Faith Family Forever (Feat. Autumn Nelon Streetman)" – Todd & Rhonda Nelon – ARS
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"Just Be Grateful" – Ken Franz – Independent
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"Save Everybody" – Troy Cross – 7Vine Music
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"Christian Country Girl" – Kelbi Watkins – Nashville Christian Country
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"Good Ol' Boy" – Jason Cole – Independent
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"Restless" – Elaine Roy – Grace Records Nashville LLC
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"Living The Prayer Momma Use To Pray (LIVE)" – Lena Aldridge – Grace Records Nashville LLC
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"More Like You" – Daniel Wheeler – Independent
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"A Prayer I Never Prayed" – Tyson Leamon – Nashville Christian Country
“I’ve Got Something to Sing About” is a soul-stirring celebration of faith from Southern Gospel and inspirational artist Willa Jay.
With a heart full of love for Christ, Willa uses the songs He has given her to share the hope of Jesus with a hurting world. Her soulful delivery tugs at the heartstrings and brings a “Holy Ghost fire” that will put joy in your spirit and movement in your feet!
Artist and songwriter: Willa Jay
Song: “I’ve Got Something to Sing About”
Recorded at: Un-Marked Road Studio
Producers: Rocky and Tamie Smith
Label: Grace Records Nashville LLC
Publishing: ASCAP
Genre: Southern Gospel, Black Gospel, and Inspirational
Website: www.gracerecordsnashville.com
Sixteen-year-old Kelbi Watkins is excited to release her very first single “Christian Country Girl” written by her producer Rick Schweinsberg. Though Kelbi may be a new name to Christian Country fans, she is certainly not new to singing.
Kelbi has been singing in church for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather is her pastor, and her daddy, Ryan Watkins, Christian Country artist, is her worship leader. Kelbi wanted to be on that stage, too. At the age of 8, Kelbi gave her heart to the Lord at VBS. God has given her a gift.
To look at Kelbi, such a beautiful teen who holds the title of “Miss Northeast Alabama” in the thirteen- to fifteen-year-old division and won many other pageants, one might think her young life has been an easy one. That is far from the truth.
Kelbi’s parents, Tanza and Ryan shared her story.
“At age two,” Ryan shares, “Kelbi was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. We were going back and forth to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville from our home in Ider, Alabama, for about eight months.”
Tanza continues, “Kelbi began walking like an old woman. Her ankles were really swollen. She could no longer run but walked very slowly. In the first appointment, the doctor began telling us what life would look like for Kelbi.”
The young parents were devastated while looking at their beautiful first born little girl, not knowing what the future held, having nothing but the doctor’s description of what all their lives would be. They only knew to pray.
“On the way back home from Nashville, I felt God tell me ‘Everything is going to be all right,’ says Ryan. “I shared that with Tanza. When the Lord speaks to you, you know it’s Him, and you can trust Him. I heard Him say, ‘There’s an end to this!”
Tanza shares, “The doctor had told us Kelbi would have to have a test where they put her under. We didn’t feel comfortable with that. We chose to trust God and not have the test.”
“Our family members were scared and wanted us to get the test done,” says Ryan. “They pressured us to get it. It was hard to stay strong and trust God, but we knew what He had told us. After eight months, we went back to the doctor and Kelbi was running all over the place. We knew we had witnessed a miracle. The doctor was amazed.”
“From that time on, Kelbi has had a special anointing on her life!” continues Tanza. “When I see her singing, all I can do is cry, knowing she is a miracle.”
In 5th grade, Kelbi and her best friend, Alexa, won the Nationals at BETA Club held at Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. They sang "The Truth I'm Standing On."
“To sing a Jesus song in front of thousands of parents and students, competing with the best from every state in forty or fifty schools against all types of talent, and then to win at such a young age was such a blessing,” says Kelbi.
Kelbi has sung for three years at The Ark Encounter with her daddy for the Forty Days and Forty Nights events. She is also looking forward to singing for the Founders Day events and parade in Ider on Labor Day. She will get her drivers license soon and is looking forward to traveling and singing more and playing on her girls' varsity basketball team for her coach who has won a state championship. Kelbi is looking forward to what God has for her through this single release.
When asked why she chose her new release “Christian Country Girl” as the song she wanted to record for the first time, Kelbi shared, “I have always wanted to sing professionally and see what it was like in the studio. It was great doing that for the first time with my dad also recording a song that day.
Kelbi continues, “I picked this song, because I related to the sassiness in it. I seem outgoing, but I can also be reserved. I was able to express my strength through the song. When someone cusses at school, I tell them I don’t speak that way and don’t want them to speak that way around me. Sometimes, you have to stand your ground for the Lord in hard situations. This song talks about that.”
There is no doubt Kelbi Watkins is here to stay and stand her ground for the Lord. She is definitely a Christian Country Girl!
The RadioMusicDJ Weekly Hot Top 100 for the week ending August 14, 2026 is now available.
Darin & Brooke Aldridge featuring Jason Crabb hold the No. 1 position for the fifth consecutive week with “It’ll Be Worth It After All” on Billy Blue Records.
See the complete RadioMusicDJ Official Weekly Chart, including this week’s Top 100 artists and songs.
Download the Official Weekly Chart
Congratulations to Billy Blue Records recording artists Darin & Brooke Aldridge, along with all the gifted artists on this week's RadioMusicDJ Hot Top 100 Chart!
Their latest radio release, “It’ll Be Worth It After All (Feat. Jason Crabb),” debuted on the chart at NUMBER ONEand has now held the #1 position for the FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WEEK!
Congratulations to Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Jason Crabb, Billy Blue Records, and everyone involved with this outstanding release!
RadioMusicDJ Hot Top 100 – TOP 10
Week Ending August 14, 2026
1. It’ll Be Worth It After All (Feat. Jason Crabb)
Darin & Brooke Aldridge — Billy Blue Records
5TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK AT No. 1!
2. Restless
Elaine Roy — Grace Records Nashville LLC
3. Good Ol' Boy
Jason Cole — Independent
4. Faith Family Forever (Feat. Autumn Nelon Streetman)
Todd And Rhonda Nelon — ARS
5. Change Me
The Miracles — Grace Records Nashville LLC
6. Save Everybody
Troy Cross — 7Vine Music
7. More Like You
Daniel Wheeler — Independent
8. The Fixer
Tammy Renee — Independent
9. The Missionary
Linda Boles Music — Independent
10. A Prayer I Never Prayed
Tyson Leamon — Nashville Christian Country
Congratulations to all of this week's Top 10 artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, promoters and record labels!
A special THANK YOU to all of the radio broadcasters and for continuing to play and support great Christian Country, Gospel and inspirational music!
The RadioMusicDJ Weekly Hot Top 100 for the week ending August 7, 2026 is now available.
Darin & Brooke Aldridge featuring Jason Crabb hold the No. 1 position with “It’ll Be Worth It After All” on Billy Blue Records.
See the complete RadioMusicDJ Official Weekly Chart, including this week’s Top 100 artists and songs.
Grace Records Nashville is excited to share Lena Aldridge and her heartfelt song, “Living the Prayer Momma Use to Pray,” recorded LIVE at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee as part of the "Sound of Small Town America " Season 2
There’s something especially meaningful about a song centered around a mother’s prayers being performed on one of country music’s most legendary stages.
Written and performed by Lena Aldridge, “Living the Prayer Momma Use to Pray” carries a message many of us understand—the prayers spoken over us by our mothers can continue to follow us, shape us, and bear fruit long after those prayers were first prayed.
Vocals & Writer: Lena Aldridge
Publishing: BMI
Drums: Curt Lee
Keys: Spencer Lyman
Bass: Randy Coleman
Guitar: Zach Olendorf
Acoustic: Josh Key
Steel: Jeremy Drawbaugh
Band appears courtesy of Cody McCarver.
Released by Grace Records Nashville LLC, the song crosses the worlds of Christian Country, Southern Gospel, Inspirational, and Contemporary Christian music with a message rooted in faith, family, and the power of prayer.
"Save Everybody" is a Roots Country/Christian Country track, wrapped in authentic Bluegrass instrumentation, and it delivers a message that resonates far beyond genre lines. "Save Everybody" tells a story of grace over judgment...reminding listeners that faith isn't about good people preaching to bad people, but about grateful people sharing hope with everyone they meet.
Tammy Renee is a nationally touring Southern Gospel and Christian Country artist whose engaging concerts blend powerful vocals, heartfelt storytelling, humor, and an authentic testimony that audiences remember long after the final song. Performing more than 80 dates annually across the United States, Tammy connects with listeners of all ages through a mix of original music, beloved Gospel favorites, and encouraging messages of faith and hope. Whether appearing at festivals, theaters, churches, fairs, senior events, or community celebrations, her goal is simple: to create an experience that leaves audiences encouraged, uplifted, and wanting more.
