Terrian is famous for singing in TobyMac’s DiverseCity band—and her story is a powerful testimony of what can happen when we place our gifts in the Lord’s care.
In this episode of K-LOVE’s “This Is My Story,” she shares her journey of being called to perform her first solo, overcoming stage fright and learning to rely on the Lord.
Of her upbringing, she says, “I grew up in North Memphis. Surrounded by church, culture and music. I got to see what it looked like to live in community with people.”
Church was the center of community for Terrian and her loved ones, where they would gather as one big extended family and share life together; her grandfather preaching and her Aunt Carolyn leading worship from the stage.
She tells the story of being called to sing her first solo in church, delighting audience members with a remixed version of the classic “ABCs.” As she grew and participated more in church music, Terrian quickly realized that singing worship was something she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She told the Lord she wanted to be a singer.
But that meant performing in front of people—something that intimidated Terrian despite her excitement to glorify God through praise.
“The first time I realized I had stage fright, I remember being light-headed and nauseous. Some moments are worse than others,” Terrian said. “I have no control over my voice…my legs are shaking, I don't feel grounded, my throat is dry. I don’t have any center.”
“What helps is to remember that it’s an audience of one. I’m just trying to glorify Jesus. And secondly, this moment is about more than me and my nerves. Relying on the Lord is the most important thing in those moments. There’s something special about hearing everyone singing to our Lord and it just sounds like one faith, one hope, one love. That is the most powerful thing that surpasses any nerves I might have in that moment.”
As a young teen, Terrian was an ambitious artist, auditioning for musical acts of all kinds. After singing at a classmate’s church, a man gave Terrian a prophetic word. He said, “The Lord told me to tell you, in three years, you’re going to sign a record deal.”
Over the next three years, Terrian studied songwriting and worship leadership at college. “The Lord used my worship professor there to teach me about the heart and posture of worship…and I needed that for that next season.”
When she graduated from college, Terrian decided to take a more hands-on approach to her music career, and auditioned for “American Idol,” making it all the way to the top 48 of contestants across the United States. Unfortunately, that moment did not turn out to be the career catalyst she had hoped it would be.
“The Lord humbled me,” she says. “I was incredibly crushed by being told no. I think it brought a lot of insecurities to the surface. I was frustrated with the Lord.”
But, she says, that moment brought her to a place of surrender in His divine plan. After trying to achieve her goals with her own strength, Terrian released her plans to the Lord.
“The Lord was teaching me to embrace Him as my Father,” Terrian said. “He knows the desires of my heart. But as my Father, He foresees things that I can’t see coming, and He taught me how to mature as a young woman first before He started to say yes to several things that I prayed for.”
Although she walked into a season of waiting, Terrian continued to nurture her musical gift, participating in church worship whenever God opened a door.
Another three years later, she was signed to Gotee Records, the Nashville-based label launched by TobyMac in 1994, and she soon became a vital part of the group. “Being part of DiverseCity has been an absolute game changer.”
A second incredible opportunity she enjoyed was TobyMac’s involvement in her solo career. With focused support and mentorship, God’s plan took her farther than she could have gone on her own—and now she feels a responsibility to honor Him with the gifts He has given her.
“It’s not just some songs we’re writing.” Terrian says. “This is an offering to the Lord, so I have to handle it with excellence.”
When reflecting on her journey to become the musician she is today, Terrian said, “I want to encourage people, whatever you’re carrying, whatever you have before the Lord, He’s stronger than that….He deeply cares for you, and He’s looking out for you the same way He’s looking out for me.”
