| 03.11.2009 - Life thus far in 2009 Hello everyone! I know this is a long awaited and long overdue update and I truly apologize for worrying any of you. So here we go… It saddens my heart to know that a lot of the news I share will sadden some of your hearts. But please remember as you read this blog that I am doing okay and I still believe with all my heart that God is in complete control and is always leading us towards hope. As some of you know, a few weeks ago, my manager David Lipscomb, went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. I first want to send my love and prayers to his dear family…they took me in like a daughter and a sister when I was first launching as a signed artist. It can be a lonely place being a solo artist in a town you don’t call home, but they were very much my second home and family during those times. Words cannot express how much of a man of God David truly was and I can’t even begin to count how many lives he touched throughout his entire selfless life of integrity. Our last conversation in January was when he heard his cancer had come back after nearly a year of being cancer free. I will never forget the loving words he shared with me regarding a very difficult circumstance in my personal life. “Brooke, if God is protecting you from something we can’t see, then we need to praise the Lord. But on the other side, if the devil is trying to mess up God’s amazing plans, then I pray God stomps on him.” This is how I will always remember him…exhibiting the selfless love of Jesus by showing concern for me during his life’s hardest trial. I love you David and it will be an honor to worship at Jehovah’s throne with you for all of eternity. Before David’s passing, many of you were growing in excitement with me as I prepared to get married. So it is also very sad news for me to share with you that the marriage did not take place. Although many of you will naturally have a “big brother or lil’ sister” attitude about it, please don’t think the worst. It was a decision God was very clear about. Though you may be tempted to ask, I obviously cannot share all of the personal details with you. Some of you will be very shocked by this news, but please know that I’m doing alright and God is faithful…He is continually upholding me with His righteous right hand. Finally, I am deeply saddened to share with you that I am no longer a signed artist under Essential/Sony BMG Records. As I share this last piece of news with you, I’m sure if I wasn’t in my own shoes, it may appear that I just lost everything I had within a few months. But nothing is further from the truth. Whatever things were once gain to me, I have counted loss for the sake of knowing Christ. The deep, personal revival the Lord has been doing in my heart and life as a result of all these hardships is unspeakable, irreplaceable, and invaluable. I cannot begin to describe to you the refining work God is doing at the very core of who I am. It is very exciting to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is now on the throne of my life. I have spent too many years searching out and trying to find wholeness in accomplishments, in success, and in relationships. I have wasted so much precious time in my day to day life glorifying myself. I have missed true intimacy with my Beloved Husband. I have forgotten the reason I wake each morning…not to show up at a rock show, but to show up for duty in God’s chosen army…no matter where I’m at or what my life entails. As I look back on the motion picture of my 27 years of life, I see a prideful and self-centered young woman, desperately longing to be somebody in this world. Trying to prove I am valuable and talented and worthy of love. Forgetting all along that God was offering me true satisfaction in falling more in love with my Savior. Forgetting that I was always “good enough” because of the presence of Jesus in my life. And He has always loved me for just being me…not because I possess any special quality, talent, or achievement. I spent years trying to “make it” in life, especially the music industry. From being in a successful indie band with my sister, to American Idol, to eventually getting signed to Essential/Sony BMG in 2006…I thought I had it all…but I was still not content. The bottom line for me is now this – I am not my own. I have been bought at a price and that means God has the right to do with my life whatever He wants. Since I am His slave, He will care for me. He will not lead me astray. He will not leave me without hope. He will not leave me in despair. He will not forsake His promises to me. If I am more effective for the kingdom of God by helping lead worship in my home church and working at a coffee shop during the week, then so be it. I am convinced that the Lord is calling us all out of our complacency in these last days…it is up to us respond to our Shepherd’s voice and follow Him out of the darkness of our pride. Even if it might mean losing some things we hold most dear. In light of eternity, what will matter most? Because we all will stand before our Great God someday, probably sooner than we think, and give an account for how we glorified the Father in this lifetime with our everyday lives. This life is so small and so short to not be so consumed with Jesus. I found myself asking my dad a few weeks ago, “Am I crazy or is life really this spiritual?” And his response was simply this, “If you are a true follower of Jesus, absolutely YES.” So did God take these things away from me for a reason? Or did I just get the short end of the stick? The answer is this – the LORD gives, and the LORD takes away…BLESSED be the name of the Lord. There is never a short end with the Lord. We have assurance of eternal life and purpose to live this life each day! I’m not going to lie, these past 3 months have been filled with tons of questions, hurt, confusion, and anxiety. Yes, anxiety – even the struggle I thought I faced and conquered 10 years ago God in His mercy has allowed to come back in order to keep me on my knees. But it’s all part of a divine process that is in God’s hands. As far as music goes, I will keep you all updated on what direction the Lord is leading me. I will still be updating my myspace and keeping in touch with all of you on a regular basis. Thank you for your constant reminders of love and your diligent prayers. I have cherished every ounce of support you’ve given me on this journey. I also want to thank everyone who was influential in my life musically…you know who you are…I love you all very much. So be encouraged, the journey is not over, I will always serve God through music in some way! I leave you with this verse, although I did not quite understand it when God gave me this verse on the Million Voices Tour, I understand it now and I praise Him for it… “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 ALL MY LOVE, Brooke “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 “If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you.” Psalm 91:14-16 |
| 12.20.2008 - New Videos UP!! Make sure to check out the new Youtube videos! |
| 10.29.2008 - Brooke on Twitter! Brooke is now on Twitter! Follow her at Twitter.com/brooke_rocks. Not yet familiar with Twitter? It's a free service that allows for you to receive updates from people (in this case, Brooke!) via text message if you so choose. Or, stay tuned to the feed on Brooke's MySpace page to find out what she's been up to! |
| 09.27.2008 - New Updates coming soon! New video updates will be coming soon... If you haven't checked out this months BRIO Magazine, you'll never guess who made the cover! Its truly an honor, so go check it out! And as always, check the shows section because we are always updating tour dates... Make sure you check to see if there is a show in your area, so you aren't left out on the fun! |
| 08.26.2008 - Reviews Are Coming In Head over to the "Links" section to see what people are saying about Brooke's debut, self-titled album. You will also find some recent interviews listed there. |
) Brooke's album is now officially available in stores and online! If you weren't able to pre-order a copy or can't make it to the store, check out the links below. iTunes Amazonmp3.com FamilyChristian.com MusiChristian.com |
) Hey Everyone! We are getting a ton of new YouTube videos updated! Make sure you keep checking in for new updates! :) http://www.youtube.com/brookebarrettsmith Also if you haven't yet Please make sure to check out the Brooke Barrettsmith FaceBook page and BEFRIEND! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooke-Barrettsmith/8359813194 -Team Brooke |
) Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that "Farewell" from the new album is now available on iTunes. Please leave a review and let us know what you think! Don't forget that you can pre-order the record from MusiChristian.com or FamilyChristian.com and have your copy shipped right to your house on or before August 19th. -Team Brooke |
) If you preordered at a show, please watch your email inbox for a special gift to say thank you for your purchase and something to hold you over until August. if you haven't preordered, you can go to Brookerocks.com for your ways to buy it. While you're there, check out how to win an iPod! -B |
) Hello everyone! For The Love of the Game Tour with Pillar (which was my first tour ever!) went soooo great! I can't thank the bands and the fans enough for their love and support. I really felt blessed to be on that tour and to have had such a great opportunity to learn and grow as a musician. Please check out all the new Live and Behind The Scenes pictures I just added today to my Myspace! They are superbness! Also, I am beyond pleased and blessed to announce that I will be on The Million Voices Tour with BarlowGirl and Jimmy Needham this fall!!! I had a chance to hang with all of them during GMA week last month, and I'm so excited for this amazing ministry opportunity. So keep checking back all summer to see when we'll be in your area...this tour is gonna rock! Lastly, I know many of you are wondering about my debut album release date. I'm sorry to say that it DID get pushed back to AUGUST 19th...and I'm sorry for such short notice. Anyone who pre-ordered the cd at a show will receive their cd in the mail sometime just before that date. Please hang in there! Hugs and squeezes to all of you who have been waiting since February...I understand how that feels...I've been waiting my whole life for this cd to come out ;-) So if you have any more questions, please feel free to drop my management a line (there's an email link in the About section). ALSO, don't forget you can still PRE-ORDER my cd at a discounted price from Family Christian Stores. AND if you're my friend on Myspace, you are entered to win a FREE I-POD shuffle to celebrate my album release! Woohoo! We will also have a drawing for 5 lucky winners that will snag a FREE copy of my cd...so spread the word that it's cool to be my Myspace friend ;-) My official website - BrookeRocks.com - is now up and running so thanks for checking it out! And while you're at it, check out my newest craaaazy videos on my YouTube channel and also check out my sweet Myspace page and awesome new ShoutLife page. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 Much Love ~ Brooke |