KELLY CLARKSON MUSIC DIRECTOR JASON HALBERT AND CO-AUTHOR RHONDA HALBERT RELEASE ARCHITECT, THE EPIC FINAL CHAPTER IN THE BEST-SELLING GOODPASTURE CHRONICLES TRILOGY

 

KELLY CLARKSON MUSIC DIRECTOR JASON HALBERT AND CO-AUTHOR RHONDA HALBERT RELEASE ARCHITECT, THE EPIC FINAL CHAPTER IN THE BEST-SELLING GOODPASTURE CHRONICLES TRILOGY

R.J. Halbert’s Highly-Anticipated Conclusion Follows the Success of #1 Bestseller SERVANT and Award-Winning Debut CARETAKER

Release Week Includes National Television Spotlight on The Kelly Clarkson Show

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 3, 2026) — Kelly Clarkson music director Jason Halbert and co-author Rhonda Halbert, writing together as R.J. Halbert, have released ARCHITECT, the powerful and long-awaited final installment in The Goodpasture Chronicles trilogy—bringing to a close the sweeping supernatural saga that began with the nine-time award-winning, #1 bestselling debut CARETAKER and continued with seven-time award-winning SERVANT, which debuted at #1 on Amazon. Book one in the series, CARETAKER, received the 2025 Bill Fischer Silver Award, and book two, SERVANT, received the coveted Blue Star from Kirkus Reviews.

In celebration of the book's release, R.J. Halbert appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show yesterday to discuss ARCHITECT, the inspiration behind the series, and the remarkable journey that transformed personal loss into an award-winning trilogy. The couple open up about their bittersweet farewell to the trilogy, and tease what's next for the franchise, including a TV series adaptation and a new Y.A. spinoff novel.

Now, as one major era in television ends with this month’s conclusion of the show and another creative journey reaches its end as well, R.J. Halbert is reflecting on the unexpected intersection of art, suffering, faith, and purpose that shaped both.

"The creation of The Goodpasture Chronicles was our way of processing a long journey of grief," says R.J. Halbert. "We never could have imagined the attention and accolades received for a story so personal. It is often said that life imitates art. Our lives have certainly been impacted by our unexpected art, and the hope is our art will continue to impact many more lives."

As the final chapter, ARCHITECT not only answers long-held questions but also invites reflection on destiny, healing, and the lasting impact of choices made across generations. 

ARCHITECT is available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963366190

ABOUT R.J. HALBERT

R.J. Halbert is a sixteen-time award-winning, #1 bestselling husband-and-wife team who are the authors of The Goodpasture Chronicles, a supernatural fantasy trilogy that blends mystery, suspense, endurance, and triumph into an epic adventure. Book one in the series, CARETAKER, received the 2025 Bill Fischer Silver Award, and book two, SERVANT, received the coveted Blue Star from Kirkus Reviews and was named a finalist in the 2026 American Legacy Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense Historical).

Jason Halbert, one-half of R.J. Halbert, is an Emmy and Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter whose work has reached millions worldwide through multiple #1 and platinum-selling albums. In addition to his 23+ year career as music director and producer for Kelly Clarkson, he has contributed to numerous film and television projects and collaborated with a wide range of recording artists. When not creating music, he enjoys beekeeping, sci-fi, and storytelling.

Rhonda Halbert, the other half of R.J. Halbert, spent 15 years as a successful music and television manager after homeschooling their two children on the road. She has guided clients' relationships with labels, networks, and producers, and is also a published photographer, music supervisor, passionate cook, garden enthusiast, and spiritual practitioner.

Together, Jason and Rhonda have woven their 33+ years of life into a riveting narrative—rooted in truth and experience, and brought to life through imagination.

 

CONNECT WITH R.J. HALBERT

Website: https://www.rjhalbert.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.j.halbert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjhalbertauthor/

OUT NOW: Amy Grant Returns with The Me That Remains, Her First Album of Original Songs in 13 Years

 

OUT NOW: Amy Grant Returns with The Me That Remains, Her First Album of Original Songs in 13 Years

Six-Time GRAMMY Winner Shares Deeply Personal, Reflective Collection Produced by Mac McAnally

Album Release Show at the Ryman Auditorium Tonight, Followed by Tour Dates in NYC, Chicago, Boston and More

Photo credit: Ed Rode

“Someone who knows exactly who she is and how she wants to live her life.” – NPR

“Profoundly personal.” – USA Today

“Some of her most unfiltered, powerfully contemplative songs to date.” – Billboard

“Poignant, reflective.” – PEOPLE Magazine

May 8, 2026: Six-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 2022 Kennedy Center Honoree Amy Grant has returned with her first collection of original songs in 13 years, The Me That Remains, out today via Thirty Tigers. A deeply personal and reflective work, The Me That Remains finds Grant taking a clear-eyed look at where she stands personally, spiritually, and creatively today. Across its ten tracks, the album reflects on healing, connection, endurance, and grace, shaped by the life experience of a beloved musician now more than 50 years into a groundbreaking career. 

"I had so much fun going back into the studio again and making this project with Mac [McAnally],” Grant says. “To hear the talent every writer, musician and guest artist brought to the project put a big smile on my face.  I feel like this project freed me from expectations that I didn't even know I had.”

Produced by ten-time CMA Award winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mac McAnally, the album signals a more stripped-down, singer-songwriter approach, first previewed with “The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm),” a meditation on unity and perspective inspired by the idealism of the Woodstock era. 

Throughout The Me That Remains, McAnally’s understated production allows Grant’s voice—warm, intimate, and resolute—to take center stage, foregrounding the emotional clarity that defines the record. Written and recorded in the wake of significant personal challenges, including open heart surgery and a life-altering bike accident, the album carries a sense of hard-won perspective, balancing vulnerability with quiet strength.

Grant has introduced the album in recent weeks with a series of special appearances, including a performance of the title track on Live with Kelly & Mark and a sold-out “New York Evening With Amy Grant” at The Greene Space, hosted by the GRAMMY Museum in partnership with the Americana Music Foundation, where she debuted several songs from the project live for the first time.

Across the album, Grant blends deeply personal reflection with broader themes of collective healing. “How Do We Get There From Here” (feat. Ruby Amanfu) wrestles with division, grief, and the urgent question of how to move forward in the wake of tragedy—written following the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville and released on its anniversary as a call for unity, compassion, and collective action. “The Saint,” co-written with longtime collaborator Michael W. Smith, offers a portrait of redemption, while collaborations with Vince Gill, Sarah Cannon, and Corrina Gill underscore the personal and musical relationships that have shaped her life and career.

Co-written with McAnally, the title track “The Me That Remains” serves as the album’s emotional centerpiece, directly reflecting on Grant’s recent health journey (“Life cut me wide open / When my head hit the ground / Wasn’t my time for dying / Guess my soul just stuck around”). Ultimately, the song emerges as a testament to survival, resilience, and gratitude (“My smile in the mirror is enough for today / Reflecting the light deep down inside that never will fade”).

Visually, The Me That Remains extends these themes of reflection and reconstruction. Grant commissioned artist Wayne Brezinka to create the album cover as a mixed-media collage assembled from meaningful fragments of her life—including family photos, pieces of a treasured quilt, seashells from her collection, her childhood Bible, and an article about her great-grandfather—layering memory and meaning directly into the portrait. In conjunction with the release, the Museum of Christian and Gospel Music in Nashville will debut a special exhibition of the artwork beginning May 8.

Now 65, Grant remains a singular figure in American music. With more than 30 million albums sold and over 2.2 billion global streams, she became the first artist in Contemporary Christian Music to achieve a platinum record, reach No. 1 on the pop charts, and perform at the GRAMMY Awards. A trailblazer whose career has spanned church pews to arena stages, she returns with a record rooted in hard-won perspective—and in the strength of the woman who remains.

The Me That Remains is out now via Thirty Tigers on vinyl, CD and across streaming platforms. Additionally, there are exclusive offerings including Orange Vinyl for Indie Record Stores and an exclusive CD with bonus tracks via Amazon. The exclusive Turquoise Vinyl offered by Talk Shop Live is sold-out. Listen to/order The Me That Remains HERE and watch the new lyric video for “Please Don’t Make Me Beg” HERE.

Grant will perform a special album release show at the Ryman Auditorium tonight (May 8) in celebration of the new album, followed by a performance at LA’s The Troubadour for Covenant House California’s inaugural “Speak Out” event, sponsored by Amazon and Delta Air Lines. Grant recently announced a string of tour dates throughout June, with stops in NYC, Chicago, Boston and more, as well as sold-out album signings at Grimey’s in Nashville and Electric Fetus in Minneapolis. For all upcoming shows and more information, please visit https://www.amygrant.com. 

The Me That Remains Tracklist

The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)

How Do We Get There From Here (feat. Ruby Amanfu)

Please Don’t Make Me Beg

The Saint

Beautiful Lone Companion

The Me That Remains

‘Til We Get It Right

(Nothing Like A) Sunny Day

Friend Like You (with Vince Gill)

The Other Side Of Goodbye (with Sarah Cannon & Corrina Gill)

Amy Grant 2026 Tour Dates

May 8 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN

May 13 - The Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA

June 15 - City Winery Chicago - Chicago, IL

June 16 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

June 17 - Eddie’s Attic - Decatur, GA

June 19 - Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA

June 20 - City Winery New York City - New York, NY

June 21 - Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts - Patchogue, NY

June 23 - City Winery Boston - Boston, MA

June 24 - Bichmere - Alexandria, VA

June 26 - The Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH

June 27 - Robert Kirk Walker Theatre - Chattanooga, TN

July 30 - Carnegie Library Music Hall Homestead - Munhall, PA

August 1 - Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA

August 14 - MGM Northfield Park Center Stage - Northfield, OH

November 27 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Columbus, OH

November 28 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Hershey, PA

November 29 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Charlotte, NC

November 30 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Raleigh, NC

December 2 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Fort Wayne, IN

December 3 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Grand Rapids, MI

December 4 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Saint Paul, MN

December 5 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Lincoln, NE

December 7 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Kansas City, MO

December 8 - Christmas Together with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans - Loveland, CO

December 14 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 15 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 16 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 17 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 19 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 20 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 22 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

December 23 - Christmas at the Ryman (w/ Vince Gill) - Nashville, TN

###

 
 

Amy Grant Explores “How Do We Get There From Here” on New Duet with Ruby Amanfu

Amy Grant Explores “How Do We Get There From Here” on New Duet with Ruby Amanfu

New Single, Released On The Anniversary of Nashville’s Covenant School Shooting, Calls For Unity, Compassion & Collective Action

Final Preview From Grant’s Album The Me That Remains Due Out May 8

Listen HERE / Watch the Music Video HERE

March 27, 2026: Ahead of her first album of original songs in over a decade, six-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 2022 Kennedy Center Honoree Amy Grant has released a new single, “How Do We Get There From Here” featuring and co-written with 2x Song of the Year GRAMMY® Award nominee, recording artist, songwriter & producer Ruby Amanfu. Written in the wake of the 2023 Covenant school shooting in Nashville, and released exactly three years later, the song wrestles with grief, accountability, and the urgent question of how to move forward—not just in the aftermath of tragedy, but within an increasingly divided world.

“Could any of this fighting be worth these children’s lives?” Grant asks in the song’s powerful lyrics, coupled with Amanfu adding, “When the ink dries on our story / What will history reveal / Will we have been part of the problem / Or a part of how we heal?”

What began as a response to one devastating moment has grown into a broader reflection on the challenges of finding common ground in a fractured society—asking how people with differing perspectives can still come together in pursuit of a shared good.

In the wake of the Covenant school shooting, Grant and Amanfu joined a coalition of artists—including Sheryl Crow, Allison Russell and Margo Price—in calling on the Tennessee General Assembly to address gun reform. When those efforts stalled, Grant found herself returning to a central question: how do we move forward together when agreement feels out of reach?

“After six beautiful people, including a longtime friend of mine, were killed in the Covenant school shooting, several artists met with legislators in Nashville,” Grant says. “In the wake of that gridlock, we kept asking ourselves, how can we identify and reach a common goal? How can we move beyond what divides us? Unity is not sameness. Unity is standing together in spite of our differences. Ruby and I hope our song ‘How Do We Get There From Here’ can fan the flame of hope to create a safer space for all of us to push beyond our differences for the greater good.”

“Linking arms with Amy Grant to co-write ‘How Do We Get There From Here’ was born out of the knowledge that sometimes forward motion can feel like walking through mud in boots too big for our feet…but we still have to take a first step, then another, and another after that,” Amanfu adds. “Those steps are made easier when we do it together, hand in hand. Our song is a call to come together on an issue that has divided our nation—but an issue that we have to do more about because the truth is that doing little to nothing hasn’t kept us safe. Rather, it’s allowed the distance between us to grow wider, and the consequences of that are something we’re all living with now. Sometimes the hardest thing is sitting down and talking with someone we disagree with. This song asks a simple but really difficult question: what would happen if we chose compassion first? Could it open a door that has been barricaded shut on both sides? Could we take down one brace at a time until the door finally opens?”

Listen to “How Do We Get There From Here” (feat. Ruby Amanfu) HERE and watch the official music video HERE.

“How Do We Get There From Here” (feat. Ruby Amanfu) is the final advance single ahead of Grant’s new album The Me That Remains, due out May 8 via Thirty Tigers. Produced by ten-time CMA Award winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mac McAnally, the album finds Grant leaning fully into her strengths as a songwriter and taking a clear-eyed look at where she stands personally, spiritually, and creatively today. 

Across its ten tracks, the album reflects on healing, connection, endurance, and grace, shaped by the life experience of a beloved musician now more than 50 years into a groundbreaking career. Grant previewed the album with early singles  “The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)”,  a meditation on unity and perspective inspired by the idealism of the Woodstock era, and “The Me That Remains”, the album’s emotional centerpiece, which reflects directly on the profound health challenges Grant has faced in recent years, including open heart surgery and a life-altering bike accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

Visually, The Me That Remains album artwork reflects the album’s themes of memory and reconstruction. Grant commissioned artist Wayne Brezinka to create the cover as a mixed-media collage assembled from meaningful fragments of her life – including pieces of a quilt she has long treasured, seashells from her collection, her childhood Bible, and an article about her grandfather – layering her history directly into the portrait.

“The older I get, the more aware I am that we all live long enough to see versions of ourselves pass away,” Grant shares. “Given time to process decades of a life - one that was both exciting and difficult - I’ve needed to remember and release the younger Amy Grant. There are fewer bells and whistles around this deeper work now, but life’s discoveries and mysteries are even more compelling to me. I’m thankful for each day and curious to find connection and purpose, and how the Love that made us all will emerge and express itself in and through me today.”

Now 65, Grant remains a singular figure in American music. She has garnered over 2.2 billion global streams, sold more than 30 million albums, and became the first artist in Contemporary Christian Music to achieve a platinum record, reach No. 1 on the pop charts, and perform at the GRAMMY Awards. A trailblazer whose career has spanned church pews to arena stages, she returns with a record rooted in hard-won perspective, and in the strength of the woman who remains.

The Me That Remains will be released May 8 (via Thirty Tigers) on vinyl, CD and across streaming platforms. Additionally, there will be exclusive offerings including Orange Vinyl for Indie Record Stores, Turquoise Vinyl for Talk Shop Live, and an exclusive CD with bonus tracks via Amazon. Pre-Order / Pre-Save HERE.

Grant has announced “A New York Evening with Amy Grant” on April 15th at the Greene Space, in partnership with the GRAMMY Museum and the Americana Music Foundation. The evening will include a conversation on the upcoming album plus an intimate performance. Click HERE for tickets and more information. Grant has also announced an album release show at the Ryman Auditorium on May 8th. For all upcoming tour dates, please visit https://www.amygrant.com.

The Me That Remains Tracklist
The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)
How Do We Get There From Here (feat. Ruby Amanfu)
Please Don’t Make Me Beg
The Saint
Beautiful Lone Companion
The Me That Remains
‘Til We Get It Right
(Nothing Like A) Sunny Day
Friend Like You (with Vince Gill)
The Other Side Of Goodbye (with Sarah Cannon & Corrina Gill)

Amy Grant 2026 Tour Dates
May 1 - Coronado Performing Arts Center - Rockford, IL
May 2 - Mystic Lake Casino Hotel - Prior Lake, MN
May 3 - Fox Cities Performing Arts Center - Appleton, WI
May 5 - Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KY
May 6 - Mars Music Hall - Huntsville, AL
May 8 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN

For more information, please contact Taylor Perry (tperry@shorefire.com).

ZONDERKIDZ ANNOUNCES NEW PICTURE BOOK BY "FOX & FRIENDS" CO-HOST AINSLEY EARHARDT, CELEBRATING AMERICA

ZONDERKIDZ ANNOUNCES NEW PICTURE BOOK BY "FOX & FRIENDS" CO-HOST AINSLEY EARHARDT, CELEBRATING AMERICA

"America, I’m So Glad You Were Born" Arrives June 2, 2026

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) Feb. 12, 2026- Zonderkidz is excited to announce the upcoming release of "America, I'm So Glad You Were Born," a new picture book from "FOX & Friends" co-host and #1 New York Times bestselling author Ainsley Earhardt. The book will be available nationwide on June 2, 2026.

Following the success of Earhardt’s "I'm So Glad You Were Born," and its message about the joy that friends and families can bring to others as a reason for gratefulness, this new title turns that same spirit of gratitude toward our nation itself.

“Readers truly embraced 'I'm So Glad You Were Born' because it celebrated every child’s worth in such a joyful way,” says Megan Dobson, vice president and publisher of Zonderkidz. “With 'America, I'm So Glad You Were Born,'  Ainsley brings that same voice and warmth to a celebration of our country—its people, its history, and the values that bring us together. We’re thrilled to share this book with children this summer, as we look toward our nation’s 250th birthday.” 

'America, I'm So Glad You Were Born' invites young readers to celebrate what makes the United States special, from its people and places to the freedoms and ideals at the heart of American life. Told in lively rhyme and paired with colorful illustrations from Kim Barnes, the book is filled with parades, fireworks, and moments that capture the joy and pride of being part of this country.

Perfect for children and families, this beautifully illustrated book celebrates America’s rich heritage and traditions. From the founding principles of our nation to the freedoms we cherish—like freedom of speech, religion, and opportunity—this book is a heartfelt reminder of why we’re so thankful for the Unites States of America.

Ideal for:

  • Teaching kids about America’s history and values

  • Inspiring gratitude and pride in our country

  • Celebrating Independence Day, patriotic holidays, or any day you want to honor America

Whether you’re looking for a special gift, a classroom favorite, or a book to enjoy together as a family, 'America, I'm So Glad You Were Born' offers a joyful reminder of what it means to celebrate the United States of America.

Advance reader copies will be available upon request; please contact: Velvet@theMcollective.com 

Zonderkidz

9780310184225

0310184223

Pub Date: 6/2/2026

Ship Date: 5/6/2026

$21.99/$28.99 Can./£17.99 UK

Hardcover Picture Book

###

Ainsley Earhardt is the co-host of FOX News Channel’s (FNC) "FOX & Friends" (weekdays 6-9 AM/ET) alongside Steve Doocy, Lawrence Jones, and Brian Kilmeade. In addition to her role on "FOX & Friends," Earhardt appears on FNC’s on demand subscription-based streaming service, FOX Nation, as the host of Ainsley’s Bible Study. She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the children’s books "I'm So Glad You Were Born," as well as "Take Heart, My Child," and memoirs "The Light Within Me" and "Through Your Eyes: A Child's Gift to Me." Ainsley resides in New York City with her daughter Hayden and dog Rosie Tiny Buttercup.

Kim Barnes lives on the Isle of Wight with her partner and two children, Leo and Cameo, who greatly inspire her work. She graduated from Lincoln University, England, and has drawn ever since she was a young child. She loves to relive her childhood through the stories that she creates and works with.

Zonderkidz™, Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative, and educational resources that reflect a Christian worldview and build up children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

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Media Collective Contact: 

Velvet Kelm 
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com