From Divine Whispers to Redemption: The Unfolding Journey of Stephanie Smith
In 2001, a shy teenager in small-town Pennsylvania flipped through the pages of CCM Magazine and stumbled upon an ad that would alter the course of her life—Greenville College’s Contemporary Christian Music program, endorsed by the success of Jars of Clay. For Stephanie Smith, it was more than an opportunity; it was a calling. She packed her dreams, her fears, and an unshakable faith, leaving behind the familiar to chase something bigger than herself. By 2005, she stood on a festival stage at Greenville, her voice catching the ear of TobyMac from his tour bus. That divine moment led to a record deal with Gotee, launching her into a whirlwind of touring, recording, and sharing stages with Christian music’s biggest names. Her debut album, Not Afraid, was a declaration of faith and fearlessness—until the winds shifted.
In 2012, Stephanie left Gotee, heartbroken yet entrusted with a rare gift: full ownership of her master recordings. The loss of her manager, Glenda McNalley, soon after deepened the grief, and the music that once burned bright was tucked away in a cedar closet, silent for years. She stepped into a quieter season—marrying Tim Skipper of House of Heroes and forming the duo Copperlily. But the fire never fully died. In 2018, she reappeared on The Voice, delivering a raw, emotional performance that hinted at the healing yet to come. The reconciliation with her estranged father, followed by his sudden passing in 2020, became the catalyst for her memoir, Thank You For Failing Me, a testament to brokenness and redemption.
Now, after over a decade of silence, Stephanie has done the bravest thing yet—she opened the cedar closet. The music that once defined her, the anthems of faith and resilience, have returned. Not Afraid and her self-titled EP are back on streaming platforms, a full-circle moment of celebration and closure. “Those years were special,” she reflects. “It’s absolutely time I reposted them.” From the pages of CCM to the stages of Winter Jam, through heartbreak and healing, Stephanie’s story isn’t just one of loss—it’s a testament to the beauty of second chances, the power of faith, and the music that never really left.
