Rising singer-songwriter Belle Frantz is opening a deeply personal new chapter with the upcoming release of First Assembly of God, arriving this Friday.
The project was recorded inside the childhood church of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi - the very same church where Frantz's great-grandfather once played guitar. For the artist, returning to that sacred space became far more than a recording session; it became a spiritual and emotional journey rooted in family, faith, and musical heritage.
"Going back there felt like stepping into something much much bigger than me," Frantz shared in an emotional announcement on social media.
The project emerged during what she described as an unsettled season in her life, when she found herself drawn back to hymns and traditional spiritual songs. After casually posting performances online, Frantz was overwhelmed by the response from listeners - including many who said the music stirred emotions and memories connected to home, comfort, and even God.
"So many of you shared stories - saying, 'I don't have a relationship with God, but this made me feel something... it took me home,'" she wrote.
Frantz explained that hymns represent more than church music to her - they are foundational to country music itself and shaped her earliest experiences as a singer.
"To me, hymns are country music. They're where it all begins," she shared. "I learned to sing from them."
The artist described the release as "Chapter 1," hinting at a larger musical and spiritual journey still unfolding. She also expressed gratitude to Roy Turner for allowing her to become the first artist to officially record music inside the historic church building.
At its heart, First Assembly of God appears to be less about nostalgia and more about rediscovering sacred roots - blending faith, Southern tradition, family legacy, and heartfelt storytelling into a project Frantz hopes will make listeners feel "safe, steady, and like home."
The release arrives amid a growing resurgence of interest in hymns and spiritually rooted Americana music, especially among younger artists reconnecting with the sounds and stories that shaped earlier generations of gospel and country music.
