This week on The Upload, Brooke Taylor sits down with rising country artist Ethan Garner for an honest conversation about faith, temptation, surrender, and what it looks like to follow Jesus while chasing a dream in Nashville.

Growing up in Georgia, Ethan was surrounded by faith. His parents prayed over him as a child, his dad had a background in Southern Gospel music, and church was a regular part of his life. But like so many young people, Ethan admits that knowing about God and truly having a relationship with Him were two very different things.

During his senior year of high school, Ethan experienced what he describes as being "wrecked by the Holy Spirit" at a Christian camp. For the first time, he felt the weight of his choices and realized that the things he'd been chasing couldn't satisfy him the way a relationship with Jesus could.

But his faith journey wasn't a straight line.

When Ethan arrived at Georgia Southern University, he quickly found himself immersed in fraternity life, college parties, and the bar scene, where he was also beginning to perform as a musician. Despite his earlier encounter with God, he admits he spent much of his first two years of college partying and struggling with the same temptations he'd hoped to leave behind.

Everything began to shift when a mentor invited him on a mission trip to Panama. Trading a traditional college spring break for a week of serving others, sharing the Gospel, and worshiping alongside fellow students, Ethan began to experience his faith in a completely new way. That trip eventually led to another mission trip to Thailand, where he spent several weeks sharing Jesus with others and developing a deeper understanding of what it meant to live for something bigger than himself.

Ethan shares how those experiences challenged him to step outside his comfort zone, say yes when God opened a door, and recognize that sometimes the greatest spiritual growth happens when we're willing to leave behind what's familiar.

The conversation also explores the pressures of pursuing a career in country music. After transferring to Belmont University in Nashville, Ethan initially considered pursuing Christian music. But an unexpected series of opportunities led him into the country music industry, including meeting his manager and landing a publishing deal on the very same day.

With his first EP out now and a growing career ahead of him, Ethan is learning that following Jesus doesn't necessarily mean working in Christian music. It means honoring God wherever He's placed you.

Brooke and Ethan discuss the dangers of comparison, the temptation to measure success against other artists, and the importance of staying focused on the path God has prepared for you. Ethan shares advice he's received from industry mentors about working hard, perfecting his craft, and celebrating other people's success rather than becoming consumed by competition.

They also talk about personal convictions, the power of worship, surrounding yourself with godly influences, and why Christians don't have to be perfect before they can experience God's love.

In one particularly personal moment, Ethan opens up about his family's history of miscarriage and shares that he was originally a twin, though his sibling did not survive the pregnancy. He reflects on the hope of heaven and the possibility of one day meeting the family members he never knew.

As the conversation comes to a close, Ethan shares what he's praying for in this new season: the courage to remain bold in his faith, the wisdom to steward his opportunities well, and a heart that stays focused on God rather than fame or success.

🎧 If you've ever felt caught between the life you're living and the life God is calling you toward, Ethan's story is a reminder that your faith journey doesn't have to be perfect, God can meet you right where you are, and sometimes everything begins to change when you're willing to say yes.

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