Kentrell Ragin Turns Personal Loss Into a Testimony of Faith

Gospel singer Kentrell Ragin has turned the loss of four family members in two years into a song of faith, telling Erica Campbell's Get Up Mornings that calling on Jesus while driving pulled him back from depression and suicidal thoughts. The moment became the inspiration for his single "Testify", from his album The Sound, released 9 October 2026. He shared the story in an interview reported by The Light 103.9 on 7 November 2026.

Four funerals in two years. A mother, a grandmother, a father, a grandfather — gone, one after another, until grief turned into something darker.

And then, alone in a car, a name called out loud.

"The moment I called Jesus' name, man, he delivered me out of that moment."

Four Losses in Two Years

Ragin lost his mother, grandmother, father and grandfather within two years, and the weight of it pushed him into depression and suicidal ideation. For a gospel singer, music has always been more than a performance — it has been a way to share his faith, tell his story, and remind others of God's presence during difficult seasons. This time, the difficult season was his own.

He did not hide the darkness. Speaking to Erica Campbell on Get Up Mornings, he talked plainly about battling depression and suicidal thoughts after the losses, and about how the grief kept piling up until there seemed to be no floor left beneath him. It is the kind of honesty gospel audiences rarely hear from the stage, and it is what makes his testimony land.

The Drive That Changed Everything

The breakthrough came while he was driving. Ragin says he called on Jesus in that car, and in that moment he was delivered from the despair that had hold of him. That experience became part of the inspiration behind "Testify", a song he describes as having an '80s-inspired punk and funk sound, though its message comes from some of the most challenging experiences of his life.

"Testify" is the sound of a man who has been somewhere and come back.

The Sound: A Live Album About Grief and Faith

The Sound, Ragin's third album, was released on 9 October 2026 as a live album on all major streaming platfroms. Apple Music lists it as 12 songs running one hour and eighteen minutes. GospelBuzz, announcing the album in September, described it as exploring themes of faith, mental health, grief, freedom and testimony — the very subjects Ragin has been living through.

Ragin is a Billboard-charting contemporary gospel artist, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and worship leader from Bridgeport, Connecticut, who began playing piano by ear at just three years old. He introduced his recording artistry with his debut album Like Never Before in 2017, followed by the live worship project Who We Know You To Be in 2022. His official bio describes "Testify" as a bold expression of faith, hope and unwavering praise.

Listeners can follow him on Instagram at @KentrellR and find his videos on YouTube by searching Kentrell Raymond.

Nigerian gospel music is having a remarkable season of its own. Lilian Nneji released her first official album, Highly Favoured, after almost 30 years in gospel music, as reported in Lilian Nneji Releases Highly Favoured After 30 Years, and Kirk Franklin opened up about regrets and God's grace, as covered in Kirk Franklin Opens Up About Regrets and God's Grace. Franklin has just released his first double album, as reported in Latest: Kirk Franklin Releases First Double Album I Am What I Am With Davido, GloRilla and Jelly Roll.

Dunsin Oyekan is planning a permanent home for Upper Room, as reported in Dunsin Oyekan Plans Permanent Home for Upper Room, and Kirk Franklin's first double album was set to drop on October 30, as covered in Kirk Franklin's First Double Album Drops October 30. Franklin and Davido were set to release Hope in You on October 30, as reported in Kirk Franklin and Davido to Release Hope in You on October 30, and Forrest Frank announced The Jesus Generation album for December 4, as covered in Forrest Frank Announces The Jesus Generation Album for December 4 With Lecrae KB and Michael W Smith.

Josiah Queen's Damascus Road album arrived with 14 songs born from an encounter with God, as reported in Josiah Queen's Damascus Road Album Out Today: 14 Songs Born From Encounter With God, and Josh Baldwin returned with his Worth Everything album, as covered in Latest: Josh Baldwin Worth Everything Album 2026 — Bethel Worship Leader Returns to Grand Ole Opry. Jamie MacDonald's deluxe album arrived with 30 tracks, as reported in Jamie MacDonald Deluxe Album Out Now: 30 Tracks, Dove Award Win and Left It In The River Tour 2026, and Donnie McClurkin closed his recording career with his FINALLY album, as covered in Donnie McClurkin FINALLY Album: Gospel Legend Closes Recording Career October 2026.

Roosevelt Stewart released his debut solo worship collection, as reported in Roosevelt Stewart Memory Live Album: Debut Solo Worship Collection October 2026, and Kevin Downswell's Joy Is Here album was released on October 30, as covered in Kevin Downswell Joy Is Here Album Released October 30 2026.

The open question is how far "Testify" travels from here. A song born in a car, in the middle of grief, does not sound like other gospel singles, and that may be exactly why it connects. If listeners hear their own losses in Ragin's story, the single could become something bigger than a track on a live album — a testimony other people borrow when they need one of their own.

But the most surprising part of this story is yet to come — keep reading.