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Brooke Barrettsmith
Rock / Pop

		say [[FAREWELL]] to all of your mistakes... Chicago, Illinois United States Profile Views: 292002 Last Login: 7/9/2009
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MySpace URL:

www.myspace.com/brookebarrettsmith

Brooke Barrettsmith: General Info

Member Since	1/25/2006
Band Website	BrookeRocks.com
Band Members	Management & Booking: BrookeBarrettsmith@hotmail.com Brooke is accepting much needed donations / love offerings for food and travel expenses on the road. You can donate via Paypal. Sponsors:
Influences	Jesus Christ.
Sounds Like	Click here to buy "Farewell" on iTunes!
Record Label	Essential/Sony BMG
Type of Label	Major

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Life thus far in 2009... (view more)

"American Idol" thoughts (view more)

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About Brooke Barrettsmith

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At only 26, new Essential artist Brooke Barrettsmith has discovered a wisdom that eludes many twice her age. This is a young woman who is completely comfortable in her own skin and thoroughly certain of the career path she’s chosen in Christian music.

Adept at guitar and piano, as well as a prolific writer, Brooke’s musical heritage runs deep. “My dad’s mom was a Broadway singer in Chicago, and my mom’s mom was an Italian opera singer in Chicago. My dad was a professional musician, too. When he was 18 years old, he started doing session drumming and played at venues in Chicago with blues legends like Buddy Guy and B.B. King. So I guess I had no choice—it’s in my blood!”

On her self-titled debut, Brooke crafts a style uniquely her own, melding her love of Jeremy Camp, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson with passionate lyrics that reflect her own life and experiences. Though only in her mid-twenties, Brooke has already dealt with her share of challenges including an early struggle with anxiety.

Only a decade ago, the then-teenager experienced her first physical—and terrifying—panic attack. “My heart was racing, my head was pounding. I was having irrational thoughts about not making it to tomorrow, a real sense of hopelessness… I was facing the first stages of adulthood and just dealing with all the stress of life. It was partially hereditary because it is in my family and partly because I had put God on a backburner. At that point in my life, fear had become more real than I knew God to be.”

Leaning on her parents for advice and encouragement, Brooke was gradually able to overcome the attacks. More importantly, the severe anxiety served as a catalyst for her to become the confident woman she is today. “I started making an effort to spend time in the Word of the Lord and to renew my mind in Christ, taking in His promises and owning them. I learned to dwell on them all day instead of dwelling on problems and stress. I’m thankful because I don’t know if I would be who I am in Christ today if He hadn’t allowed that to happen. It was really what brought me to the end of myself. I was either going to move forward with Christ, or I would be forever on the fence.”

Whether performing onstage, writing songs in her suburban Chicago home, speaking to teen and college women at regional conferences, or studying online for her Moody Bible College exams, Brooke is unquestionably living her life for a greater purpose. Just ask her why she’s tackling higher education in the midst of a heavy touring schedule: “It’s always been a dream of mine to go to Moody since my dad went there. I’ve always been interested in having a deeper knowledge of the Bible and the fundamentals of what we believe. I want to be accountable to have answers and to know as much about Jesus and my faith as I can know. I’m doing it honestly for personal enrichment. I want to know Jesus more, and I want to represent Him well.”

Brooke’s father, now a non-denominational Bible church pastor, carefully guided his daughter because he knew all too well the pitfalls that can come along with life in the music business. Brooke explains, “Before my parents became Christians, my dad had been living the rock star life. He was drinking, doing drugs, not coming home until four in the morning. My mom couldn’t deal with it anymore so she filed divorce papers—it was his wake up call. He came to Christ soon after that. Then my mom saw his example and a few months later she said yes to Jesus as well. When you see a complete deliverance like that, you know Jesus is real.”

Though only a young child herself at the time of her parents’ conversions, Brooke clearly remembers the changes she saw in her family, particularly in how her father approached music. To this day, she credits him as being her primary artistic influence. “Music had been his first love, and I saw him redeem what he’d been doing as a nonbeliever. That was a huge influence—he was still creative and awesome as a musician, but now it had new meaning. 

The journey for Brooke to find her career calling took its own unexpected course, full of twists and turns along the way. It began as a child as she and her siblings performed church solos and sang together as a family band. “When my sister and I decided that we wanted to do music as a ministry, my dad started setting up shows, booking us to play for Christian youth groups and bigger church events. After performing with her younger sister for a few years as a duo, the two came to realize that their musical visions were simply not in sync. For the sake of their relationship, they decided to part ways musically, but not before one last hurrah: trying out together for the fifth season of “American Idol.”

“We went and made it through tons of auditions. I’ve honestly never liked talent competitions, and the ‘American Idol’ experience is like nothing I'll ever do again—both good and bad extremes. We both made it to Hollywood, but my sister got sent home before me. It was a real turning point—it was the first time God had confirmed to me that He had gifted me and called me as Brooke Barrettsmith to fulfill the calling He had on my life. I fell into a comfort zone all those years with my sister, being a duo and existing together. It was funny that God used the very thing I opposed to confirm the calling He had on my life.”

That calling is now being fulfilled in a number of arenas, including her work as a youth group leader at her home church and her frequent appearances as a guest speaker at Unlimited Hope Women’s Conferences. Of course, her focus at the moment is on communicating the messages of faith and encouragement that are threaded throughout the songs on her debut CD.

“I hope that people take three major points from this album. The first is don’t be ashamed of your faith in Christ. That’s a huge part of my live ministry—clearly sharing the Word of God and encouraging people to know Him better. The second point would be to encourage people to be vulnerable, to be real, to admit you’re human and that you hurt. God didn’t call us to be perfect—He called us to live like Him and for Him, but our emotions are okay. The third one would be cast your anxieties upon the Lord. I think that resonates with everyone. For me, it was physical panic, something that was overpowering me and that I thought was more powerful than God. For other people, it’s stress, relationships, anxiety in every form. Sometimes He lets you feel the anxiety and stress so that you learn to depend on Him more and learn how to hear His voice in the midst of that.”

Hearing that voice speak through the mayhem of her teenage panic has produced in Brooke a peace-filled wisdom that defies her years. She is confident without being cocky, self-assured without a trace of a facade. Perhaps most importantly, she faces the future secure in the path she’s chosen.

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Brooke Barrettsmith's Friends Comments

Displaying 25 of 3181 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Saylah(Amazing now on Itunes-new music on page)	Jul 8 2009 5:56 PM My single "AMAZING" is now available on iTunes for .99cents. Please help spread the word! JESUS IS WHERE AMAZING HAPPENS! Visit my page to here the new song. Stand Strong, Saylah John 3:30
Eric	Jul 7 2009 5:55 AM If it's God's will, you might be able to reach more people for the Lord if you deign to do more songs like 'quiet my heart'.
david	Jul 6 2009 9:05 PM hi brooke, hope all is going well. God bless. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trazizzle	Jul 4 2009 10:54 PM Happy 4th!
James Clay Ponders	Jul 4 2009 10:54 PM Hey Brooke !!! Happy 4th !!!
Crystina Maez	Jul 3 2009 3:35 PM Smile! Life is beautiful.
cristian	Jul 1 2009 5:13 PM hey Brooke how r ya? long time....do still doing music? writing ,playing ? I built my own studio and Ive been busy doing records besides touring... life its cool over here Im an uncle:) my sister had her baby in seattle ,cant wait to meet him .. hope to c ya soon take care God bless You cristian.
jasmine.	Jul 1 2009 5:13 PM hey..
Timo	Jun 29 2009 3:32 PM Your CD is still my favorite. I listen to it everyday. <3
Vincent AGAR	Jun 27 2009 5:59 PM Metal your head!!! http://www.myspace.com/yotangor
Amber Lily	Jun 26 2009 3:48 PM Hi! I have a new song- its called "End of the Day". Click on my profile & give it a listen, let me know what you think! Hope you like it =) ~~Amber Lily~~ <3 <3 <3
Michael McClead	Jun 25 2009 9:54 PM Please join us for free food, free music, and a free Gospel message this Sunday afternoon at: St. Paul Lutheran on 9th Avenue and Lake Street in Melrose Park, IL at NOON!!!!!!!! For more information please visit:MichaelMcClead.COM
KERRY ALEXANDER'S FAN SITE	Jun 24 2009 6:33 PM Isaiah 30:3 For look, the days are coming declares YHWH, 'when I shall turn back the captivity of My people Yisrael and Yahudah,' declares YHWH, 'and I shall bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers and let them possess it.'" Shalom my friend! I am honored that you accepted my offer of friendship. If ever you would like me and the My Jubilation Ministry Team to pray with you, please don't hesitate to ask us.
The Classy Individuals	Jun 24 2009 5:06 PM Please help us out and add our demo tape to your page. Just click on the grab this button and add it to your myspace and or facebook pages. Also our debut EP "Keepin' It Classy..." is out now on iTunes Thanks again for your support, we really appreciate it. T.C.I. http://adsupport.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rockthespace.fan&sproutid=HgAZM3iQBq8R9l3R
..[.jenna.]..	Jun 23 2009 2:20 AM Just thought I'd drop by to tell you how I still can't get enough of your cd! It's awesome! :) Thank you!
Path Of Revelation	Jun 21 2009 6:29 PM New Music up & it's a must hear! "Crown Him Ep" newly released available @ http://www.thebus-shop.com/shop.cfm?prod=668
James Clay Ponders	Jun 19 2009 10:28 PM You are Beautiful... Christ Forever Praised
Sling n Stone	Jun 19 2009 10:28 PM Thanks Brooke for being our friend!!!
Herbert	Jun 19 2009 12:24 AM hey, have you heard of Steve Green? If so, do you like him at all? There's one song from him i'd like you to check out, if you're free to listen to stuff lately
James Clay Ponders	Jun 19 2009 12:24 AM Brooke Barretsmith Rocks, Yup... Christ Forever Praised
..Isselle..	Jun 19 2009 12:24 AM Hi Brooke, I read your last entry a few months ago "life thus far" and I felt really sad for all those things happening to you at the same time, so strong :s... and I haven't heard of you again, I was concerned, how are you these days? I wanted to tell you that God is in control of everything and, even if it may not seem that way right at the moment, it will come to the surface eventually, he loves you more than anything. Many blessings to you! I hope you continue giving us your beautiful music further on.
Roy Moore 2010 Unofficial Governor	Jun 16 2009 3:05 AM Hi, Glad to have you as a friend. We can use all the support we can get. Please let others know about Judge Roy Moore and his run for Governor. What we need in government is more honest men who will do what they say they will. I don't think we can find a more honest man than Judge Moore. This is an Unofficial page I am just trying to help get the Judge elected. If you have any questions or suggestions to help him win just drop me a message. Thanks Zach
Through The Storm	Jun 16 2009 3:05 AM Thank you Brooke for blessing us with your friendship. God bless you and your ministry. In His grip, Pat/TTS
Show Choir! - The Musical	Jun 16 2009 3:05 AM Show Choir! - The Musical is thrilled to announce the kickoff of their new Official Website! Swing by to check out our page! Purchase Tunes! Get your official Show Choir merchandise! While you’re there, be sure to join our mailing list to be kept up to date on all the Show Choir news! http://www.showchoirthemusical.com
jasmine.	Jun 14 2009 7:36 PM hey brooke! how's everything?

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