At an early age, Katy Nichole was singing in her church choir. Like many young artists, Katy recalls, “My earliest memories of feeling the Lord’s presence were when I was singing and when I had a song in my heart.”
Katy Nichole Path to Healing
But in the midst of worshiping the Lord, Katy was in physical pain. “For three years, I was in excruciating pain every single day,” Katy Nichole explains, “And no one could tell me why.” Eventually Katy was diagnosed with scoliosis and had surgery to straighten her spine when she was 15 years old. Unfortunately, the debilitating pain continued. “I was in so much pain that I couldn’t even get out of bed in the morning,” she confesses.
Stuck in bed, Katy started taking those words on her heart to write songs of her own. She was really into composing pop music on her ukulele—the first instrument she ever learned to play. Even though song writing was healing, she was still overwhelmed by the post-surgery pain and became consumed by depression. Katy shares, “depression just took over like a smoke cloud.” Katy expressed that ending her life often felt like a better option than the constant pain, it seemed like the only cure. But God intervened. “At one point, I looked at a bottle of pills I was given, and I was like, ‘It would be that easy.’ But I remember picking it up, and I heard the voice of God say, ‘Hold on. I’m not done yet.’ Every time I would hit that low point, I would hear that same voice.”
Katy Nichole sought the expertise of a new doctor and went in for another operation that removed the metal rods and screws that had been put in place to correct her scoliosis. This surgery didn’t just heal her physical body, Katy experience mental, emotional and spiritual healing. “I go into the second surgery, and I come out of it, and that smoke cloud was gone. I encountered the Lord in that moment,” Katy shares. “When I got my X-rays after surgery, my spine was actually straighter than when the rods had been in it. So when I say that God can do miracles, I mean it, because I’ve seen it.”
God Has a Plan for Katy Nichole
After gradating high school, Katy went to college to pursue a profession in the medical field. She had such a deep appreciation for the healing she received that she wanted to invest in people in a similar way. Katy Nichole became an advocate for others with health challenges by serving with the Shriners Hospital for Children as well as volunteering for Musicians On Call. “Funny enough, after being certified as a medical assistant, doors started to close in that area; and they started to open in music,” Katy explains. “Singing has always been that place for me where I’m at my best—it’s the best feeling ever,” she reveals.
Lead singer for The Afters, Josh Havens, invited Katy Nichole to begin leading worship at The Grove in Phoenix, Arizona. Havens, the Worship & Arts Pastor at The Grove, saw something in Katy she couldn’t even see in herself. “I stopped writing pop music and started writing to the One who has inspired me,” Katy reveals. “I realized my songs were way better when Jesus was included.” She began recording her songs and posting them online, which eventually landed her a recording deal with Centricity Music.
Katy Nichole Music and Prayer
Katy posted the chorus of one of her songs on TikTok, which was heard more than 80 million times. The chorus that was inspired by one of her journal entries was touching the hearts of people who heard it, but that’s all that it was – a chorus. There wasn’t a full song. So she called upon some friends in the industry and completed the song, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible).”
Her hit song is a heartfelt prayer of healing. “If I had one thing that I could say to people, it’s that God is a God of healing.” Katy Nichole experienced first hand His healing power and she expresses her gratitude through song as an effort to tell the world of His personal and intimate work in her life. “I believe in the power of prayer. Everyone needs prayer, and there’s so much power in declaring that over someone.” she proclaims.
“This song is one of the greatest gifts God could ever give me. I want to be a good, faithful servant to the Lord. I’m just grateful to be His vessel,” Katy says. “It’s a wild thing to see where this song started and where it is now. I’m so thankful for what God is doing. I am in awe of Him, truly.”
With the expectations of the world and a label before her, Katy Nichole jumped in to prepare an incredibly multifaceted debut album. Her self-titled album doesn’t just remark on God’s healing power, but it reveals her story and how God pulled her out of darkness, through the unknown and into His hopeful story. When Katy saw doors closing in the medical field, instead of losing hope in her dream, she continued to focus on God. “I began to think, OK, God, I think You see something different than what I wanted for my own life,” Katy says. Katy wants to share this journey with other young people, because it’s a common path that many walk on. “I think our desires are sometimes different than what God has planned for us. A lot of times, we’ll think it’s going to be a certain way, and then God’s like, ‘Nope, this story is going to look a little different’.”
Katy demonstrates strength and dignity by willingly sharing her personal and vulnerable story, intentionally hoping that others will see how God is writing their story. “There’s no story that doesn’t matter to God. Every story was written by Him, and He’s the greatest author of all time,” Katy firmly states. “God’s healed me, so I know He can heal someone else. I’m going to share my story and hope it will encourage others to go and share theirs.”
Check out our previous featured artist: Brandon Heath.
