Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Langley.
Hi Emma, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve dreamed of being a singer ever since I was a little girl. I would watch “The Voice” and “American Idol” auditions and wonder if I would ever be good enough to make it onto one of those shows. When I grew up, I was very insecure and thought of singing as a silly dream that would never amount to anything. I would sing in church and at school events, but that was it. I was different from most people in my school; I loved Jesus and wanted to do everything I could to please Him. I didn’t party or go out much; I tried my best to get straight A’s and focused on my future instead of my present…things that not many high schoolers prioritize. I became friends with a preacher in my town named Chris, and he ministered to me often. We would visit nearly every day, and we became so close, I thought of him as another father. He believed that I could achieve anything as long as I prioritized Jesus, and he gave me many opportunities to sing because he knew how much I loved to do it.
He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in late 2023 and passed away on May 16, 2024. I had never experienced a loss this deep before. I had lost my best friend and the only person that I trusted to talk to, knowing he had my best interest at heart. After he passed, a note he had written to me resurfaced, and a part in it especially stuck out to me. In it, he said, “Go chase your dreams, don’t be afraid to fail, and just make sure you figure out how to keep God in the center. God has given you a gift not only to sing like an angel, but with His anointing. You can reach people with that gift that I could never reach. Don’t let that gift go to waste.”
From then on, I knew that using my voice for something more was something I needed to pursue. One Sunday morning in church, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wanted to pursue music so bad, I just had no idea how to. I thought of a girl who lived a few towns over from me who was a contestant on “The Voice” and “American Idol”. Her name is Marybeth Byrd. I DMed her on Instagram, not thinking she would ever see it, but it gave me peace of mind that I did something about it. During the invitational, I prayed for God to give me a blatant sign that music is something HE wanted me to pursue, not just myself. After the invitational, my preacher asked if anyone had any announcements before he dismissed the service. A little old lady stood up and announced that Marybeth would be performing at a church in my hometown. Mind you, I had JUST messaged her on Instagram when I had never talked to her in my life, and the lady announced that she would be in town the same night. I took that as the sign from God that I needed and instantly burst into tears.
I went and saw Marybeth perform, introduced myself to her, and told her the entire story of what had happened. We instantly exchanged numbers, and she has been my biggest mentor and cheerleader since I began this journey in the fall of 2024. I now try and get as many gigs as I can, have joined a band, started writing songs, taking trips to Nashville, and released my first single, a song I wrote about Chris, on June 13, 2025…another dream I had growing up. God has opened so many doors throughout this journey, and it’s undeniable that singing is something He has in store for me. Whether it be in a big sold-out arena one day, or leading worship in a small town in Arkansas, I will be singing!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have always been anxious! I would have stage fright to the point of getting sick or having panic attacks. I was also very insecure and struggled with the false reality that I would never be good enough to pursue a career like this. The devil fed me so many lies for so long. It took me surrendering myself to Jesus, a little at a time, to finally experience freedom and peace.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Musically, I want to be a Christian artist with a country sound. I love artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Makenzie Carpenter, and Megan Moroney, sound-wise. I love the work of Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, and Riley Clemmons in Christian music. I want to help others with things they’re battling, the way they have helped me through their music.
I’m 20 and plan on going to nursing school before moving to Nashville so I can work while I pursue music. Because of this, I just work part-time and get singing gigs when I can. In my hometown, I’m known for my work ethic and my love for Jesus. My nickname in high school was “Jesus Girl”, so I think it’s safe to say they know where I stand spiritually. Haha.
I think what sets me apart from others is my striving for greatness. My counselor in elementary school had a sign on her wall that said, “Be the best person you can be”. I have always taken that literally. In sports, I made an effort to be the first one at practice and the last one to leave. Academically, I always prioritized studying and getting my work done, and maintained a 4.0 all through high school. In the church, I always try to find ways to serve and lead others. I recently started leading my first bible study, even though the thought of it scared me, and am doing my best to lead these girls to Jesus and be there for them as a friend. I’ve always had the mentality that if I never try, I’ll always wonder “what if?” and that failure is just one closed door in a hallway full of a million other open ones. One thing is for sure, though: if I’m going to do something, I’m going to give it 100%!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My faith in Jesus. He has gotten me through some of the most difficult times of my life and continues to reveal to me how real and present He is in my life. I do not doubt that if I continue to follow His lead and keep my eyes on Him, I’ll be fulfilled in ways that I couldn’t have even imagined.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/emmakmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmakathryn.music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Emma-Kathryn-Music/61576364155334/#
