What an amazing life-altering opportunity! Last night was an incredible moment for my whole family!!!!
I was not sure what parts of my interview were going to air and what parts were not. You kind of just take a deep breath and hope for the very best! I'm so impressed with America's Got Talent as a whole. Every producer and employee have been so amazing. They made the process totally enjoyable.
I think when you bring up anything up related to Christianity, you're going to get opinions that range from extremely positive to really negative.
People need to realize that you will not get out a full story in 90 seconds. So I would love to share a couple things that may ease your mind. Based on comments I've read I'd like to clear the air.
* I specifically said the industry took my records off the shelves and radio stations pulled the songs. I did not say it was my labels issue. I've had stores come forward in the last 24 hours and apologize for doing so.
* When you can't sell product or get air play, there is not much a label can do to promote you.
* I obviously don't mean every single Christian is bad or mean to me.
* I hope we're on for many episodes so you can hear the full story turn around and how grace can be found for everyone.
* I was married immediately after I found out I was pregnant to make the situation "right"....as we know, marriage is not the answer if the person is indeed not right for you.
* I do believe with ministry related setbacks, you need to take a break and gain wisdom/accountability from mentors.
* That being said, the truth is, I wasn't given a full opportunity to have a restoring moment because many called it quits on me.
* Getting pregnant does not make you a whore. Duh.
* My life is super messy so it can be easy to get it mixed up. I've made some bad decisions in my life that took over a decade to get out of. However, God's grace is bigger than anything.
I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for your support and love in all of this. I'm so excited for the next steps.
Nikki you and Ryan continue to be a Light!! Much Love!
ReplyDeleteJoe Hogue
Gotta update your profile! I so loved seeing you all last night! It is an amazing story of overcoming! As a child of a 15 year old, I know that God's grace is greater than what religious people will judge you for. God is sovereign and has purpose for everyone He puts here. God bless you all.
ReplyDeleteIt was Awesome to see you all and hear your amazing voices. May God be with you always and continue your great path.
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Well, I just read your whole blog this afternoon from the very beginning. Nikki, you are an INSPIRATION! I'm sad that things turned out for you the way they did in the beginning. We all make choices we regret (I know I have) but we learn from them and most importantly, learn to give ourselves GRACE. We seem to be able to do that for others much more easily than for ourselves. Loved hearing you perform last night and realizing, "Hey, I remember her!" Not knowing "the rest of the story" I wondered what had happened to you. Glad to read you're healing from those hurts and making the most of what you have. And being grateful....I honestly believe that really makes a difference in attitude and outlook. I hope you and your family go far in this musical journey, but mostly I'm really happy to see you're not giving up on us fellow believers. We do and say a lot of stupid/hurtful things that we wish we could take back. I pray that you continue to bless those around you. May God continue to use you to His Glory and bless you abundantly as you do this thing called Life.
ReplyDeleteLove me some Nikki!!!
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ReplyDeleteAwesome, Awesome,Awesome!!! What an amazing story. I know your back story and so as my husband and I watched and listened to you share , we couldn't help but feel such joy and happiness that was welling up in our hearts, crying tears of joy and feeling God's heart using you to speak truth and honesty. His transparency was evident in all of you and we felt it as you began to sing and heaven's gates opened wide as your gifts and voices became a beautiful harmony of His love and grace. Can't wait to see His plans that are good for you. Love you my friend.
ReplyDeleteSimply Serving~Donna Whiting
You're in good company. Just ask Amy Grant or Michael English.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your story and I wish you & your family the best, in His will. Peace be with you.
You're in good company. Just ask Amy Grant or Michael English.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your story and I wish you & your family the best, in His will. Peace be with you.
What may be labeled as a mistake sure does have a beautiful smile and voice. Forgiveness = no shame, no guilt. God giving life is never a mistake regardless of how we or others see it. He knows what He is doing. We can...we really can...be thankful in all things.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you Nikki, thank you for sharing. We are rooting for you guys!
ReplyDelete~David Koury
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ReplyDeleteNikki - your story is our story. We are all in this together. Come visit our church, GracePointe, in Franklin, TN, where you are one of the beloved. Maybe you'll even sing a song or two? Much love to you. We'll be watching! :-) #GRACEPOINTE.NET
ReplyDeleteMy prayer is for reconciliation with your parents, dear friend.
ReplyDeletePerfect! As a music pastor in Dallas (and a friend of Ryan's) if you guys are in the area stop by and share your story. A story of grace and restoration glorifies God WAY more than a story of religion and judgment.
ReplyDeleteLove your testimony Nikki. Thank you for sharing!❤️
ReplyDeleteNikki, there you are! I have loved your voice for years. I have one worn out copy of your cd from years past and have often wondered where you went. So glad you have chosen to look for the blessing in all of life's twists and turns.
ReplyDeleteNikki, there you are! I have loved your voice for years. I have one worn out copy of your cd from years past and have often wondered where you went. So glad you have chosen to look for the blessing in all of life's twists and turns.
ReplyDeleteNikki, Watched your family on YouTube last night, several times actually. Wow! I was especially moved in that I too, was heavily involved in ministry 21 years ago, both in the church and radio, when I made some serious choices that ended it all. To this day, my family and I still bear the repercussions of those choices. In all of this, one thing I learned was to be extremely forgiving of the Christian community. Jesus showed us that nothing surprised Him and He always showed love to a repenting sinner, no matter the sin. Please always focus on that, for that is what the world needs to hear.
ReplyDeleteIt sure appears He is giving you and your family an opportunity to share this with many people, which is what this world needs.The pressure will be more intense then ever before. Put Spiritually mature people in place around you to assist you in this new walk, both you and your husband and kids. Everyone of you will be able to minister to their respective peers. I pray for your success.
I just watched you Nikki on America's got talent! You and your family were amazing!!! I'm so happy that God is restoring you, and He will give you 7 times what the enemy stole from you. I praise God that you didn't give up.
ReplyDeleteNikki, your song Everlasting place helped me when my mom passed away. Thank you for that. Loved seeing you and your family on America's got Talent. Bless you
ReplyDeleteNikki, your song Everlasting place helped me when my mom passed away. Thank you for that. Loved seeing you and your family on America's got Talent. Bless you
ReplyDeleteNikki, thank you for sharing your story. God is always willing to give second chances for those willing to get back up. I'm glad you chose to get up. I'll stand by you and your Family on your new beginning. It's a great New Chapter.
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ReplyDeleteI wish the secular audience could have heard the whole story. I feel like the part they aired set Christians back in our endeavor to spread the gospel. What happened to you was wrong, but the way it came across to the world, I feel rally hurt the church. I hope you can say more on later episodes.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good to see you on America's Got Talent. As soon as they showed the photo of your cd cover I gasped and said, "Nikki Leonti!! I remember her!" I vaguely remembered your story, but hearing you tell it on air made me sad that you had to experience what you did. As a Christian it was hard to hear the truth that people were not willing to promote you because of a decision that you had made in your life which had a visible consequence revealing sin. We all sin, and are fortunate to have a savior that washes us clean of it, no matter what it is. He is the redeemer and I cannot wait to see how He will continue to redeem your story for His glory. We may never understand why you had to experience what you did, but we do get to see how He finishes your story! Praying for the journey ahead for your family!
ReplyDeleteFrom what you have shared here, the AGT editing job was poor. As a Christian watching the segment, I thought the situation had turned you against God. The story made it sound like you got pregnant when you were 14 not 18. I think you were old enough to know that your pregnancy outside of marriage would hurt your career in the Christian World as did Amy Grant, Sandy Patty and Michael English with their respective life decisions that hurt their careers. As Christians we understand that we are not perfect and will not always follow God's will, sometimes in big ways, but to the rest of the world, they expect more from us and see us as hypocrites instead of humans when we fail in the areas the Bible teaches to be wrong. I'm glad to learn that you've not abandoned your faith. It would have been nice if you had sung a faith-based heartfelt song which would have blessed the Christian community. Instead, it seems 'the world' was made happy thinking God lost. Even if it means not moving as far in the show as you hope, I pray you will have the opportunity to let the audience know the truth and that AGT will provide that opportunity. Good luck to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteNikki, I relate to you on so many levels...not just the fact that you spell our name right, Nikki!!! Seriously, I also have a crazy messed up past, but that is what is so amazing about God, He is so much bigger than any choice we have made, people who have told us we could or could not. God is bigger than judgement or condemnation of the church or religion. To be a Christian, is to be a real person, with real struggles, taking life a day at a time, holding God's hand and letting Him lead the way through this crazy world. We are not perfect people, and through our imperfections God shines bright to show His love and mercy. So excited to see you on this platform representing real, imperfect, Christian, mothers. You are a wonderful role model and I am so excited to hear your story and watch your families journey. God is good all the time! He has prepared you for this very moment and you are about the be a witness to so many young ladies and even to myself. Keep your head high and enjoy the journey! http://nikkibadayatatime.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteSaw the performance you and your family did. It was really beautiful. As a person struggling with my own faith, I'm really happy to have saw your performance and to know your story. I wish all the best to y'all and may God bless you and your family always~
ReplyDeleteLove you! So happy to see you and learn you never gave up on your passion. I truly believe God is purging every Christian from false teachings. Ignorance from Jesus' truth is why things happen wrongly to each other instead of your amazing sing "Love One Another"...I would sing this song in every situation that needed this revelation(I can't sing like you so I sing it in my head lol). Glad you still let God draw you closer to him. Continue being a light for this dark world. Prayers for your future with this journey and the Lord's favor.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that I found your blog. I loved hearing your family sing on AGT, you sounded great. I remember your songs (I'm that old) and always enjoyed them. I can't imagine how hard it was to feel rejected by the Christian community. We all sin, but when you are a public figure, living in a fish bowl, things are just different. Praise God that He redeems our time and nothing is lost. You have a beautiful story of grace and I hope that you are able to use your platform to keep sharing that!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking now I might actually check out "Americas Got Talent" ;) All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki, I saw you on AGT and was praying for you to win! Whata woderful song choice and beautiful family!Though you didn't win you got new exposure. Truly God is so good! Just wanted you to know I never bought many tapes when they were popular. I usually just listen to Christian radio. After seeing you on AGT I knew I had an old Tape of yours I just came across it ''Shelter'' me. I never knew what happened to you I just knew singers come and go but I just never pay too much attention. You are a beautiful young girl with a great testimony to give to others to be encouraged God has soo much more for you and your family! Blessings! :-)
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