For years, fans have admired Taranda Greene's soaring vocals and unwavering faith-but behind the worship anthems was a devastating story few knew in full.
During an emotional appearance on the Creek Worship Podcast, the beloved gospel singer opened up about one of the darkest chapters of her life, revealing that after losing her first husband, Tony Greene, she spiraled into severe depression, battled suicidal thoughts, and nearly ended her life before an unexpected phone call changed everything.
Greene recalled marrying Tony Greene, lead singer of the legendary Southern Gospel group The Greens, only to discover months later that he was suffering from end-stage kidney disease. Against overwhelming odds, the couple welcomed two daughters, and Taranda later donated one of her own kidneys after discovering she was a perfect donor match.
For a brief moment, it looked like their miracle had arrived.
Instead, tragedy struck again.
Just one year after the successful transplant, Tony developed a mysterious lung illness that his suppressed immune system could not fight. He died in September 2010, leaving Taranda a 30-year-old widow with two young daughters.
The loss shattered her world.
Greene admitted she became angry with God, withdrew from everyone around her, and struggled to find any reason to move forward. She was later diagnosed with severe depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis, eventually being prescribed multiple medications as she tried to survive unimaginable grief.
The singer made perhaps her most shocking revelation when she disclosed that she had researched how to combine her medications to end her life.
But just as she sat alone contemplating suicide, the phone rang.
Rather than preaching or quoting Bible verses, longtime pastor Jim Cymbala simply called to tell her a joke.
That unexpected conversation interrupted the moment and became the turning point that ultimately led Greene back toward healing, counseling, renewed faith, and a fresh appreciation for life. She described it as the beginning of discovering God's faithfulness again after months of darkness.
Today, Greene says she no longer shares her story to gain sympathy but to encourage others who may be walking through grief, depression, or hopelessness. She openly acknowledged that medication, counseling, family support, and faith all played important roles in her recovery, encouraging anyone struggling to keep taking "the next best step."
Life eventually brought unexpected joy once more.
Years later, Greene married Landon Beene, creating a blended family after he adopted her two daughters. The couple recently celebrated ten years of marriage, and Greene laughed about one unforgettable wedding memory involving Avalon singer Jody McBrayer, who not only sang at their ceremony but also hilariously "corrected" part of Landon's wedding vows without telling him beforehand.
These days, Greene continues traveling to churches across the country, serving alongside worship teams, encouraging pastors, and reminding believers that even life's deepest valleys do not have the final word.
Her candid conversation has already resonated with listeners across the Christian music community, offering one of the most vulnerable testimonies of her career-and a powerful reminder that behind every worship song is often a story of incredible perseverance.
