We never know when tragedy will strike.  When it touches the Christian Music community, it feels especially close to home.  We were saddened to learn that on October 23, Truett McKeehan (age 21), died at his home near Nashville.  A cause of death is under investigation and hasn’t been determined.  Truett was the oldest son of Grammy Award-winning Christian artist TobyMac, and who performed tracks on five consecutive TobyMac albums.

See touching tribute penned by TobyMac below.

One of my personal favorite musical moments on each of TobyMac’s first five albums was the TruDog track.  They were fun, funny, and showed a snapshot of Truett’s budding talent through the years.  At age 21, he had just begun developing his own music career.

As a dad, I love sharing music with my children – everything from Broadway Newsies to Judah & The Lion to Ben Rector.  About a year ago, I remembered these amazingly fun TruDog tracks from years ago, and started to introduce them to my kids.  No joke, the #1 most requested artist in my car this last year was TruDog. Even today, 2010’s “Loud N’ Clear” (listen below) is one of my kids’ favorite song. Also, as a dad, I can’t imagine the anguish that the McKeehan family have had to face this week, and our we extend our hearts and prayers to them.

TobyMac Releases This Tribute To Son Truett

Truett Foster Mckeehan had joy that took the room when he entered. He was a magnetic son and brother and friend. If you met him you knew him, you remembered him. His smile, his laugh, the encouragement he offered with words or even without. He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box. 
   
He expressed himself through the music he made. And by made I mean, written, recorded, produced, mixed, and designed the art. All of it. A true artist. His first show was a week ago, and it was nothing short of electric. Everyone felt it, everyone knew it. He could’ve easily taken the easy route and put music out when he was 12, 14, 16, even 18, but he always said he wanted to live some life and have something to say before he did it. He didn’t want to be a child star, he wanted to be a man with scars and a story to tell. I always admired, respected and encouraged that stand.  
   
Truett always had a soft spot for God. The Bible moved him. His heart was warm to the things of his King. He was by no means a cookie cutter Christian but give me a believer who fights to keep believing. Give me a broken man who recognizes his need for a Savior every time. That’s who Truett was and how he should be remembered.   
     
My last moment with Truett in person was at his first show this past Thursday at the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee. I had to leave the next morning very early to fly and start our Canadian tour. As I stood in the audience and watched my son bring joy to a room, I was as proud as a “pop” (as tru called me) could be. It was the culminating moment of a dream that he had since he was 12. It couldn’t have been sweeter. Our music, and what we say lyrically couldn’t be more different, but the outcome was much the same… offering a room full of people a few minutes of joy in a crazy world.   
   
My wife and I would want the world to know this…   
   
We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under the table deal with Him, like we’ll follow you if you bless us. We follow God because we love Him. It’s our honor.   
     
He is the God of the hills and the valleys.     
   
And He is beautiful above all things.