AMY TURNER
A family trio rooted in Tennessee has a new album out, and it carries a message of hope and faith. StowTown Records has announced the release of Rise and Shine, the second full album from Sunday Drive. The group made up of husband and wife Jeff and Misty Treece, and Jeff’s brother Dusty Treece.
The album blends new original songs with reimagined older favourites and a well-known modern church standard, aiming to reach gospel music fans of all ages.
Sunday Drive is no stranger to success on the charts. The trio has earned Top 40 radio songs with “Grace and Glory,” “There’s Always A Place At The Table,” “God Will Be God,” and “Shine Down On Me.” They have also taken home multiple Vocal Group and Entertainer of the Year honours, and they remain a beloved name in southern and country gospel music. Beyond the recording world, they are regulars at Dollywood Theme Park, where they perform more than 40 dates each year.
Rise and Shine was produced by multi-award-winning Wayne Haun, whose personal connection to the Treece family runs deeper than the recording studio. Haun grew up in the same town as the group and shared his feelings about the project:
“While each album is special to me, this one is a little extra special. Most people don’t know, but I grew up in the same town as this talented family. As a child and even into our teenage years, our paths crossed many times at concerts and church services. Jeff and I would dream of making music together, and now here we are on the other side of it all these years later. I’m glad the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts.”
The album also holds a deeply personal meaning for Haun because of the Treece family’s matriarch, Violet Treece, who passed away before her time. He explained:
“This album is also special to me because as a child one of my favorite songs was written by Violet Treece, who left us way too soon. She was a mentor and encourager to me and even prayed over me that God would use my gifts. I was beyond happy that ‘The Way, The Truth, The Life’ was chosen from her song portfolio for this project. When I was a kid, they called it their ‘Taco Bell Song,’ and now it has a Caribbean feel, but the timeless message is still the same.”
Among the other songs on the record is “Through It All,” a classic written by legendary gospel artist Andraé Crouch. The track features sweeping harmonies from Hillcrest Nashville alongside Misty Treece’s lead vocal, offering a powerful reflection on God’s faithfulness. Also featured is “Mountains Are Made to Climb,” written by Jeff Treece, Joel Lindsey, and Donna King. That song includes a guest performance from TaRanda Greene, whose voice weaves naturally into the group’s layered harmonies.
Dusty Treece captured the spirit behind the album simply and directly:
“We are so excited about our new album! We want it to feel like a burst of sunlight, full of joy & hope. We wanted every song to celebrate God’s faithfulness and His promise of brighter days ahead. We pray this project blesses you as much as it blessed us recording it.”
With Rise and Shine, Sunday Drive offers listeners music grounded in harmony, family, and unwavering faith.
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