Joel & Moriah Smallbone's 'A Music Story' Kicks Off Production in Nashville
Moriah & Joel Smallbone. Photo image courtesy of MovieGuide.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (Press Release) - Sony Pictures’ AFFIRM Films announces principal photography has begun for A Music City Story, which stars actor and recording artist Moriah Smallbone (The Chosen, Journey to Bethlehem) and her real-life husband, Joel Smallbone (Young Washington, Unsung Hero), who is one half of the four-time GRAMMY Award-winning duo for KING + COUNTRY. Set against the backdrop of the city that gave country music its home, A Music City Story is being filmed on location in and around Nashville.
Written and directed by Adam Anders (Journey to Bethlehem), with original music by Anders and Moriah Smallbone, the film also stars Veronica Falcón (Ozark, Queen of the South), two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole (The Wolf of Wall Street, Bob Hearts Abishola), Josh Holloway (Lost, Colony), country music star Randy Houser (Killers of the Flower Moon), Cress Williams (Black Lightning, Hart of Dixie) and country music legend Tanya Tucker.
"Nashville isn't just the setting of this film, it's the heartbeat of it,” said writer and director Adam Anders. This is a story about second chances, faith, and the songs we're still meant to write, and there's no better place to tell it than Music City. Getting to capture Joel and Moriah Smallbone's real-life chemistry on screen, and to build the music with them from the ground up, has been one of the great joys of my career."
Written off by Nashville as past her prime, struggling singer-songwriter Mo (Moriah Smallbone) walks away from her controlling manager and takes a chance on starting over. As she works to rebuild her career, she forms an unexpected connection with Ran (Joel Smallbone), a contractor whose encouragement helps her rediscover her faith, her voice and the courage to pursue the future she's always believed possible. Together, they learn that every comeback starts with believing there's another verse to write.
"We fell in love writing a song together, and now that creative partnership has become a story inspired by our heritage, our marriage, and the dreams we've learned to chase side by side,” explained Moriah Smallbone. “This film is rooted in so many things we love - taking brave risks, making music, and the community we've found here in Nashville. Through these characters, we get to explore what it means to keep choosing each other day after day - and bringing that story to the big screen feels deeply personal.
About AFFIRM Films
Launched in 2007, AFFIRM Films is a leading producer and distributor of faith-based and inspirational entertainment, generating more than $720 million at the global box office with films including Soul Surfer, War Room, Risen, The Star, Heaven Is for Real, Miracles from Heaven, Overcomer, Courageous, Paul, Apostle of Christ, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (with TriStar Pictures), Big George Foreman (with Columbia Pictures), and the Christmas musical Journey to Bethlehem (2023). Recent releases include the Kendrick Brothers’ The Forge (2024) and Soul on Fire (2025), based on John O’Leary’s bestselling memoir.
