There is freedom in God.
Jeannie Ortega, a contemporary Christian artist, has traveled a remarkable journey—from growing up in Brooklyn’s rough neighborhoods to achieving pop stardom and ultimately finding spiritual renewal in Jesus Christ. Her path was anything but easy, marked by struggles with demonic oppression, suicidal thoughts, rejection, and the dehumanizing experience of being treated as a product in the secular music industry.
After stepping away from the music scene for several years to focus on journalism and building a family with her husband, Ortega never lost her passion for glorifying God through music. Now, she’s returned with a renewed purpose and a deeper spiritual message.
“What’s amazing about music is how it can communicate so many things,” said Ortega, whose mainstream debut album No Place Like Brooklyn was released in 2006. Speaking on the “Crossmap Podcast,” she explained, “We all share universal needs—love, purpose, value. We’re all searching for something to define us. Music has a unique way of addressing these feelings, whether it’s joy, love, or sorrow. That’s why music has always been such an important part of my life.”
Through her personal experiences, Ortega has come to understand that confronting life’s spiritual battles requires developing spiritual discernment. Her mission now is to help others recognize the unseen spiritual forces that influence their daily lives, learn how to guard their hearts from negativity, and ultimately discover God’s love and purpose.
Ortega’s return to music is marked by the release of her first album in eight years, Letting Go, a heartfelt collection of songs inspired by what she believes God placed on her heart to share during these turbulent times. The album is a reflection of surrender, with each song crafted as a prayerful offering. Ortega hopes listeners will approach the album with open hearts, allowing God’s voice to speak to them personally.
“I want people to experience true freedom,” she shared. “For years, I didn’t know that a Savior existed. When I finally found Jesus, I was drawn into a religious environment that focused heavily on rules and rituals, which only kept me trapped. Now, I’m in a place where I can lead others to Christ in a way that’s genuine and liberating. My greatest desire for this album, and everything I do, is to bring people into a deeper relationship with God—one of surrender, holiness, and sanctification. In God, there’s freedom. In God, there’s wholeness. In God, there’s hope.”