Tenth Avenue North Singer Defends CCM Amid Tait Scandal
The lead singer of the Dove Award-winning band Tenth Avenue North is speaking out about the CCM industry in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Michael Tait, saying the community is filled with godly people -- and urging fans not to "throw the baby out with the bath water."
Tait is the former lead singer of the Newsboys who stepped away from the group earlier this year, only weeks later to be faced with multiple allegations of sexual abuse in stories by The Roys Report and The Guardian.
Thus far, all of the allegations involve his time either as a solo artist or with the Newsboys and not with his first group, DC Talk. The Newsboys released a statement in early June saying they were horrified by the allegations and that Tait had "confessed to us and our management that he 'had been living a double-life' but we never imagined that it could be this bad."
Donehey Calls for Wisdom and Balance in Judgment
On Tuesday, Tenth Avenue North lead singer Mike Donehey posted a video on Instagram, saying, "CCM is filled with incredible men and women diligently seeking to honor the God that gives them breath."
"I've been in the CCM industry since 2007, when my band got signed, and I've seen a lot of good and some not-so-good. And when blow-ups happen, there seems to be two radical responses. One: 'See, they're all a bunch of lying snakes in it for the money -- let's burn this thing to the ground,' or two, this defiant defensiveness, 'Hey, who are we to judge? God uses broken people.'"
Donehey urged the public to have a balanced view of the issue.
"I want us to hold some tension in the middle," he said. "One, consequence and condemnation are two different things. We can hold people liable for their actions, that they would experience the consequence of those actions while not condemning them. That's why we have to forgive everyone, not so that we look over what they've done, but so that we can see it rightly. When we forgive, we're no longer looking for vengeance; we're looking for proper justice."
Integrity and Secrecy in the Christian Music Industry
Integrity within CCM is essential, Donehey said. He noted he's often asked by fans about a specific artist, "Are they legit?" A better question, he said, is this: "Do they walk in integrity? Are they the same off stage, on stage, backstage?"
"And that leads to the third point: secrecy always destroys. We are not made to live in secret," he said. "I was astonished by some things that came to light."
Donehey noted that The Guardian newspaper interviewed him, asking him about the accusations against Tait. Donehey said he was shocked by what was alleged.
"I'm going, 'Are you serious?'"
It is important, he added, for Christians to be open with one another about their struggles in life.
"Find your safe place and your safe people that you can be honest about your struggle."
Donehey said he is "heartbroken" and "saddened" but also "weirdly encouraged."
"We love to label whole groups of people by a few people's actions, and we need to be careful, just like we need to be careful about clickbait saying, 'You heard CCM was terrible, but here I am as the hero to the industry.' Guys, there have been so many incredible artists doing such incredible work for so long. Please don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but also look into these things and be honest and open, ready to forgive and ready to correct, as Paul tells Timothy: We correct with all gentleness, we speak the truth in love. What we say is just as important as how we say it, and how we say it is just as important as what we say."
A Warning to Those Hiding in Darkness
Donehey also addressed other individuals in the industry who may be living double lives.
"To those walking in deception and brokenness, you also know who you are; and I hope you know I love you, too," he wrote in a post alongside the video. "I hope and pray the last few weeks remind you that all will come to light one day, both good and evil. So, let us step into the light and find the healing we long for now. …It's an incredible thought that Jesus not only ate with sinners, but He also ate with Pharisees. He allowed Himself to be lumped in with sinners on both sides of the aisles. He loved the destitute, the addicts and self-righteous alike. He came to set every kind of prisoner free. I love this Jesus who cares far more about healing people than fearing who He might be misunderstood by or affiliated with. May we follow in His footsteps. Let us never let the fear of a tarnished reputation keep us from loving well.
"I'm honored to be a small part of the legacy of the music of CCM and grateful to be a tiny part of it," Donehey concluded. "Let 'us' keep running together this race marked out for 'us.'"
WATCH: Mike Donehey Responds to Michael Tait Scandal
Photo Credit: ©Reunion Records
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published June 25, 2025.
