Mike Weaver Finds Healing through Grief in New Big Daddy Weave Album ‘Let it Begin’
Big Daddy Weave frontman Mike Weaver is gearing up to release his next album after a series of personal losses and experiencing spiritual renewal.
"It's been nuts," Weaver told The Christian Post in a recent interview. "It's been the biggest uphill album-making process of all time."
The album, titled, Let It Begin, features a 15-track collection chronicles grief, faith, and the subsequent joy that came following these experiences. This is also the band's first album since Weaver's younger brother and longtime bandmate, Jay Weaver, passed away at 42 from complications related to COVID-19.
Additionally, Jay suffered a number of health issues, including losing both of his feet in 2016 prior to his death, while their mother passed away in 2021 and their father on Christmas morning in 2017.
"Jay went through this huge, life-altering health situation where he became a double amputee," Weaver recalled. "And man, he still came back and toured on the road. He was praying for people every night from a wheelchair and seeing the Holy Spirit bring healing in the lives of people and do miracles that Jay needed in his own body."
"Jay was my best friend," he added. "He was the hub in the middle of the wheel in Big Daddy Weave. Not just as a bass player, but in so many things."
Let It Begin emphasizes the anguish of that loss, which is arguably most evident in the moving tribute song "Jaybird" co-written by Jeff Pardo and Matthew West.
"It was terrible, and it was amazing, and it was therapeutic," Weaver recalled. "Matthew and Jeff let me talk for an hour straight. I was just crying, pouring it all out."
During the making of the song, Weaver recalled how Bentley suggested the title "Jaybird," which resulted in disdain.
"I said, 'You got the wrong animal, dude. We called him Jay Dog.' And then I heard in my heart, 'Yeah, but dogs don't fly,'" the singer said.
Weaver also admitted it was difficult to perform the song live.
"I had to plan places in the show to fall apart," he admitted. "Until one night, I didn't fall apart. And I realized something was happening. I was healing."
"Going through grief with Jesus and so many other people who are dealing with loss, that was the beginning of healing. And that's what this record is about."
He added that his late brother Weaver said Jay would have offered a different response to a song made in tribute to him.
"I think he'd be like, 'Stop bellyaching so much.' He'd say, 'Give me a break, dude. Stop being such a wuss,'" Weaver laughed. "He'd be like, 'Dude, I'm with Jesus.' That's just who he was, he'd say something awkward and funny and polarizing in the room, just because it was his own sense of humor. He wouldn't do it for anyone else. It was just his way."
"And he would have quickly reminded me to keep this about Jesus, because that's how he lived his life, even to the very end. I'm telling you, he was an amazing man, and I feel like I'm still learning from him today."
Big Daddy Weave's Let It Begin is set to be released on May 23.
WATCH: Big Daddy Weave - Jaybird || Exclusive K-LOVE Performance
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Stringer
Originally published May 21, 2025.
