Family band The Petersens has been proving to internet listeners that you don’t need to be a Christian to be totally moved by the power of faith music. Taking their acoustic rendition of “Down to the River to Pray” to a sun-dappled woodland clearing in their hometown of Branson, Missouri, The Petersens have affected countless non-believers with their sparkling voices, soothing atmospheres, and impeccable chemistry, racking up more than 4.4 million views to date as their show-stopping cover goes viral.
Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the video below…
Pictured left to right, sisters Ellen, Katie, and Julianne take center stage in the forest clearing, Katie stealing the first verse as the acoustic guitar strums of brother Matt Petersen and “honorary Petersen” Emmett Franz set the band’s country-inspired soundscape.
Mother Karen Petersen plucks a double bass behind the three sisters, leaving only Dad, Jon Petersen, out of the picture for this rendition.
Ellen takes the rein of the second verse, both looks and voice comparable to an early-era Taylor Swift as her rich vocals steal the spotlight before melting in pitch-perfect harmony with Katie’s for a stand-out chorus.
By the time Julienne takes the mic, it’s clear that these three sisters have vastly different vocal styles; each steeped with originality and authenticity to make them internet stars in their own right. But once they join together in a three-part harmony, their sound is unbelievable.
As one top commenter beneath this viral clip noticed, “Ellen, Julianna and Katie all have distinctive sounds to their voice and when you combine all three together sounds like angels singing,” another described, “Ellen has the power voice, Julianne has a lyrical voice and Katie’s voice sounds like a soft summer rain. Separately they all have beautiful voices but when they sing together, well, it’s magical.”
With more than 961,000 YouTube subscribers and over 138,000 followers on Instagram, The Petersen’s country hymn isn’t just inspiring Christian listeners, but non-believers too. After one viewer commented, “I’m not a Christian but I felt like one for three minutes and forty-one seconds just now. Beautiful song, beautifully sung,” another revealed the sheer impact this cover held over them, writing, “I’m so thankful for the Petersens. I’m in a dark place right now and your music helps me to see the light at the end of this tunnel!”
The Petersens’ heartfelt woodland cover proves faith music can move anyone — their family chemistry turned a sunlit clearing into a viral moment. To watch the full video and discover more from sisters Ellen, Katie and Julianne, brother Matt and guest Emmett Franz, check the useful links below.