Huckabee Finale
Not Goodbye: Godspeed
On November 12, 2024, then-president-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Governor Mike Huckabee as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel.The news broke on Fox News—before official word reached most of the staff. It was surreal to hear about the future of our workplace in the news. But for those of us who had worked alongside the Governor for nearly eight years, it wasn’t a shock. If you’d heard even a fraction of the monologues, backstage conversations, or personal remarks that we had, you knew one thing was clear:
Mike Huckabee loves Israel.And this was a calling he wouldn’t ignore.
There was a strange mix of emotions: the weight of an era ending, the joy of watching someone step fully into their purpose, and the quiet realization that the work we’d all done together was nearing its close. As the show prepared to tape its final episodes, I had the honor of documenting these historic, heartfelt moments—on set and behind the scenes—as the crew, guests, and fans said goodbye.
Note: In order to illustrate how photographers work as a team, this gallery also includes work from Kurt Heinecke and Parker Young, as noted.
Over the years, as I grew into the de facto captain of TBN Nashville’s still photography team, I came to know the rhythm of production—and the strengths of my fellow photographers. I trusted Kurt and Parker completely to handle the essential on-stage coverage during the final tapings. That trust gave me the freedom to shift my focus elsewhere.
So instead of hovering near the teleprompter or jockeying for position in the pit, I turned my lens toward the people I had come to know and love like family. This was a rare reunion. Familiar faces who hadn’t been seen around the theatre in some time returned for these last episodes: Janet Huckabee, warm and gracious as ever, and Emy Jo Bilbrey, Keith’s wife and a longtime friend of the show. Our former guest coordinator, Katie Mintle, made it back, as did Officer Greg Freudenthal of the Hendersonville PD—our steadfast lead on security taping after taping.
Even Stephen Fogelman, our original assistant director who had since moved on to TBN’s Dallas facilities, returned for the occasion. Stephen was known for holding a high bar—his standards were exacting, and he expected excellence from everyone on set. That kind of intensity can be tough in the moment, but that’s the thing about long-term crews—family isn’t built on ease. It's built on time, in tension, and with grace. And when someone who helped shape your earlier days walks back through the studio doors, you're glad to see them.
So I photographed it all—the hugs, the handshakes, the tears, the quiet smiles that needed no words.
The Last Monologue.
“The Album Cover Shoot is the penultimate expression of working with an artist. I’ve had the privilege to work with many musicians over the years. And, to this day, still love to get into the studio to create new portraits for their promotional needs.”