Page 237: Russ Taff Part 1: Breaking the Chains of Shame

The Unfolding

Northwestern Media

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.9 • 809 Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Shame is a prison,” Russ Taff says—and he lived in that prison for more than 40 years. To the world, Russ was a Gospel music legend: six GRAMMYs, 18 Dove Awards, and three Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions. But behind the stage lights and accolades, he was hiding from pain, trapped in addiction, and silenced by the relentless voices of shame and self-hatred. In this deeply honest conversation, recorded around the dining table in his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Russ shares the truth he kept secret for decades: while he sang songs about Jesus to millions, he was battling alcoholism in the dark. This is not just a story about addiction—it’s a story about hope. About the supernatural healing that comes through love, and the power of God to break even the heaviest chains. Russ opens up about his abusive childhood, the pain that shaped him, and the redemption that’s setting him free. Whether you know Russ Taff or are hearing his name for the first time, his story will leave you changed. Don’t miss this unforgettable two-part episode of The Unfolding.

Show notes:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff

Website: https://russtaff.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/

Transcript

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0:00.0	Page 237 of the unfolding is the story of Rust Taff.
0:05.1	Guilt is something that you did wrong.
0:07.4	Shame tells you you are the thing that's wrong.
0:10.0	And that was instilling me at a very, very early age.
0:12.5	My dad, who never encouraged me and daily in that house,
0:16.4	because you're not worth a bullet shoot you with it, not worth the salt,
0:19.0	it goes on your breath, You will never amount to anything.
0:23.5	God's story has been unfolding.
0:26.9	Since the beginning of time.
0:29.7	He invites you to be a part of it.
0:33.2	Wow.
0:35.6	Another page in the unfolding.
0:40.2	Hey, this is Meredith Foster.
0:42.6	Rustath says shame is a prison.
0:45.7	For more than 40 years, he was locked in the prison of shame,
0:49.6	hiding from pain, isolating himself from others,
0:52.7	trapped in a secret addiction. To the world,
0:55.6	he was one of the most successful Christian music artists of all time. His career includes six
1:00.9	Grammys, 18 Devil Awards, he's been inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame,
1:06.5	and unprecedented three times, once as a soloist, once as a member of the Imperials, and once as a
1:12.9	member of the Gaither vocal band. Honors, awards, accolades a mile long, but it all felt empty. Nothing
1:21.5	could fill the void. Nothing could stop the voices of self-hatred. The only thing that could quiet those voices,
	...

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