Jo Dee Messina has opened up about the faith that is getting her through her ongoing battle with cancer. The country star reached out to a Nashville-area radio station to share the struggles that she has faced since her diagnosis in 2017. The interview came after Messina underwent a major surgery, and gives a glimpse into the financial and emotional issues that have accompanied her diagnosis.

"There was a day when it just came tumbling in," Messina tells WAY-FM. "I think it was prior to surgery when my insurance lapsed, and my tithing check bounced. I was like, 'What is going on?' With no touring, there's no cash flow, so my insurance lapsed."

Messina says the challenges she has faced have forced her to lean on her faith to pull through. "When you're in it, it's hard to pull yourself up to do that," she admits. "I had to step outside and start reciting his promises."

"The next day I wrote a song ... it really is important for people to hear," Messina adds. "It was just a basic statement: I'm like, 'God, you are bigger than this. You're bigger than all this combined. You're bigger than any illness.' And you know what? It might not end the way we want it to. I might not be miraculously healed."

The singer says she's trying to trust in the outcome either way: "I had to wrestle with it and say, 'I am okay with whatever' ... It's not a fun process."

Messina released her debut studio album, a self-titled project, in 1996; her last studio release, Me, came in 2014. Best-known for singles such "Heads Carolina, Tails California," "I'm Alright" and "My Give a Damn's Busted," the singer's spunk and tenacity have made her a stand out in the country music world.

Country Stars Who Stand Up Against Cancer

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