Alabama Astronaut

In Anniston, an Alabama newspaper attributes a mystery felony to serpent handling preacher, Glenn Summerford. This claim initiates a new quest for podcasters Abe Partridge and Ferrill Gibbs, who are tipped off about this article by Andrew Hamblin, serpent handling preacher from Gray, KY. For months, Ferrill and Abe dig into this claim. In the process, they discover parts of the Summerford story do not jibe with the media coverage over the years. Coloring the way Abe views journalists on the Snake Beat is the media's treatment of Andrew and Taylor Hamblin. One night, they let down their guard for the two podcasters, and, in a rousing display of trust and acceptance, play Ferrill and Abe an incredible version of the faith's most powerful worship song, Little David Play On Your Harp. It happens late one night, capping an incredible overnight recording session.

Over the years, Abe Partridge and Ferrill Gibbs have maintained a steady appetite for hunting the songs of the serpent handling people. New information – courtesy of a serpent handling preacher from Gray, Kentucky – diverted the fellows to an interesting trail. Abe Partridge, songwriting artist turned prolific documentarian; and Ferrill Gibbs, Murrow Award-winning podcast producer, peel back the "big stinking onion" to see what lies beneath. Meanwhile, imprisoned serpent handling believer Glenn Summerford still serves a 99 year sentence. Any day now, a fresh parole hearing comes. Abe and Ferrill's journey began in 2020, with a podcast called Alabama Astronaut. (To start at the beginning, go there.) In 2024, they released a memoir of serpent handling believer Cody Coots, Marked for Life. It's a deep dive podcast into the mind of one serpent handling believer. Music by Kenosha Kid. Special thanks to freelance journalist Beth Braden.

This episode attempts to recreate the warmth surrounding Abe’s artist reception, "With Signs Following, featuring dozens of Abe's paintings that depict characters from the serpent handling faith. Many events described in Alabama Astronaut came alive to the soundtrack of Abe’s field recordings. Abe's art exhibit is viewable at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center until May 20th. For more information, go here!

When Abe first decided to co-produce a podcast about his music-documenting journey, he approached the serpent handlers and told them of his plans. Knowing they'd been the subject of ridicule in the past (and that they probably didn't trust him), Abe promised he would send them the podcast before it was ever released. He said they could have full editorial control. When he and Ferrill completed a draft worthy of release, Abe sent the podcast to serpent handlers Cody Coots, Cassy Coots, Andrew Hamblin and Taylor Hamblin. In return, he received a downright humbling text ...

Abe and Ferrill prepare for an interview with Dennis Covington. Abe lists out the questions, which include a surprising claim about Loretta Lynn and her ­(if true) connection to the serpent handling faith. Also, Abe plans to ask the difficult question: Did Dennis Covington apologize to Old Rockhouse Holiness Church? After the in-person interview with Covington, Abe hits the road to continue strengthening his relationships with members of the faith. One day, he lands a gig at the world-famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee – a sold out show. Abe invites serpent-handling preacher Andrew Hamblin on stage to accompany him on one of Abe’s most personal songs: “Appalachian Farewell.” Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks goes to: Shawn Byrne The Bluebird Cafe Dennis Covington and the family of Dennis Covington Andrew and Taylor Hamblin Cathy Partridge Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs Gregory Coots Cody and Cassy Coots Tony Feyer We also want to express a very special thanks to the The Jacob Hall Memorial Music Grant. Thank you, all! Your help came to us in an extremely crucial time... we will not forget it!

Ferrill tracks down Dennis Covington, author of Salvation on Sand Mountain, only to discover that Mr. Covington suffers from a condition brought about by his own quest for faith, detailed in a 2014 autobiography, "Revelation." Ferrill pre-interviews Covington, scheduling a day for Abe to interview the author in Lubbock, Texas. Meanwhile, Abe beelines to the bedside of Billy Summerford, preacher of Old Rockhouse Holiness Church, who is dying of cancer. At Billy’s bedside, Abe re-encounters Greg Coots, Cody’s Grandfather. Abe tells Greg about an album he’s been searching for, a recording of Greg’s parents, the founders of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks goes to: Shawn Byrne The Bluebird Cafe Dennis Covington and the family of Dennis Covington Andrew and Taylor Hamblin Cathy Partridge Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs Gregory Coots Cody and Cassy Coots Tony Feyer Cathy Partridge

Abe and Ferrill return from the Coots' recording session in Middlesboro, Ky., then conduct an extensive internet search to verify that they are truly the pioneers of recording these songs. They are surprised to discover an artist from New York named Tony Feyer, whose history with the serpent-handling faith includes documenting of one of the most legendary serpent-handling churches of all time: the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, West Virginia. Tony befriends Ferrill and Abe, and offers to share copies of DAT recordings he produced in the early 90’s. These recordings were the fruit of Tony’s partnership with none other than American folk music documentarian, Alan Lomax. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress: Aunt Molly Jackson speaking on serpent handlers Tony Feyer Andrew and Taylor Hamblin Gregory and Cody Coots Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs Cathy Partridge

After months of corresponding with Cody and Cassy Coots, Abe decides to make a studio album for them. It's to feature serpent-handling songs that have been sung in Cody's church for generations. Abe enlists the help of host Ferrill Gibbs to record it, who travels from Houston to meet up with Abe in Birmingham, Alabama. Together, they make a beeline for Middlesboro, Kentucky, in Abe's white touring van. Once in Middlesboro, the two convert Cody’s great-grandfather’s church – Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name – into a recording studio. With a six-foot rattlesnake lounging nearby (named "Ol' Lemonhead"), Abe, Ferrill and the Coots make a fully-produced, multi-track, multi-instrumental studio album called "The Coots Duo." The rough tracks being a post-production process in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode! Cody and Cassy Coots Jay Smack Brent Busby Andrew Hamblin and the Free Pentecostal House of Prayer Greg Coots and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name

The story takes a turn. Jimmy Morrow, founder and preacher of Edwina Church of God in Jesus' Name, invites Abe into his home. Sensing that Abe has a “good spirit,” Jimmy shows Abe his poetry, art, and a comprehensive collection of serpent-handling history and lore. Afterwards, Jimmy and Pam Morrow both sing songs for Abe from their faith, a capella. Meanwhile, Abe discusses with Ferrill the idea of faith at a “cost”… and why Abe finds meaning in that. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode goes to: Jimmy and Pam Morrow Dr. Thomas Ryba Barbara Gibbs Allen

The “calling out” of Abe (and his friends) at church services reaches a boiling point at the famed “Old Rockhouse Holiness” in Section, Alabama. It's the church where author Dennis Covington of the hit book Salvation on Sand Mountain once became a convert and handled a massive rattlesnake. Abe tells the story of the founding of the church: the infamous murder trial and conviction at the heart of it. After one service that Abe attended, with rattlesnakes in the building, the lights are shut off. In the darkness, Abe and his friend consider running out of the church. Meanwhile, Abe has his first encounter with National Geographic: a run-in with a photographer at both Old Rockhouse Holiness Church and, in the same weekend, Jimmy Morrow’s church in Cocke County, Tennessee. Brother Jimmy Morrow takes Abe to a graveyard high in the east Tennessee mountains, to see the graves of four believers who died following the signs. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode: Old Rock House Holiness Church Bro. Billy Summerford Dave Garrett Morgan "Willy Mo" Hammond

As the coronavirus finally arrives in Mobile and, most detrimentally to Abe, the Mobile music scene, Abe’s gigs begin to drop. With more free time on his hands, he travels to Jackson County, Kentucky, to meet fourth-generation serpent-handling preacher Cody Coots, along with his songwriting wife, Cassy Coots. Abe conducts a field recording at their house to capture generations-old songs from the duo. A life-changing friendship begins to take root. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content: Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode goes to: Cody and Cassy Coots Professor Tom Lewis of UGA Dave Garrett (of the Psych Peas)

While on the road to a Panama City show, Abe tells Ferrill about his recent trip to a small church in desolate, southern West Virginia – House of the Lord Jesus. There, Abe captured audio of their worship: a blistering, rockabilly-style sound. Also, Abe tells Ferrill about a moment when Chris Wolford, the church's preacher, called out the Alabamian from the pulpit, causing Abe to recount his own days as a pastor in the mountains of east Kentucky. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode to: Chris Wolford and House of the Lord Jesus Dr. Spencer Greene Will Stewart

Abe Partridge, a folk artist from Mobile, Alabama, approaches Ferrill Gibbs, a podcaster from Texas, in mid 2020. With his gigs canceled due to coronavirus, Abe spends time at serpent-handling churches across the Appalachians. He explains to Ferrill how originally, his plan was to paint the oft-ridiculed sect, but while taking in their frenetic services, he began to realize their songs were powerful, and possibly, undocumented. Abe shares audio with Ferrill of a serpent handling preacher who tied Abe's hands with a Gibson guitar strap in a worship service. Also, Ferrill draws a connection to legendary music documentarians, John Avery and Alan Lomax. Visit the website for bonus content! Alabama Astronaut Website And find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode to: John Nova Lomax Andrew Hamblin Taylor Hamblin