By Sherri Blevins
On Saturday, October 2, 2021, four local brothers shared their love for music and even greater love for Christ on the PBS television show Alabama Gospel Roots. Layne, Kennon, Konner, and Kyle Fortner, known as the Fortner Brothers 4 Christ, recorded the show at the Pick’n Post in Rainsville. The Montgomery-based television show traveled to Rainsville to film the episode. The emcee for the Pick’n Post, Mike Owens, introduced the brothers to show host George W. Stewart before the Fortners took the stage.
Who are the Fortner Brothers 4 Christ? They are the children of a local dentist, Dr. Phillip Fortner, and his wife, Kayla. Phillip and Kayla desired to have a family for several years before it became a reality. Eighteen years ago, they were thrilled and blessed with a beautiful baby boy they named Layne. Two years later, they were in for the surprise of their lives when they found out, Kayla was expecting triplets. God had blessed them with the family they had prayed for, for many years.
Both Phillip and Kayla have a love and talent for music. Kayla directed the children’s choir at Broadway Baptist Church for several years, so it was only natural that her children would be brought up with a love for music. The boys began singing at church when they were preschoolers and have continued since then.
MVN spoke with the brothers about their band and how it came to be. They said they formed the band about six years ago. Each of the boys had guitars, and when they started thinking about Christmas presents that year, they decided to ask for a drum set and a bass. After they tried them out, Kennon chose to pursue the drums, and Konner learned to play the bass. All the boys took lessons at the Chris Roberts School of Music, with Kennon taking additional drum lessons from former Alabama drummer Mark Herndon.
The group not only practiced at the music school, but Phillip also created a music room at home for the family to enjoy. He plays the keyboard, and Kayla joins in singing with an occasional tambourine assist. As the boys grew older, they began playing more at their home church, and in the past few years, they have traveled to several other churches to share their music. They have performed at the Rainsville Freedom Fest, the Pick’n Post, and several other event venues.
The triplets, age 16, are students at Cornerstone Christian Academy, and Layne, age 18, is a freshman at Northeast Alabama Community College, where he earned a music scholarship. MVN asked the boys how they incorporated practicing with the band, school, playing high school football, performing together, and still having time to sleep. Layne said it was really hard. He said, “Right now, the triplets’ schedule is wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, football practice, do homework, and go to sleep.” Kayla added that the triplets are also taking dual enrollment classes at Northeast, and Layne is part of the choir, Encore group, and college string band, making fitting everything in more difficult. In unison, the boys said scheduling was the key. They pointed to Kayla as the one in charge of this area and the key to their success of being where they are supposed to be at the right time.
When asked about their plans for the future, the brothers answered that they didn’t know what they wanted to do yet, but they all agreed that they wanted to follow whatever God’s plan was for their lives.
If you would like to schedule the Fortner Brothers 4 Christ for an event, visit their Facebook page for the contact information or call 256-717-9531.