When it comes to arena rock, very few bands have endured the test of time quite like Journey. Since forming in 1973 and exploding into global prominence with their soaring, anthemic sound in the late ’70s and ’80s, the Bay Area’s own has managed to outlast most peers from the golden era of stadium-cramming acts. 

Now, even as a band already cemented as rock and roll royalty with multiple platinum records and timeless, genre-defining hits, Journey will embark on the 2026 “Final Frontier Tour” — the first leg of a heartfelt farewell run across 60 cities, kicking off Feb. 28. The band will stop in Ottawa on March 7, before visiting Hamilton, Montreal and Quebec City on March 9, 11 and 12, respectively. 

While the band has already expressed its excitement, for Jonathan Cain, Journey’s long-time keyboardist and co-writer of many of its most enduring anthems, this tour is marking more than just the end of an era; it’s the closing of one door and the opening of another. 

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The day before the band hits the road, Cain will release a new six-song Christian contemporary EP, led by the uplifting single "Only A Prayer Away." Inspired by a late-night encounter with Evangelical pastor Greg Laurie, Cain’s newest project shifts the spotlight from the seismic hooks and choruses to intimate, Scripture-driven tracks of hope, redemption and real-life encounters with faith around the world. 

“As soon as I heard Greg on television that late night say, ‘God is only a prayer away,’ I heard a song in my head that was so musical. The Holy Spirit now has helped me write countless songs when I'm stuck and don't know what's going on, and then all of a sudden, there it is. I know that it's not from me — these songs come from Heaven,” Cain told The Catholic Register. 

It wasn’t long before the Chicago native got to work writing lyrics, drawing from the theme of God’s often-hidden nearness. At the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C., he showed the lyrics to Laurie, who prompted Cain to pursue an accompanying melody. 

“The melody came to me almost instantly again, and the great songs usually do. That song is who I am. It’s got a little Journey in it, but I wanted to make it joyful, and I wanted to make it young sounding, melodic, sweeping, encouraging and have to have that promise of hope in it,” he said. 

"Only a Prayer Away" joins the tracks "Imagine Peace," "Amen to the Rescue," "All First," "Bread of Life" and "I Will Praise You Home" on Cain's newest extended play, with each track framed as a “vignette” where he saw God move faith in a real-life story. Written from sermons, everyday observations and experiences that have moved him, the tracks incorporate Scripture heavily through their lyrics, something Cain says contemporary Christian music lacked when he started pursuing worship music as a solo project 10 years ago. 

While it hasn’t been long since he began to branch out into the world of Christian music, Cain’s upbringing as a Catholic and subsequent adult life as a devout believer have equipped him to create perhaps his most vivid and spiritually-led offering to date. 

“ I grew up a Catholic, born and raised as a Catholic kid, sang in choirs and was even in one of the largest school fires in history,” he said, referring to the Our Lady of the Angels School fire of 1958, which claimed the lives of 92 students and three nuns.

“Those priests were my superheroes, and they moved me to continue my faith, along with my father, who led me to Jesus at a young age.” 

Looking back on the more than four decades of stardom and chart-topping success with Journey, Cain shared how he’s been able to bridge an established rock legacy with his faithful solo projects. Contrary to some, he says they have always intersected, even as far back as his time penning the piano composition to tracks like "Don't Stop Believin'.” 

“ I think I've been writing in this faith theme my whole life. My first single was called ‘God Made Woman for Man to Love’ when I was 19, and you could take all those Journey hits and add one word like ‘Lord, I'm forever Yours Faithfully, God, I come to You with Open Arms, Don't Stop Believin’ a Holy Spirit Feeling — they have all been encouraging songs about love and hope,” he said.

“Those themes have always been in Journey subliminally, and (former lead singer) Steve Perry was actually the first one to bring a Bible into a songwriting session for 'Trial by Fire.' That opened my eyes to seeing the beautiful images in there.” 

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Further, he attests that rock as a musical approach has its place in worship more than it ever has before, with much of his early solo work using guitar and high-energy instruments to create a unique atmosphere for worship. 

Recorded at Addiction Sound Studios in Nashville, the production of "Only A Prayer Away" even shares similar core processes to those of the platinum rock records Cain’s hands have been on in the past. Played live and recorded with the end in mind, he says the main difference is the lack of buried lyrics, with worship using no heavy tricks or overproduction to allow the message or praise to shine at the front, even if still rock-rooted.  

“ Regardless, melody is still king, and so I'm constantly looking for that hook. One of these days, I'm gonna write that worship song that everybody's going to sing,” he added. 

The singer/songwriter also shared that, at the conclusion of the next two tours with Journey into 2027, he will depart from the band and step into full-time ministry alongside his wife, Paula White. Still today, Cain serves as a worship leader in his home church, City Of Destiny, in Apopka, Florida, where his wife pastors.

A humble change from the acclaim that follows filling stadiums across the globe, but one that Cain is looking forward to at this point in his life and faith journey. 

Before fully embracing his call to ministry and worship leadership, the 75-year-old will first fulfill his final commitment to the Journey faithful, delivering one last round of timeless anthems to fans near and far. 

“I'm just built for it. It’s like Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers. He's going to pitch no matter what because that's what he's built to do. At this point, it’s in my DNA. I see a piano, I start playing, and I still love it.” 

Preparing for the tour both mentally and physically, Cain shared a pre-parting message to Journey’s longtime fans before he departs on his own after next year’s tour. 

“It’s never too late to reconnect, refresh, restore yourself and give your life to the Lord. Let Him lead you. He's got the answer, He's the author of your story, and He won't fail you.” 

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