The Willis Clan Announces First Public Performance Since Toby Willis’ Arrest

The Willis Clan on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in 2014…

The Willis Clan is preparing to come back into the spotlight, over a year after their world was rocked by the arrest of family patriarch Toby Willis.

The oversized Christian family band—who once starred on TLC’s The Willis Family and appeared on America’s Got Talent — is ready to get back out on stage and perform again (without Toby of course). The family announced that it will perform two shows at the Schauer Arts & Activities Center in Hartford, Wisconsin, on May 23, 2018.

After news of Toby’s arrest broke, the family stopped touring and deactivated its social media accounts, but it appears that the Willis Clan is ready to put the difficult past behind them and go back to making music together again.

As The Ashley previously reported, the music came to a screeching halt for the Willis Family when Toby was arrested in September 2016 on charges of rape of an underage family member. He was eventually sentenced to more than 40 years in prison. At the time of his arrest, Toby’s wife Brenda, came out and said she was supporting the prosecution in the case.

“The Willis family would like to thank their family, friends and fans for the outpouring of love and support during this most difficult year. Additionally, the Willis family would like to thank the many members of law enforcement for their detailed and comprehensive investigation of this matter. Finally, the family would like to thank the District Attorney’s office for their diligence and sensitivity in the handling of this case,” Brenda said at the time.

Since then, the Willis family has remained relatively quiet. They only recently reactivated the family’s Instagram account.

Eldest child Jessica unexpectedly left the singing group right before Toby’s arrest. She quietly got married earlier this year.

It does not appear that Jessica will perform with her siblings at the upcoming concerts in May 2018.

Tickets to the shows can be purchased online here. Watch them perform on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in 2014 in the clip below!

UPDATE: The May 2018 appears to be one of the first tour dates for The Willis Clan. The family band has apparently done very select performances since 2016.

(Photo: NBC)

25 Responses


  1. It was sad that they came to a sudden stop. They are talented and gifted. Sorry to hear Jessica has left the family band, wising her God’s blessings. So anxious and thrilled they are to be performing again.


  2. It made me so sad to hear this news about all that this family is going through. I encourage them ALL, Toby, too, to remember God is THERE for anyone who calls on his name in Truth. My heart goes out to the family, but I also know from my own trauma how very big our God is. May you all sense His presence and love and guidance. Blessings to ya’ll from East Texas!! Praying for you ALL


  3. I am so glad you are all holding together and with God’s grace and guidiance you will all do will. Prayers and good luck. I love your music.


  4. May God continue to help your family move a better positive life. We will continue to support your family in any way! Can’t wait to see and hear the family live again!


  5. It is really wonderful news that they’re coming back to sing in public and now we just need to drop the past stuff and start afresh no rehashing the past today is the first day and it’s the best day and we take it one day at a time


  6. So happy to have them back performing! They have too much talent to not use. I’d love to have them all back on tv——they are a special family!


  7. I’m so glad they’re coming back out with their music there’s too much talent to let one tragedy take them out of the game I pray many blessings for them and God’s will for each child


  8. GROSS. What a gross human being Toby is! Yuck.

    And THAT’S what the Duggars should do with their oldest son: denounce him, trial him and get him locked up! Instead his parents covered it all and made his sisters defend him on public TV. Again he is gross too.


  9. I couldn’t possible pretend to understand the pain this family has experienced this past year (and even farther back, hiding within themselves this heinous travesty). I have a lot of respect for women who side with and believe in their children’s accusations over their husband/boyfriend/ partner. I hope the whole family has been receiving professional help to heal and I really hope that eventually Jessica and her family can reconcile. Life without family seems like it would be incredibly lonely. They are crazy talented and I wish them great success. If they were performing in my area, I would definitely go to the show.

    Good luck and God bless, Willes family.


  10. Good for them! Just because there father is an evil person, doesn’t mean they are! They’re Very talented! I’d go see them if they toured close to me! ??


  11. I come from a huge family and I am thankful that I am not judged for my kinfolk sins. Therefore I look foreward to this family getting past the sins of their father


  12. Love this family. Very talented and sweet. I am glad that they are going foreward with their musical journey. I look foreward to hearing them.


    1. Because people who have very large families typically do so because their religion tells them to, and those religions often also promote the idea that men are more important/powerful than women, so the men feel like they can get away with anything, including sexual assault.


      1. People are people and some are just messed up. Big families, small families, Christian, Athiest, whatever the case may be. Terrible acts are not MORE common in large religious families, come on now.
        I hope the victim(s) (because when there’s one you can assume there’s more) are able to overcome his dispicable actions.

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