<P> Millard then connects with the band who would become MercyMe, and eventually attracts the attention of Christian music producer Scott Brickell (Trace Adkins), who coaches Millard and gets them a showcase in Nashville, leading to meetings with Amy Grant (Nicole DuPort) and Michael W. Smith (Jake B. Miller). Millard has been unable to reconcile with Shannon, who rejects his invitation to tour with the band to their upcoming Nashville showcase . While the band felt their performance was the best of their career, industry representatives reject the band as not being good enough to sell records . In despair, Millard quits the band . After talking with Brickell, who encourages him to resolve his issues with his father, Millard rejoins the band but asks they wait for him to confront his father and settle the conflict before they play again . </P> <P> Millard returns home and is greeted enthusiastically by his father, who prepares breakfast for him the next morning . His father claims to have become a Christian, but Bart is initially skeptical and rejects his father's offer to start over . In anger, Arthur takes a baseball bat and hits his old Jeep, which he had hoped to repair with his son . As Bart prepares to leave, he finds out his father has terminal cancer . Bart and his father reconcile and form a deep bond before Arthur dies of his illness . </P> <P> After his father's funeral, Millard rejoins the band and writes "I Can Only Imagine". Brickell sends the demo tape to several artists, including Grant, who, deeply moved by the song, asks to record it herself as her next single . The band accepts Grant's offer . Millard is seated in the audience when Grant intends to unveil the song live in concert . However, Grant decides that Millard should be the one to sing the song, and offers it back to him, calling him to the microphone to sing it before the large audience . Millard's unexpected performance is wildly applauded and he reunites with Shannon, who had also been in attendance at the concert . The band releases the song as their first single, achieving success on Christian and mainstream radio . </P> <Ul> <Li> J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard <Ul> <Li> Brody Rose as Young Bart </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Dennis Quaid as Arthur Millard, Bart's father </Li> <Li> Cloris Leachman as Meemaw, Bart's grandmother </Li> <Li> Madeline Carroll as Shannon, Bart's girlfriend <Ul> <Li> Taegen Burns as Young Shannon </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Trace Adkins as Scott Brickell, MercyMe's manager </Li> <Li> Priscilla Shirer as Mrs. Fincher, Bart's teacher </Li> <Li> Nicole DuPort as Amy Grant </Li> <Li> Jake B. Miller as Michael W. Smith </Li> <Li> Mark Furze as Nathan </Li> </Ul>

When did the song i can only image come out