Is 'I Can Only Imagine 2' a true story? We fact check the MercyMe film

How childhood diabetes and incurable cancer inspired a hit Christian song – and a new faith-based drama about MercyMe singer Bart Millard.

Bart Millard couldn’t have imagined any of this.

In 2001, the MercyMe frontman released his rousing anthem “I Can Only Imagine,” which is now the best-selling Christian single of all time with more than 5 million copies sold.

The song went on to inspire a 2018 movie of the same name, which chronicled Millard’s tumultuous upbringing and grossed a staggering $86 million worldwide on a $7 million budget.

Eight years later, he’s back with “I Can Only Imagine 2” (now in theaters), a faith-based drama that tells the next chapter of Millard’s story on and off stage.

“I don’t know if there’s a lot of sequels to biopics, so I didn’t know I would be here again,” Millard says with a laugh. “As a songwriter in a band, it’s intoxicating any time an audience connects with your story. You realize, ‘Oh, man, we’re not alone in this.’ Sadly, we all have suffering in common.”