BET Preps for Season 5 of Sunday Best —
BET's hit singing competition Sunday Best is gearing up for its fifth season. Auditions for the new season kick off in Dallas, TX on March 24. Other cities for auditions include Washington, DC (March 31) and Atlanta, GA (April 14) with a fourth date and city to be announced. Alumni of the series include Crystal Aikin, Y'Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Le'Andria Johnson, and Amber Bullock. (Feb. 1, 2011)
Top Gospel Albums —
Congratulations to James Fortune & FIYA, whose new release Identity, debuts atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also enters at #1 on the Independent Charts, #17 on the Digital Albums Charts, and #7 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts, marking the highest chart debut ever for the group. The Joyful Noise Soundtrack moves to the #2 position on this week's charts. The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson from Le'Andria Johnson holds to the #3 spot followed by William McDowell's Arise: The Live Worship Experience at the #4 position. Hello Fear from Kirk Franklin rounds out the week's top five albums. In other chart news, VaShawn Mitchell's Triumphant moves six places to #16 and I Love You: Live from Shana Wilson debuts at #18.
In the world of radio, Isaac Carree's "In The Middle" spends its sixth consecutive week at the top of the radio charts. "I Need Your Glory" from Earnest Pugh holds to the #2 spot while "Still Able" from James Fortune & FIYA moves to the #3 position. "Spiritual" from Donald Lawrence & Company moves to the #4 spot while Yolanda Adams' "Be Still" rounds out the week's top five songs. (Jan. 30, 2011)
Andrea Helms Signs with Music World Gospel —
Music World Gospel has announced the signing of Andrea Helms. Helms came to national recognition as the runner up in Season 4 of the hit singing competition BET Sunday Best. She will release her forthcoming single, a cover of the Mary Mary hit "Yesterday". Look for her seven-track EP Moving Forward to hit stores March 2012. (Jan. 23, 2011)
43rd Annual NAACP Image Award Nominees Announced —
The nominees for the 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards have been announced. Congratulations to Yolanda Adams, Deitrick Haddon, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, and Andrae Crouch who are all nominees in the category of "Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)". Congratulations to famed choir The Sounds of Blackness who are nominated in the categories of "Outstanding World Music Album" and "Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration". Kirk Franklin's "I Smile" is also nominated as "Outstanding Song". This year's NAACP Image Awards will air live on February 17, 2012 at 8p ET on NBC. (Jan. 20, 2011)
Jonathan Nelson Signs with Karew Records —
Congratulations to Jonathan Nelson, the newest signee to Karew Records. The announcement took place Stellar Award weekend in Nashville, TN. Karew Records, owned and created by Karen Clark Sheard, is the label home for Sheard, The Clark Sisters, and Kierra Sheard. Known for hits such as "My Name Is Victory", "Right Now Praise", and "Expect the Great", Nelson is the first signee to the label outside of the immediate Clark family. Look for new music from Jonathan Nelson later this year. (Jan. 18, 2011)
Stellar Winners (2012) —
The official winners for the 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced on January 14, 2012 from ceremonies held in Nashville. Check here for the complete list:
(January 16, 2012)
Urban Soul Cafe Returns to Nashville —
The Urban Soul Cafe returns to Nashville, TN during Stellar Award weekend with three huge shows. They kick off the weekend with "Access Granted" on Jan. 12 at the Cannery Ballroom. The evening will be filled with performances from Lowell Pye, Earnest Pugh, Brittney Wright, Patrick Dopson, LeJeune Thompson, Damita Haddon, Anita Wilson, and many others. Dorinda Clark Cole and The Rance Allen Group will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards and Kim Burrell will be named Urban Soul Cafe Artist of the Year. In addition, Marvin Sapp is slated to make a special guest appearance. The weekend party continues on Saturday afternoon with the Mid-Day Mixer at Jazz & Jokes Lounge from 10:30a-3p and then concludes with the Urban Soul AfterParty at Limelight Entertainment Venue from 7:30p-2a. All tickets are available at the Urban Soul Cafe website. (Dec. 20, 2011)
BMI Announces Hosts for Trailblazers Luncheon —
GRAMMY award nominee Kim Burrell and GRAMMY award winner Israel Houghton have been tapped to host the 13th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards ceremony. The popular luncheon takes place on Jan. 13, 2012 at Rocketown in Nashville, TN during Stellar Award weekend. This year's event will honor Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker and feature outstanding musical tributes to this year's honorees. (Dec. 15, 2011)
William Murphy Preps for Live Recording —
Singer, songwriter, and pastor William Murphy III is preparing for his next live recording. The live session takes place on Dec. 14, 2011 at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA. This marks the artist's first recording as part of the Verity Gospel Music Group roster. Murphy is the pastor of The dReam Center Church in Atlanta, GA and is best known for the single "Praise Is What I Do" with Shekinah Glory Ministry. GRAMMY and Stellar award winning producer Aaron Lindsey will produce the session. (Dec. 7, 2011)
Mary Mary Cancels Christmas Tour —
Sisterly duo and Columbia/My Block recording artists Mary Mary have chosen to cancel their scheduled "Have A Mary Mary Christmas Tour" as a result of the impending birth of duo member Erica Campbell's child. The 8-city tour was scheduled to kick off in Austin, TX on Dec. 8 and conclude in Seattle on Dec. 18. (updated Dec. 6, 2011)
Grammy Nominees Announced —
The nominees for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards have been announced. Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary lead the Gospel categories with two nominations in the categories of "Best Gospel Song" (for "Hello Fear" and "Sitting With Me" respectively) and "Best Gospel Album" (for Hello Fear and Something Big respectively). Other nominees in the category of "Best Gospel Song" include Donald Lawrence ("Spiritual"), Richard Smallwood ("Trust Me"), and Canton Jones ("Window").
Other nominees in the category of "Best Gospel Album" include Kim Burrell (The Love Album), Andrae Crouch (The Journey), and Trin-i-tee 5:7 (Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition). Congratulations also Le'Andria Johnson who is nominated for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance" for her single "Jesus". The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards takes place live in Los Angeles, CA at the Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012. (Dec. 1, 2011)
Mary Mary To Launch Reality Show —
Congratulations to Mary Mary who are headed to primetime TV with a brand new reality show. Currently titled Mary Mary, the new show will chronicle the lives of the sisters Erica & Tina Campbell as they fill both their personal and professional roles. Look for the new series to debut on Mar. 29, 2012 on the WE TV network, which is also home to other reality series including Bridezillas and Braxton Family Values. (Nov. 30, 2011)
Mary Mary Wins Soul Train Music Award —
Congratulations to Mary Mary who the Soul Train Music Award for "Best Gospel Performance" for the track "Walking". The awards aired on BET & Centric on Nov. 27, 2011. Other nominees for the category included Kirk Franklin, Trin-i-tee 5:7, James Fortune & FIYA, and CeCe Winans. The duo also participated in the evening's tribute to Gladys Knight performing the legendary track "Midnight Train to Georgia". (Nov. 28, 2011)
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