Well, it’s that time of year again… the Grammy nominations are in.  Or out.  Whatever.

Instead of your typical press conference, the Recording Academy announced the nominees at a music shindig last night, which aired on CBS.  Among the performers were Mariah Carey, John Mayer and Foo Fighters.  But enough about that.

Multiple nominees in the Gospel Category include Mary Mary (3), Kirk Franklin (2), and CeCe Winans (2).  Click here to see the full list of nominees in gospel.  Takes up too much space on my page.

I’ll blog about my actual predictions for winners later, but I must say, at first glance, that name recognition goes a long way in the Grammys, especially in the gospel categories… and, not that they don’t deserve to win this time around anyway, but anything Winans, Gaither or Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir-ish is generally ahead immediately out the starting gate.  But, we shall see…

The 51st annual Grammy Awards telecast will be broadcast live on February 9, 2009.

Whatd’ya think???

I liked it more than the Detroit one, but probably less than the Chicago one.  And that may all have to do with where I was born and where I currently live…  but I enjoyed it.

The New York program, hosted by Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, included Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Rev. Timothy Wright, Pastor Hezekiah Walker, Natalie Wilson, JJ Hairston and the folks at Christian Cultural Center, Times Square Church, and The Brooklyn Tabernacle.

The artists shared stories about their humble beginnings– how Timothy Wright gathered dozens of singers for the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, how Hezekiah Walker formed his first choir, how Carol Cymbala started with only a handful of choir members before arriving at the 300+ voices currently in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  It was good.

I think I would’ve enjoyed seeing James Hall on the program.  And a little featurette or something on the Village Underground (or however else we could work Melonie Daniels into the mix).  But, all in all, I really liked it.

I dunno when it’ll be on again, but knowing the Gospel Music Channel, it’ll be very soon.  Cuz I’ll be darned if they don’t play that AARP concert every couple of days…