Y’Anna Crawley, winner of season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with her long-awaited project, The Promise.  Congratulations!!!

Also, Tamela Mann and Brian Courtney Wilson experienced some significant sales gains, jumping from #15 to #4, and from #10 to #5, respectively.

The rest of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | Y’Anna Crawley – The Promise
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Tamela Mann – The Master Plan
#5 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#6 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#7 | Various Artists (from Fred Hammond) – Life In the Word
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#10 | Forever Jones – Get Ready

Did you guys grab Y’Anna’s new project yet?  What do you think of it?

What do you think of the rest of the top 10???

Is it just me, or does CeCe Winans’ Throne Room album depict one of the greatest worship experiences in gospel music?

I can’t really pinpoint another album that so seamlessly creates a worship ENVIRONMENT and experience– it transitions beautifully, until you literally feel like you have entered into the throne room of God, spent some incredible time with Him, and left… to return again soon.

Maybe I’m being extra, but there are very few musical projects that give me an experience with God like this one.

Is it just me?

VaShawn Mitchell has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with the new release of his latest album, Triumphant (EMI Gospel).  This sales week represents the highest week of his career.  Congrats!

Also, Brian Courtney Wilson jumped from #12 to #7 on the chart.  Great job!

The rest of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Various Artists (from Fred Hammond) - Life In the Word
#5 | Forever Jones - Get Ready
#6 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC - Souled Out
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#8 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
#9 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#10 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still

What do you think???

Finally got around to watching BeBe & CeCe Winans’ performance of “Never Thought” on Monday’s Good Morning America… love them.

What about you? Watch here–

EXCLUSIVE from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

I love good music and good food. And boy did I get an overdose of both at the NABJ Gospel Brunch during convention for the National Association of Black Journalists in San Diego, California on Saturday.

CeCe Winans was this year’s featured artist, and she dropped by to feed our souls with her music as we feasted on a delicious brunch assortment. She started by revisiting the upbeat singles “Hallelujah Praise,” “Pray” and “Waging War” from her three most recent albums.  But then there was a change of pace a bit because, as CeCe put it, she “gets really excited about the slow songs.”

Just before she moved on, though, she revealed that her son Alvin Love III had traveled with her and was actually singing backup with her on stage. How cool is that? He did an awesome job, by the way, and she praised him just enough to make him blush – the way only a mother can.

She sang “He’s Concerned” next, a song recorded right after her oldest brother, Ronald, passed away in 2005. It was clear that this song had a deeper meaning for her. For nearly ten minutes, she talked about God’s concern for each of us, his children, and asked everyone in the audience to place a hand on our hearts. As you can imagine, tears began to flow around the room.

After everyone recovered from “He’s Concerned,” she closed the set with “We Welcome You (Holy Father),” the beautiful worship ballad from her Thy Kingdom Come album. Although I love to eat, I’m sure you understand that the music was the most satisfying treat at the brunch. This was also her second invitation to NABJ; she graced the Gospel Brunch in 1996 when the conference was in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following the performance, I spoke with CeCe briefly.  Here’s what she had to say:

What are your thoughts on the gospel music industry at the moment?

CeCe: I think we have a lot of great talent – we’ve always had great talent in gospel – but I think we’ve got to come up with more platforms for some of the newer artists. And I wonder if the next generation will recognize and heed the wisdom of the gospel greats.

You just released a compilation album, Songs of Emotional Healing. What’s next for you?

CeCe: Well, we’re taking the “Always Sisters, Forever Brothers” conference on the road – nationwide and maybe international, possibly Africa. So far it’s been held in Tennessee at Belmont University, but we want to expand.

What memories can you share of the late Bishop Walter Hawkins?

CeCe: Wow! Well, I will never forget the first time I saw Walter, the first thing that I thought was, ‘what kind of perm does he have in his head?’ I really did! But also, the Winans, we started out by emulating the Hawkins family. We wanted to be like them and I truly miss Walter very much.

Well, who keeps you looking so put together all the time?

CeCe: I’m actually a licensed cosmetologist, and I don’t have anyone on the road with me, so I use what I know to help myself out, you know what I mean? I know a few things.

You’ve always recorded music with a contemporary and R&B sound. What has kept you from crossing into secular territory like some gospel artists have decided to do?

CeCe: When you know what your purpose is, and what you’re here to do, it’s not hard. It’s never been a hard choice for me. And I’m not passing judgment on any gospel artists that have. However, there have been things that we [Bebe & CeCe] have done where I look back and say, ‘Lord, why did we do that?’ Like when we appeared on the Martin show back in the 90s. We got on the set and it was really a mess. I was said “God if you can use this to bless, then please do.”

I’ve always been a fan of CeCe’s music, but I can truly say now that I love her as a person, too.

Life In the Word, the first project in the joint venture between Fred Hammond’s fHammond Family Entertainment and Universal Christian Music Group has debuted at #2 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. Fred’s 2009 release, Love Unstoppable, came in at #6 this week, so he’s got TWO albums in the Top 10.  Congrats!

Also, kudos to Lowell Pye for debuting at #10 on the chart, with his solo debut, Finally, which hit stores last Tuesday. Click here to listen to snippets and to buy it!

The rest of the top 10 shakes out to look a little something like this…

The full run-down of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | Various Artists – Life In the Word
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC - Souled Out
#5 | Trip Lee – Between Two Worlds
#6 | Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson - Just Love
#8 | Forever Jones – Get Ready
#9 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still
#10 | Lowell Pye - Finally

To be honest, I haven’t grabbed Lowell’s project yet– anyone got it?  Anyone lovin’ it?

Tell me about!

I’m actually REEEEEALLY excited for this– gmc is airing a special program called Soul Train Gospel Experience this Sunday, August 1st at 8pm ET.

The program will feature the best gospel performances from the hit show Soul Train, including performances by BeBe & CeCe Winans, Al Green, Take 6, Karen Clark Sheard, Mary Mary and more.

I can only imagine how classic some of the clips will be– kudos to gmc for the innovative throwback programming.

*glares at another network who perpetually drops the ball… and you know who you are!*

Okay, who’s tuning in???

For a second week, it seems that an artist has debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Gospel Albums charts that many probably were not expecting to land there.

This time, it’s the project Landmark, a new album from Jasper Williams & Salem Bible Church Mass Choir, which debuted at #6.  This traditional gospel project was given a solid rating by The Black Gospel Blog (one of my faves for its historical accuracy and broad coverage).

The full run-down of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#4 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#5 | Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable
#6 | Jasper Williams & Salem Bible Church Mass Choir – Landmark
#7| Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | Forever Jones - Get Ready
#10 | Donnie McClurkin - Playlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin

Since his debut at #8 last week, gospel hip-hopper PRo has dropped to #22.  I’d probably blame that on a bunch of pre-sales, as well, without momentum beyond first week.  Either way, you guys have said good things about him… I think folks should check him out.

Ok, so who’s got good ol’ Jasper Williams’ project???

Talk to me!

We’re continuing our weekly series, The Prayer List, in which we pray for one industry person each week– contributing back, through prayer, all that they give to us.  This week, I’m adding the incomparable CeCe Winans to The Prayer List.

I was listening to her Throne Room album this weekend, spending some time with God, and I thought “she’s given the gospel community so much… sacrificed SO much… been pulled on SOOOOO much” because of the calling on her life, because of the anointing she carries, because of her willingness to say “yes” to all of this.  Shouldn’t we go to God on her behalf, even if for just a few words, to say “God, her ministry has blessed me– can You bless her in return?”

Ok, let’s jump to it…

Lord, I thank You for ministry that You’ve given CeCe Winans.  Thank You for her gifts and talents, but thank You, also, for her heart.  Thank You for allowing CeCe to be a role model for so many women and young girls– to be full of virtue, beauty, humility and compassion.  Thank You for the reputation that You have allowed her to have– both in the gospel/Christian music world and far, far beyond– a reputation of grace, of holiness… thank You for allowing her to walk into a room and have a Godly presence, one that has to be recognized.

Thank You for still making ambassadors like CeCe Winans.

Father, I pray that You will continue to pour into her.  Allow her to delve deeper into new areas of her relationship with You.  Not just for our sake– as we’ll certainly reap the benefits of greater music– but simply for CeCe’s sake, Lord.  For her sake, and for Your glory, pay attention to Your daughter.  Still her in areas of busyness and anxiety.  Calm circumstances around her that would serve to distract her.  Give her a quiet confidence, peace and clarity.

Lord, please continue to bless her marriage to Alvin Love.  Thank You for providing such an awesome example of a Godly marriage– a lasting marriage.  Please continue to reveal areas of greater ministry for each of them, individually and as a unit, that will bless Your people.  And continue to bless their children to be great vessels for Your glory.  Please honor their commitment to You by using them in great ways.

Father, where CeCe grows weary, give her strength.  Where she doubts, give her confidence.  As she continues to broaden the scope of her ministry, pursuing new ventures and fulfilling new dreams, please be her guide.  Please make paths straight, opening doors through which she ought to walk, shutting quickly and permanently any doors that are not a part of Your plan.  And bless her.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, fam.  Let’s hear what You’ve got to say to God on CeCe’s behalf…

Post your prayers in the comment section!