Don’t miss the exclusive broadcast of the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards TONIGHT at 8pm ET on gmc!
The awards show was taped this past Thursday, April 19th, at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Hosted by David Mann and Chonda Pierce, the evening featured performances from Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Wess Morgan, Yolanda Adams, Angie Stone and more.
You don’t want to miss it!
Click here for a full list of this year’s winners and tune in to gmc TONIGHT at 8pm ET, or catch the encore at 10pm ET!
Make sure you tune-in to gmc to catch “For Richer or Poorer” this Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 7pm ET. It’s the first of four wedding vow-themed stage plays that the network will air over the course of this year.
“For Richer or Poorer” stars Rockmond Dunbar, LeToya Luckett and Angell Conwell, and features an appearance by Karen Clark Sheard. The play tells the tale of a happily married couple whose union is tested after financial setbacks. Their faith is tested as they fight for their marriage.
And don’t worry– if you miss the 7pm ET airing, it will air again at 9pm ET and 11pm ET the same night!
Read more about “For Richer or Poorer” at gmc’s website.
EJ Gaines writes…
The backbone of gospel music has always been the choir. Whether a humble, but faithful handful of church members or a 300-member citywide mass choir, the format is unique to our genre. As a result, choir music is never really in short supply. But with the ever-evolving economy of the music industry, choirs have become increasingly difficult to tour with, leaving smaller ensembles, groups and solo acts to nab the most recognition and opportunities.
Fortunately, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise is one of several contemporary choirs that has withstood the changing industry climate, consistently delivering great music that is current, but still anchored in a rich gospel music heritage. And it does so again with its newest album, the choir’s sixth, After This.
Read the FULL REVIEW at gmc’s official website by clicking here.
And click here to listen to snippets/buy it at Amazon.com.
In its second year heading from Nashville to Atlanta, it’s good to again see that the GMA Dove Awards is continuing in its mission to increase its inclusion of a broad spectrum of genres and groups, both as nominees and presenters/performers.
In short– it’s good to see “us” well-represented at the Doves again.
Now, I watch each year anyway because I love it all, but I know that some of you may not tune-in as readily…
So, if you’re hoping for a bit of “familiarity,” make sure you attend the show or watch from home– you can expect to see performances from Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, Ruben Studdard, and Lecrae. Also on the bill will be Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Jason Crabb, Jamie Grace, Danny Gokey, Jason Castro and The Isaacs. All great singers and artists. It’s gonna be a good show!
Plus, the hilarious David Mann will be co-hosting with funnylady Chonda Pierce.
The show takes place on April 19th in Atlanta, at the Fox Theatre. Grab tickets here.
If you can’t make the show, be sure to tune-in when it airs exclusively on gmc, on April 24th at 8pm ET.
In my humble opinion, Brian Courtney Wilson is an artist who has still not quite received his due in the gospel industry. In addition to topping both radio and sales charts with his debut album, Just Love, he’s a super kind and genuine dude with a great voice and wonderful passion for ministry.
Soooo, I’m a bit excited to write that his newest project, So Proud, has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. If you don’t have it yet, check out my review on GospelPundit.com AND my review for gmc’s website. Then buy it here.
The rest of Billboard’s Top 10 in Gospel is:
1 | Brian Courtney Wilson – So Proud
2 | WOW Gospel 2012
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
The new project from Le’Andria Johnson hit stores yesterday, and should debut very high next week. That will be a pretty good look for the new Grammy winner, as both her freshman and sophomore albums (not counting the Christmas project) will be in the Top 10.
In case you’ve missed the 27th Annual Stellar Awards airing in your local market, don’t fret– the nationwide broadcast is going down THIS SATURDAY, February 11th, on gmc (check your local cable listings).
It airs at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm ET, so you kinda don’t have any excuse to miss it.
The show, hosted by Dorinda Clark Cole and Marvin Sapp, features performances from Kirk Franklin, Kim Burrell, James Fortune & FIYA, Fred Hammond, Lecrae and more.
Tune-in!
I wrote a review of Myron Butler’s new project, Worship, for gmc this go ’round. I want you to check it out right here.
Listen to snippets and buy it here:
Heads-up–
On Saturday, January 21, 2012 (that’s tomorrow) at 7pm ET (with encores at 9pm and 11pm), gmc will air the original gospel play “Sugar Mommas,” featuring Vanessa Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Lamman Rucker and gospel’s own VaShawn Mitchell.
A synopsis of the play:
Inspiring, heart-warming and hilarious, “Sugar Mommas” centers on three 40-something women who start a bakery together to fulfill their own sweet desires to be independent women after motherhood, failed marriages and the loss of loved ones have left indelible marks on their lives. Together, their story is a celebration of womanhood, the good and the bad, as each learns new lessons about maturing, love and romance, and opportunity.
Should be good, right? Right.
Tune-in!
The 27th Annual Stellar Awards were held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry House.
And here are this year’s winners (winners in bold and blue)!
Artist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
VaShawn Mitchell
Song of the Year
“Nobody Greater” | Darius Paulk
“Well Done” | Deitrick Haddon
“I Smile” | Kirk Franklin
“I Choose To Worship” | Wess Morgan
Male Vocalist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
Smokie Norful
VaShawn Mitchell
Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Kim Burrell
Martha Munizzi
Yolanda Adams
Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Rance Allen Group
Trin-i-tee 5:7
New Artist of the Year
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Preashea Hilliard
Todd Dulaney
Y’Anna
CD of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe
Kirk Franklin – I Smile
Mary Mary – Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Shekinah Glory Ministry
Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims & Israel Houghton for Love God. Love People.
Kirk Franklin for Hello Fear
VaShawn Mitchell, Daniel Weatherspoon & Rick Robinson for Triumphant
Warryn Campbell/Mary Mary for Something Big
Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Trin-i-tee 5:7
Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers
Contemporary Male of the Year
Deitrick Haddon
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
VaShawn Mitchell
Traditional Male of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
John P Kee
Rance Allen
Smokie Norful
Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell
Preashea Hilliard
Y’Anna
Yolanda Adams
Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
LaShun Pace
Twinkie Clark
Contemporary CD of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Kirk Franklin | Hello Fear
Mary Mary | Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant
Traditional CD of the Year
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Smokie Norful | How I Got Over…
Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | “Well Done”
Kirk Franklin | “I Smile”
Mary Mary | “Walking”
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater”
Music Video of the Year – Short Form
Martha Munizzi | “Excellent” (Martha Munizzi)
Christian Heuer | “Walking” (Mary Mary)
Canton Jones | “God” (Canton Jones)
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater” (VaShawn Mitchell)
Music Video of the Year – Long Form
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Jerry Parries | Bishop Morton Celebrates…
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Contemporary Choir of the Year
Lonnie Hunter & Structure
Shekinah Glory Ministry
Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Harold Rayford | I Am the Instrument
Moses Tyson Jr | Music Remastered & Sacred Organ
Todd Ledbetter | Meditations: Hymsn in the Key of Jazz
Winston Stewart | Season
Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Paul Morton | Still
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | My Songbook
Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Flame | Captured
Lecrae | Rehab
Lecrae | Rehab: The Overdose
Viktory | Birth of a Legacy
Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure N Heart | Pure N Heart Live
Santiago & Claude Deuce | My Destiny Place – My Imagination
The Velasquez Singers | Ten
T-Rep The Young Prayzr | Let’s Go
Quartet of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Christina Jones for Dominionaire (Canton Jones)
Denise Trotman & Greg Gilligan for Hello Fear (Kirk Franklin)
Martha Munizzi for Make It Loud (Martha Munizzi)
Tanner Gary for Triumphant (VaShawn Mitchell)
Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Earnest Pugh | Earnestly Yours
Israel Houghton | Love God. Love People.
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant
Spoken Word CD of the Year
Marco the Poet | Marco the Poet EP
Michael Diallo McLendon | The Diallo Experience
Selah | Look At You Loving Me
Trupoetry | Trupoetry
Radio Station of the Year Finalists:
Major Market (3M+)
WPZE 102.5 FM (Atlanta, GA)
WPRS 104.1 FM (Washington, DC)
KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles, CA)
WGRB 1390 AM (Chicago, IL)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
Large Market (1-3M)
WHAL 95.7 FM/1460 AM (Memphis, TN)
WFMI 100.9 FM (VA-Norfolk-Newport, VA)
KCAO 600 AM (Baltimore, MD)
WMBM 1490 AM (Miami, FL)
Medium Market (500,000-1M)
WLOU 1350 AM (Louisville, KY)
WPRF 94.9 FM (New Orleans, LA)
WENO 760 AM (Nashville, TN)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
WPZK 102.5 (Little Rock, AR)
Small Market (under 500,000)
WDJL 1000 AM (Huntsville, AL)
WJNI 106.3 FM (Charleston, SC)
KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport, LA)
WIMG 1300 AM (Trenton, NJ)
The show was hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole, and will begin airing in local markets on January 21, 2012 (visit the Stellar Awards website for Local Airdates). The program will also be broadcast on gmc on February 11, 2012 at 8pm ET.
This Saturday, December 3rd, at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm ET, gmc will air the finale of the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound choir competition, which took place last month.
The event, taped at the Staples Center, will feature co-hosts Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans, judges Marvin Sapp, Israel Houghton and Shirley Caesar, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton (singing a tune from their upcoming movie, Joyful Noise) and, of course, some of the nation’s best church choirs.
Tune-in!
