The latest project from sister duo Mary Mary, titled Go Get It, continues at the #1 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, after debuting at the top last week.

Beyond that, the charts had very little movement– the Joyful Noise soundtrack swapped with the WOW Gospel project and Jessica Reedy re-entered the Top 10 from #13.

Here’s this week’s top 10:

1 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
2 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
3 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
4 | WOW Gospel 2012
5 | Trip Lee – The Good Life
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
8 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
9 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
10 | Jessica Reedy – From The Heart

Next week, I’m predicting a #1 debut from Jason Nelson, plus high sales numbers from Zacardi Cortez and Cheneta Jones.

Marvin Sapp’s I Win returns to the top spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, after Trip Lee’s latest, The Good Life, debuted at #1 last week. Trip’s project remains in the #2 position, followed by the 2012 release of WOW Gospel at #3.

The full Top 10 at Billboard looks like…

1 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
2 | Trip Lee – The Good Life
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
5 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
8 | Smokie Norful – Once In A Lifetime
9 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
10 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart

Not sure how things will shake up next week. I’m still wanting sales for albums from Anita Wilson and forever JONES to come up. They’re good projects worth a listen, and a purchase.

Congrats to JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, whose latest album, After This, has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, the highest debut of the choir’s career. Click here to check out my review of the project.

The rest of the Top 10 in Gospel is:

1 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
2 | WOW Gospel 2012
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Maranatha! Gospel – 2012 Top Gospel Songs
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
8 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
9 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
10 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart

Next week, look for Marvin Sapp to debut at #1, with Anita Wilson also charting in the Top 10.

Which of these projects do you still need to get?

Don’t get caught slipping… BET’s Celebration of Gospel airs THIS SUNDAY at 8pm ET/PT.

The 12th annual performance showcase, hosted by Steve Harvey, will feature performances from Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Le’Andria Johnson, Jessica Reedy, Isaac Carree, Mali Music, Faith Evans and MANY MANY more.

Don’t miss it. And check out this video of BET’s Torrence Glenn chatting it up with the artists as they arrive on the Celebration of Gospel BLUE carpet!

Hey folks, tune-in to 106 & Park on BET today– Jessica Reedy will be on-air to discuss her upcoming performance on Celebration of Gospel, her current album, From the Heart, and more. You don’t wanna miss it– promise.

106 & Park airs at 6pm ET… as if you didn’t know.

Mark your calendars!

The 12th annual Celebration of Gospel, hosted by Steve Harvey, will air on BET on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8pm ET/PT.

Folks already slated to perform/appear include:

Kirk Franklin
Yolanda Adams
Marvin Sapp
Shirley Caesar
Fred Hammond
Le’Andria Johnson
The Rance Allen Group
Earnest Pugh
Zacardi Cortez
Jessica Reedy
Ricky Dillard & New G 
Isaac Carree
Mali Music
Ledisi
Faith Evans
Kelly Price
Johnny Gill
Jennifer Holliday
James Fortune & FIYA
Moses Tyson, Jr.
Maurette Brown Clark
Dr. Bobby Jones
Wendy Raquel Robinson

The event will also feature tributes to Mahalia Jackson and Whitney Houston.

The two-hour special will be taped next Friday, March 16th, at 8 p.m. PT at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

FREE TICKETS are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Email betrsvp@bet.net to get ‘em!

On the heels of a riveting Stellar Awards performance with Kim Burrell, Le’Andria Johnson and Jessica Reedy, Martha Munizzi releases her ne single, the title track from her Stellar Award-nominated album, Make It Loud.

Wanna hear it? I know you do.

Check it out on the Pundit Player by clicking here!!!

The soundtrack for the recently released major motion picture, Joyful Noise, has debuted at #1 this week on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. The project, produced by Mervyn Warren, features some pop-music-made-gospel by co-stars Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and KeKe Palmer, as well as an original tune from Kirk Franklin.

I should also point out that the South African all-male a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo debuted at #4 with their Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends project. And Come Sunday, a special gospel project from jazz bassist Charlie Haden and the late Hank Jones, an acclaimed jazz pianist, debuted at #6. That’s a good project.

I have something to say about all three of these projects impacting the gospel charts the way they have… I think I’ll save it for an editorial in GospelPundit Weekly. If you’re not subscribed, do so HERE– it comes out every Thursday evening and you don’t wanna miss it!

In the meantime, check out the full top 10…

1 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
2 | William McDowell – Arise
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Charlie Haden & Hank Jones – Come Sunday
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
9 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
10 | Shirley Caesar – The Ultimate Collection

WOW Gospel 2011 fell out of the Top 10, perhaps for the first time since its release last January. No matter– WOW Gospel 2012 hits stores this coming Tuesday… it’ll be back!

Next week, expect to see James Fortune & FIYA’s new album, Identity, at the top of the charts. I’m curious to see if it will outsell the mainstream-promoted Joyful Noise soundtrack, but it’s definitely going to clobber sales in the gospel market. And it should– check out my review here.

On Friday, January 13, 2012, BMI held its annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music awards luncheon at Nashville’s Rocketown. The invite-only industry gathering has become the hottest ticket in town.

This year, BMI saluted the music and ministry of Bishop Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin.

A virtual who’s-who was in attendance… Kim Burrell, Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond, Isaac Carree, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Jason Nelson, Jonathan Nelson, Jessica Reedy, Virtue, Asaph Ward, Ricky Dillard, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, BeBe Winans, DJ Rogers, David & Tamela Mann, Dayna Caddell, Brian Courtney Wilson, Dorinda Clark Cole, Marvin Sapp… my fingers are tired, but just think of EVERYONE in gospel music.

Check out these photos from the event!

Word has it that Latice Crawford, runner-up of Season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, has signed a recording contract with Verity.

I’m glad she found a label home. Her Sunday Best-mates, winner Y’Anna Crawley and runner-up Jessica Reedy, have done quite well for themselves. Latice’s voice was always dope, too… I’m excited to hear the tunes.

Congrats, Latice!

Whatd’ya say? You looking forward to it???