No big debuts this week, though the soundtrack to Joyful Noise experienced a significant sales bump, from the #22 position to the #3 spot. Not sure what caused that, but kudos to ya!

Here’s this week’s full top 10 at Billboard:

1 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
2 | WOW Gospel 2012
3 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
4 | Trip Lee – The Good Life
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
7 | Elder Goldwire McClendon – The Best of…
8 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
9 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
10 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of…

Next week, I’m expecting a #1 debut for Mary Mary’s new album, Go Get It. Check out this full album review at gmc: http://www.watchgmctv.com/music/review/album/mary-mary-go-get-it

With his newest album, titled I Win, Marvin Sapp sells nearly 45,000 units and debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, as well as #9 on the Billboard 200.

Smokie Norful debuts at #4 with his latest album, a compilation titled Once In A Lifetime. And Anita Wilson’s debut album, Worship Soul lands at #14. Not nearly enough sales, in my opinion, but I’m banking on a rise over the next several weeks.

The Top 10 in Gospel is right here for ya:

1 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
2 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | Smokie Norful – Once In A Lifetime
5 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
6 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Maranatha! Gospel – 2012 Top Gospel Songs
10 | William McDowell – Arise

Don’t have Marvin Sapp’s new album yet? Check out my full review here, then grab the album here.

Sunday Best winner (and recent Grammy winner) Le’Andria Johnson has confirmed that she is indeed expecting another baby, and is due in September. Her public statement puts an end to weeks of speculation that the singer is pregnant, most recently peaking after her recent televised appearance on BET’s Celebration of Gospel.

In an exclusive statement to Elev8.com, Le’Andria states:

“In recent weeks, there have been numerous published reports stating that I am pregnant. I would like to take this time to confirm that I am pregnant and due in September. I have been feeling well and maintaining a healthy appetite. I have been busy traveling around the country with my music ministry. One can only imagine that as a mother and mother-to-be, my plate is quite full—taking the kids to school, doing homework, cooking—regular mother duties. I have been blessed to have the love and support of my church, family, friends, label, management, and fans. I have received so many beautiful and thoughtful notes and prayers from people all over the country. I ask that you continue to pray for me and my family. I cannot do this alone. I will continue to pray for God’s guidance and protection over my life. I love you all very much and I will be in touch soon.”

Let’s pray for Le’Andria. Keep her lifted up and pray for a safe, healthy pregnancy and delivery!

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!

Gospel hip-hopper Swoope has debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, with the release of his latest album, Wake Up. Congrats!

Stephen Hurd’s O, That Men Would Worship has debuted at #8 . The project highlights the power behind men of God in the Kingdom, and it calls them to be active in praise and worship. It’s a GREAT project. Listen to snippets and buy it right here.

The top 10 in Gospel…

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
3 | William McDowell – Arise
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | Maranatha! Gospel – 2012 Top Gospel Songs
6 | Swoope – Wake Up
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
8 | Stephen Hurd – O, That Men Would Worship
9 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
10 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me

Next week, I expect to see big numbers from Take 6 and JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, whose newest project, After This, hit stores this week.

Music World Gospel is prepping for the release of the debut EP of Elder Goldwire McClendon, from Season Three of BET’s Sunday Best. The project, titled The Best of Elder Goldwire McClendon, hits stores on April 24, 2012 and will feature new recordings of the same songs he performed on the show.

The 81-year old vocalist delivered heartfelt and power-packed tunes each week before yielding the title to Le’Andria Johnson.

Pre-order the project by clicking right here!

Christian hip-hop just WINS at Billboard. The latest winner is rap vet Flame, whose newest project, The 6th debuts at #1 on the sales chart this week. Click here to listen to it and grab it!

Sunday Best runner-up Andrea Helms debuts at #2 with her first EP, Moving Forward.

Here’s the rest of the Top 10 in Gospel:

1 | Flame – The 6th
2 | Andrea Helms – Moving Forward
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
5 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
6 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
7 | William McDowell – Arise
8 | Lecrae – Rehab
9 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
10 | Israel Houghton & New Breed – Decade

The next high-charting release should be from JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, whose newest project, After This, hits stores on March 27th. Look to see impressive sales from Take 6, too, whose One album comes out the same day.

There’s actually not too much new stuff to report in the area of Billboard chart positions this week– a couple of folks swapped spots, and we saw sales jumps from Lecrae and Isaac Carree, but with no major new debuts last week, all is settled… for now.

Here’s a glance at the Top 10 in Gospel:

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
10 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me

Next week, expect to see strong entries from Andrea Helms and Israel Houghton!

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!