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.

The major motion picture Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and

KeKe Palmer (and featuring Kirk Franklin), hits theaters THIS FRIDAY, January 13th.

Music from the film was produced by the incomparable Mervyn Warren (Take 6, Handel’s Messiah Soulful Celebration) and is in stores today!

Here’s a tracklisting:

1. Not Enough – Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah
2. Man In The Mirror – Keke Palmer
3. Maybe I’m Amazed – Jeremy Jordan and Keke Palmer
4. In Love – Kirk Franklin
5. Fix Me, Jesus – Queen Latifah
6. From Here To The Moon And Back – Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and Jeremy Jordan
7. I’m Yours – Keke Palmer and DeQuina Moore
8. Mighty High – Karen Peck
9. That’s The Way God Planned It – Ivan Kelley feat. Our Lady of Perpetual Tears Choir
10. Higher Medley – Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Andy Karl, Angela Grovey, DeQuina Moore
11. He’s Everything – Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Andy Karl and DeQuina Moore
12. Joyful Noise Suite – Mervyn Warren

You can listen to snippets and buy it right here!

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!

Folks, I don’t know if you’re in the Los Angeles area, on your way there, or can get there this evening, but the Staples Center is THE PLACE to be tonight for the finale of Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound.

In addition to incredible performances from the best church choirs across the country, the audience will be treated to live performances from hosts Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans, as well as Marvin Sapp and more.

Judges for the evening are Sapp, Shirley Caesar and Israel Houghton.

Plus, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton will perform a song from their upcoming film, Joyful Noise.

Doors open at 6pm, the show starts at 7:30pm and there are still a few tickets left. Tickets are only $10 and $15, and you know you can’t REMEMBER when you paid so little for a gospel show.

Visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com to get ‘em.

And be there!!!

Heads up, Atlanta–

The producers of the new film Joyful Noise (same folks who made The Blind Side) are offering tickets to a gospel choir concert scene for the film, and they’re looking for extras.

The concert scene will feature Kirk Franklin, along with the movie’s leading actresses– Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.

The filmed concert will take place THIS MONDAY, March 14th, at The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. Extras are asked to arrive at 7:00am (sick day!) and be available for 6 to 8 hours.

Aside from attending the concert and being in the film, there will be tons of free prizes. Plus, Extras Casting Atlanta will be on-site to look for folks with that extra something, as possible extras for future scenes and films.

To attend, email joyfulaudience2@gmail.com NOW.

Kirk Franklin will be appearing on The Mo’Nique Show tonight, on BET, at 11pm ET.  I hear that he did very well, so you don’t wanna miss it!

Kirk Franklin has also been added to the performance line-up for BET’s Haiti relief concert/telethon, SOS Saving OurSelves – Help For Haiti, which will be broadcast live TOMORROW night at 8pm ET on BET, Centric, MTV and VH1.

The event, hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs, Queen Latifah and Pharrell, will feature performances by a who’s-who list of artists, including  Wyclef, Mary J Blige, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown, Monica, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, and more.

Congrats to Kirk for the tremendous opportunities that the Lord is trusting you with!  Thanks for reppin’ the Kingdom of God and the gospel community.

I can’t even gloat about having an accurate prediction, cuz I think we all saw it comin’…

Mary Mary won the BET Award for “Best Gospel Artist.”  Jamie Foxx called them “the NEW Queens of Gospel” last night… I dunno if I’d go there just yet, especially since Albertina Walker holds the title and is still in the game, but the Marys are definitely making moves.  Let’s compromise at the “Queens of URBAN Gospel.”  Fair?

Anyway, the Marys performed “God In Me” live.  Kierra Sheard wasn’t on hand to perform the bridge, but Queen Latifah came out with a verse (rhyming, not singing).

It’s on YouTube (for now)… so watch here:

I’m not sure if it was the sound quality (mics were kinda low), or the lack of much stage action (in comparison to the other performances, their stage was kinda bare), but I wasn’t feelin’ this particular performance as much as some of Mary Mary’s other ones.  And the audience kinda just sat there like “okay…” until Latifah came out.

That said, people try to front on the ladies, like they’re not reppin’ Christ, but I give props to them– I felt like it was clear who they were singing about and who they were singing for… but I know y’all might not agree…

What did you think???

Y’all heard the Clark Sisters’ version of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” yet?  They recorded it with Robert Randolph as part of the Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration album, released by Vector Records/EMI Gospel last week.  The project also features the Soul Children of Chicago (shout-out), Mavis Staples, Al Green and Heather Headley, as well as mainstream artists like Jon Bon Jovi, Michael McDonald, Joss Stone and Queen Latifah.

Honestly, at first, I thought “here comes a trainwreck,” but it’s really not bad AT ALL!  Dorinda seemed a bit more reserved until the end, but each of the ladies held it down throughout.  I think they really put their signature “Clark Sisters sound,” with the harmonies and acrobatics, on a classic song.

Listen:

PLUS, I’m glad to see them branching out and doing more stuff in different arenas, getting some of the recognition that they deserve from the mainstream.

Now, lemme know what YOU think!