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In the fifteen months since his daughter Maria was killed in a tragic accident, Steven Curtis Chapman turned to songwriting split between themes of lamentation, grief, pondering, praise, and hope. Though they were originally part of his private diary, twelve tracks have landed on his next studio CD Beauty Will Rise (coming November 3), which the singer/songwriter equates to his personal Psalms in a recent video blog.

"I began this process a couple of months after May 21st, not really knowing if I would ever feel like I could sing, stand on stage again, or express the emotions, the grief and the loss in music," Chapman said in a press release. "But, in the days that followed, I felt that God was allowing me to write my own songs, and that's really what these are to me; a collection of my own songs, laments, ponderings, and God meeting me and my family in the grief and in the midst of our journey of the last year. It's been an amazing, wild process; very raw, real, honest."

For the first time in his lengthy career, Chapman recorded the songs privately via his portable studio while touring the country last fall and spring. Fans can score an early preview when "Heaven Is the Face" hits radio August 21 and lands on digital sales sites September 8.

Last Monday, MercyMe resumed its concert schedule after a fatal accident where a car crashed into its tour bus, resulting in the death of four people in the car, including an unborn child. But before going on with the regularly scheduled program, the group addressed the incident and called for continued prayer for all parties involved. "Every night on stage when we introduce our song 'Bring the Rain,' we talk about God being in control," the group posted on a recent blog. "If we believe what we say, then we must continue to look at how He will get the glory through this, and bring healing to so many."

The Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee honored Amy Grant

and Vince Gill with the 2009 Jack C. Massey Leadership Award, which is handed out twice a year to recognize outstanding community leadership. The couple earned the nod after consistent contributions to various causes within the Middle Tennessee region, specifically assistance to underprivileged children, the physically disabled, and homeless.

The September 8 release of Stop & Listen is Bethany Dillon's fourth project to date, and her first as a married woman (to Shane Barnard of acoustic duo Shane & Shane). Themes will reflect this latest life experience, featuring some co-writes with friends Joy Williams and Ben Glover. The project features production from Marshall Altman (Brooke Fraser, Warren Barfield) and will be supported by a fall tour with Robbie Seay Band.

Piano popper Francesca Battistelli isn't just on the airwaves these days, but is also expanding into movies and television. "I'm Letting Go" can currently be heard in promotional clips for the movie Julie & Julia, and her current hit "It's Your Life" recently landed on the season finale of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.

Teen Mania Ministries, long known for its youth rallies, is adding a record label to its slate starting in October. Atlanta-based Unhindered will release the vertically-leaning Be on the ministry's EE-Taow Records, which hopes to cultivate the next generation of songwriters and worship leaders. "EE-Taow" is a phrase taken from Papua New Guinea, where a community of people called The Mouk have recently embraced Christianity. Organizers hope to apply that story of conversation to today's teens all across America.

"Queen of Gospel" Albertina Walker just turned 80, but she continues to record and tour on occasion. The co-founder of The Caravans and frequent Mahalia Jackson collaborator is best known for her church standard "I'm Still Here" and was also awarded by President George W. Bush for her contribution to gospel music during 2002's Black Music Month.

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