After setting sales records for its new album, Casting Crowns is embarking on a major 41-city tour from February through May. Joining the Grammy winners on tour are Kutless (February and March), Tenth Avenue North (April and May) and Caleb—a new band featuring brothers Caleb and Will Chapman (sons of Steven Curtis Chapman). World Vision will serve as tour sponsor.
In other CC news, frontman Mark Hall has reworked his latest devotional book for teens. YOUR OWN JESUS: A God Insistent on Making It Personal (Student Edition) features an introduction by Max Lucado, followed by Hall’s words of wisdom.
West earns top tune of 2009
Matthew West’s “The Motions” is officially the top Christian tune of 2009. The song topped Billboard’s Hot Christian Song and Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Song charts, while also taking fourth place on the magazine’s chart for Christian songs of the entire decade.
Mercy Me’s decade milestone
MercyMe’s smash single “Word of God Speak” was the No. 1 Christian song of the decade, according to Billboard’s charts. The band is also “Christian songs artist of the decade” thanks to its 22 chart toppers. “MercyMe’s career has always been about writing songs that we believe will share the love of Christ and make him known,” frontman Bart Millard wrote on the band’s website. “We continue to be blown away by the support radio and fans give us and strive to continue to write music that can move your heart toward God. Here’s to the next decade!”
Hanson album by album
Hanson fans, take note: On April 26-30 at New York’s Blender Theatre, the brothers will perform one of their CDs in its entirety each night, followed by a finale night previewing a 2010 release. To wrap up the run, the band plays a career spanning set May 1 at The Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey.
Delirious’ farewell on TV
As previously reported, Delirious is officially done as a band, but there’s one more chance to catch them in concert. On Sunday, December 27 at 8 p.m. Eastern, GOD TV (available to Sky Angel subscribers) will broadcast the group’s sold-out swansong at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo>, which featured a mixture of greatest hits and praise standards.
Sarah Sadler’s download giveaway
Sarah Sadler is having her own 12 Days of Christmas from December 25-January 5, when she’ll give away one free download each day from her upcoming disc Where It Started, an indie release that follows on the heels of a soundtrack slot on Just Married starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy.
McCoo & Davis celebrate forty years of marriage
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., best known as members of The 5th Dimension, are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year. Their marriage, music, and ministry will be featured in a profile on CBN’s “700 Club” December 22, which also coincides with the new CD The Many Faces of Love and the book Up, Up and Away: How We Found Love, Faith & Marriage in the Entertainment World.
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