Despite not releasing a new studio album since mid 2008, Third Day earned three Grammy nominations last week—for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album (Live Revelations), for Best Gospel Song (“Born Again”), and for Best Gospel Performance (“Born Again”). “Born Again” is from their 2008 album, Revelation.
Heading up all nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards was Beyoncé with ten nods followed by Taylor Swift with eight; both will battle it out in the biggest categories “Album of the Year” and “Record of the Year.” Other “Album of the Year” nominees include Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, and Dave Matthews Band, while Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga also were nominated for “Record of the Year” with Kings of Leon.
In the Christian field, Best Gospel Performance nominees are Third Day, Francesca Battistelli’s “Free to be Me,” Heather Headley featuring Smokie Norful’s “Jesus Is Love,” Jonny Lang and Fisk Jubilee Singers’ “I Believe,” and Donnie McClurkin featuring Karen Clark Sheard’s “Wait on the Lord.” “Best Gospel Song” noms are Third Day, TobyMac’s “City on Our Knees,” Israel Houghton and Mary Mary’s “Every Prayer,” Mary Mary’s “God in Me,” and Matthew West’s “The Motions.”
The recently resigned Da’ T.R.U.T.H. was nominated for The Big Picture for Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album along with Third Day, Decyfer Down’s Crash, Red’s Innocence and Instinct, and John Wells-The Tonic’s The Dash. For Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, it’s a battle between Jeremy Camp’s Speaking Louder Than Before, Israel Houghton’s The Power of One, Jars of Clay’s The Long Fall Back to Earth, Leeland’s Love Is on the Move and Mandisa’s Freedom.
Best Traditional Gospel Album nods went to Ashley Cleveland’s God Don’t Never Change, Donald Lawrence & Co.’s The Law Of Confession, PartI, The Williams Brothers’ The Journey Continues, Vickie Winans’ How I Got Over, and various artists’ compilation Oh Happy Day. Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album noms are Heather Headley’s Audience of One, Sheri Jones-Moffett’s Renewed, J Moss’ Just James, Smokie Norful’s Live, and Kierra Sheard’s Bold Right Life.
Tune in to CBS for results on January 31 during a live broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
BeBe Cleared of Charges
According to an AP report, a Nashville judge has dismissed a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against gospel singer BeBe Winans after determining he had seen a counselor as required by prosecutors.
The 47-year-old Winans, of Nashville, had been accused of pushing his ex-wife to the ground Feb. 13 during an argument about their children.
General Sessions Judge Gloria Dumas dismissed the charge Friday after the counselor reported Winans did not need treatment.
In a statement Monday, Winans said, ”To be exonerated of all charges shows the power of trusting in God, and is a wonderful Christmas gift for me and my children.”
Family Force 5 member falls ill
While on its Christmas tour, Family Force 5 bassist Joshua “Fatty” Olds was hospitalized last week after the group’s Nov. 29 concert in Grayslake, Illinois for kidney issues. The band is continuing the tour, and asks fans to pray for Olds. Updates on his condition and the band’s slightly shuffled schedule can be found here.
Switchfoot on TV times two
Late night television got a sample of Switchfoot’s new CD Hello Hurricane when the group popped up on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien last Wednesday. Front man Jon Foreman also conducted an interview for a One Tree Hill podcast about the new track “Your Love Is a Song,” which was also featured on the program this week. Meanwhile, check out Foreman’s Huffington Post blog on the subject of compassion versus consumption.
Delirious’ farewell broadcast
The road to saying “farewell” has lasted all of 2009, but Delirious will officially play its final show on December at the sold-out HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London. Fans can experience highlights on GOD TV on Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. (EST) with a replay on Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. (EST).
Christmas CDs keep coming
Holiday releases keep pouring in, including: MxPx and Punk Rawk Christmas, a compilation of new and previously released holiday tunes; John Mandeville‘s single “Christmas Is You”; and Mosaic‘s (a group of musicians from Belmont University) Until the Son of God Appears.
Todd Agnew’s holiday tour
Todd Agnew is settling into the season’s spirit with the “Do You See What I See?” Tour. He plans to tell the Christmas story through songs written from the perspective of eyewitnesses to Christ’s birth, along with fellow artist friends Rush of Fools and Meredith Andrews as opening acts. Click here for a list of dates.
Copyright © Christian Music Today. Click for reprint information.
