The project includes vocals from Isaac Carree, Anaysha Figueroa, Nikki Ross, and many more.

Singles “I Smile” and “I Am” have already made spots on top Gospel music spots.

“‘I Smile’ is a fun, urban upbeat melody I wrote,” said Franklin. “It is a declarative statement that I’m not going to live my life based on how I feel. I will live my life based on God’s Word. It is not easy and I acknowledge there are always obstacles, but like a lot of folks, I get tired of being guided by my emotions. When I have a deeper trust in God, I live my life in stability.”

“‘I Am’ is about exchanging all of my weaknesses for God’s strength,” Franklin noted. This song is also about declaring what God says about me and not my situation. As we daily transform to God’s image, we no longer identify with who we were, but who we are becoming.”

Fans can also expect to hear something from Marvin Sapp and Beverly Crawford.

“I titled this album Hello Fear because-with everything going on in the world-it is the word and the feeling, that paralyzes all of us on some level right now,” said Franklin. “In my own life, fear has been a shadow that has followed me since I was a child. But the season of running from it is over. I am turning around and speaking directly to it. This album is full of personal and painful work that invites the listener to join me on the journey of letting this familiar ‘friend’ know that his time is over.”

Kirk Franklin will also be joining Steve Harvey on their Gospel Comedy Tour beginning on March 19 in Atlanta. Check out some of the tour dates below.

Saturday, April 9
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, April 30
Charleston, SC
North Charleston Coliseum

Saturday, May 7
St. Louis, MO
Chaifetz Arena

Saturday, May 21
Jacksonville, FL
Veterans Memorial

SOURCE: Eurweb.com

See full review written by By Cameron Conant, contributing writer, watchgmctv.com

By the time the near three-hour long service had come to an end, more than three dozen youth had accepted Christ, and Franklin had apologized to any parent who might have been offended by the often-graphic way in which he spoke to their kids.


The program, dubbed the “Takeover,” the mission of which is to recapture lost youth, has transformed the lives of a growing number of kids throughout the Los Angeles area in services like these—without music. It’s just this sort of ministry that Kirk Franklin, gospel’s biggest selling music star, is most passionate about these days, and its one of the main things taking up his time. 


“It’s about all the issues Christians face in life,” Franklin said. “Very honest. Very street. It’s my voice and the way that I see them as being wrong and then my approach on how to make them right.

And while it has been keenly effective with youth, Franklin’s ministry is hardly limited. “Surprisingly enough. I get calls from everywhere, white, black, young and old,” Franklin reveals. “I speak at schools like Pepperdine and Baylor University, at youth events, churches and major Christian music events like Creation Festival. I don’t want to limit what I say or do. I just want to be a vessel and love who I’m doing it for more than what I’m doing.”

Read entire article by Lisa Collins at GospelMusicChannel.com

After auditioning thousands of hopefuls from around the country and narrowing down the top 20, BET’s gospel reality competition, SUNDAY BEST is close to naming this year’s winner. Finalists and single mothers Y’anna Crawley, 32, from the Washington, DC area and Jessica Reedy, 20, from Saginaw, Michigan will compete for a national recording contract, a 2009 Lincoln MKS, and the title of SUNDAY BEST during the Mother’s Day finale on Sunday, May 10 at 9:00 p.m.* The 10-week singing competition with multi-GRAMMY Award winners Kirk Franklin as host along with siblings Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans as judges will allow viewers to vote for their favorite contestant and ultimately decide who will be SUNDAY BEST. Additionally, brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans will reunite on the SUNDAY BEST stage for a special performance during the finale episode. Voting ends on Saturday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. PT.

For more on SUNDAY BEST and how to vote for the winner, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

*All times ET/PT

Photo credit: Darnel Williams/BET Networks

Exclusive question and answer with SUNDAY BEST mentor, gospel artist, songwriter and producer Donald Lawrence:
Q. Did you disagree with any of the judge’s decisions?
A. “I was torn with the decision between eliminating Zeb or Dontavious. Both are amazing singers, but I think Zeb just had a little more stage personality. But I loved Dontavious and thought he was an amazing singer.”

Q. Comment on Zebulon’s strengths and what he needs to do to win?
A. “Zeb’s strengths are that he is an amazing vocalist. Zeb also has a great personality that shows through when he performs. Zeb owns the stage. For Zeb to win the song choice is going to be really important. Zeb is going to have to own the song and the moment to win.”

Q. Comment on Latice’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Latice’s strengths are not only is she an amazing singer, but she has great depth to her. Depth in her personality and depth that she puts into the lyric and the song. Latice really gets the lyric across when she performs. For Latice to win, she just needs to keep doing her thing. Song choice will be important too.”

Q. Comment on Jessica’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. “Jessica’s strength is her tone! She has priceless tone. Her tone is so unique that the amount of range she has doesn’t matter. For Jessica to win she has to have a little more confidence. She has to be able to present and showcase the lyrics she is singing. And she must use her tone to her advantage.”

Q. Comment on Y’Anna’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Y’ Anna’s strength is that she is just a singer. Singing is in her fabric. She owns every song that she puts her voice on. For her to win song choice will be important as well. She needs the right song to put her voice on to win it all. She also needs to make sure she doesn’t get vocally tired during the process.”

Q. Since you’re known for developing and featuring vocalists who go on to big careers, would you consider signing any of the contestants to your label or featuring on one of your projects?
A.” I think all the singers are amazing and I would work with any of them, but, if I had to choose one singer to work with it would be Latice. Not just because of her amazing voice, but again, because of the depth she puts in every song and every lyric.”

SOURCE: Torrence Glenn of BET.com.
On The Web: BET.com/sundaybest

Kirk Franklin Speaks On ‘Sunday Best’- At EURWEB.com

The BlackGospel Blog Pick Of The Week- At BlackGospel.blogspot.com

Back by popular demand, Sunday Best returns for its second season this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Host Kirk Franklin and judges Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans are all back together to find America’s next great Gospel singer.

Making stops in Atlanta, Chicago, and our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., Sunday Best kicks off the season premiere with a special episode dedicated to the inspiring, hilarious and even sometimes challenging audition process.

“The level of talent for the second season is going to show the world what we’ve been saying since the beginning of the series only on Sunday Best will you find true, honest talent that hasn’t been compromised,” said returning host Franklin.

Season two of Sunday Best will tape in its new home of Atlanta at Turner Studios. Each week during the hour-long competition, viewers will be treated to musical performances from the remaining Sunday Best hopefuls along with candid feedback from the all-star team of judges and surprise visits from an array of celebrity guests.

“We’re so excited about this season! The level of talent we saw was so amazing; which made it really hard to say no to some folks,” said Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary. “The viewing audience will be blessed, entertained and uplifted for sure!”

Sunday Best is executive produced by D’Angela Proctor Steed and Nia T. Hill of Strange Fruit Films, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, BeBe Winans as well as Brian Gadinsky and Arnold M. Preston of The G Group, and co-executive produced by Marilyn Gill.

The winner of Sunday Best will receive a 2009 Lincoln MKS as part of the grand prize package.

For more on Sunday Best, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

SOURCE: EURWEB.com

Best Traditional Gospel Album: The Blind Boys of Alabama, Down in New Orleans.

Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Gaither Vocal Band, Lovin’ Life.

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: CeCe Winans, Thy Kingdom Come.

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album: TobyMac, Alive and Transported.

Best Gospel Song: Kirk Franklin, “Help Me Believe”.

Best Gospel Performance: Mary Mary, “Get Up”.

Mary Mary, LL Cool J, Louis Gossett Jr., Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Vickie Winans and More Take the Stage with Funnyman and Host Steve Harvey

/PRNewswire/ — Taking the spirit to new heights, BET’s CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is a soulful two-hour celebration with moving performances of worship by both gospel and mainstream greats. In his ninth year, veteran comedian, actor and popular syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey again hosts the popular religious telecast, which premieres Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 p.m.* on BET.

Led by the world-renowned musical director Ray Chew and his 24-piece orchestra, gospel supernovas Mary Mary and hip-hop legend LL Cool J passionately performed their new hit collaboration “We Gonna Make It” to a packed house at downtown Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre. Kirk Franklin, Isaac Carree, Lowell Pye and Rance Allen also blessed the crowd with a soul-moving performance of “Lil Boy”, followed by Smokie Norful and Heather Headley’s rendition of “Jesus is Love.” Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr. and actor Terry Crews performed beautiful spoken word segments, while Trin-i-tee 5:7 and 21:03 hit the stage and gave young gospel listeners something to stand up and dance to with “I’ll Take You There.”

Marvin Sapp, Pastor Shirley Caesar and Pastor Dorothy Glass, Dr. Bobby Jones with the Nashville Super Choir, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, Vickie Winans, Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, as well as Christian artists Muyiwa & Riversongz direct from the United Kingdom, round out the mega-list of awe-inspiring performances at BET’s CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL ’09.

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is produced by BET: Stephen Hill (President of Programming), Lynne Harris Taylor (Vice President of Specials) and Marilyn Gill.

*All times ET/PT

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks – BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Source: BET Networks

Nashville, Tenn. –The 24Th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were handed out tonight at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Leading the list of winners is chart-topping traditional gospel singer Marvin Sapp with seven awards including “Artist of the Year,” Song of the Year,” Male Vocalist of the Year,” and “CD of the Year.” Gospel’s newest star, Jonathan Nelson nabbed three Stellar statues including “Contemporary CD of the Year,” “Group/Duo of the Year” and “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year” for the CD “Right Now Praise,” from Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose. The ladies shined bright this evening with Jessica Green taking home the “New Artist of the Year” award and The Clark Sisters winning in the “Special Event of the Year” category.

Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, brought the prestigious award show back to Nashville, Tenn. for the 4th consecutive year, bringing excitement, anticipation and gospel music’s brightest stars to Music City. Super stars of music, film and television came out in support of the show’s 24th year, including “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd, actors Sheryl Lee Ralph and Clifton Davis, R&B Singer Mario of “Dancing with The Stars.” Stellar performances came from the always energetic Tye Tribbett, this year’s “Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance CD of the Year” winner Kirk Franklin and last year’s Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year” winner, Da’ T.R.U.T.H.

24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

SONG OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp and Matthew Brownie, “Never Would Have Made It” – Thirsty, Zomba Label Group

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Dorinda Clark-Cole, Take it Back, Zomba Label Group

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jessica Greene, 4 the World, Habakkuk Music

CD OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Ricky Dillard & New G, The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto, NuSpring Records/EMI Gospel

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Aaron Lindsey, Thirsty, Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
-Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- The Canton Spirituals, Driven, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
-Byron Cage, Live at the Apollo: The Proclamation, Gospocentric/Zomba Label Group

TRADITIONAL MALE OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- CeCe Winans, Thy Kingdom Come, PureSprings Gospel

TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- Beverly Crawford, Live from Los Angeles, JDI Records

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- Kirk Franklin, “Declaration: (This is it)” – The Fight of My Life, Fo Yo Soul/Gospocentric/Zomba Label Group

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, “Never Would Have Made It”, Verity/Zomba Label Group

TRADTIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Bishop Paul Morton & The Full Gospel Baptist Church Choir, Embracing the Next Dimension, Light Records/Tehillah

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Ricky Dillard & New G., The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto, NuSpring Records/EMI Gospel

INSTRUMENTAL GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- Angella Christie, The Breath of Life, ACSM Music

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- The Clark Sisters, The Best of the Clark Sisters Encore, Dexterity Sounds

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Open Book, Cross Movement Records

CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- Kaira Miller, In God’s Time/It Ain’t Over, GFM Entertainment

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’S, So Much to be Thankful for, MCG Records

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- Michelle Lukianovich, Art Direction & Design; Keith Major, Photography, Marvin Sapp – Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

PRAISE AND WORHSIP CD OF THE YEAR
- Shekinah Glory Ministry, Jesus, Kingdom Records