Lifetime has an excited slate of upcoming holiday movies including the original film, Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas starring Naturi Naughton, Lorea Turner and Luke James. The film is set to premiere Saturday, December 10th on Lifetime at 8PM ET. The family film was executive produced by 16x GRAMMY Winner Kirk Franklin who stars in the film as well.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Caught in a blizzard on Christmas Eve, estranged mother and daughter Journee (Naturi Naughton) and Nia (Lorea Turner) are forced to take refuge inside a church where a handful of also-trapped parishioners are reeling from the cancellation of their annual holiday concert. The spirit of the season takes hold as Journee and Nia weather the wintry storm together with the other churchgoers, including handsome youth pastor Adam (Luke James) and a heavenly music teacher (Kirk Franklin), who motivate the mother and daughter to reconcile their differences through music, faith, and love. With the help from this unlikely yet spirited group of strangers, Journee and Nia band together to help the church salvage not only their holiday traditions, but also their show-stopping Christmas day performance, despite the raging storm outside.
CMT today announced a very special holiday episode of its iconic series “CMT Crossroads” starring Multi-Grammy Award winning duo FOR KING + COUNTRY. “CMT Crossroads Christmas: FOR KING + COUNTRY & Friends” features fellow starsBRELAND, Chrissy Metz, Natalie Grant andRebecca St. James giving captivating performances of time-honored Christmas classics. The one-hour episode is set to premiere on Monday, December 12th at10p/9c, exclusively on CMT. Encores are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12th at 11p/10c; Sunday, Dec. 18th at 11a/10c; and a special Christmas Eve airing Saturday, Dec. 24th, at 7a/6c.
Tune in for an evening of exciting holiday magic as FOR KING + COUNTRY add their signature pop/rock flair to Christmas hymns including “Joy To The World,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Silent Night” and more. Known for their electric onstage drumming, the duo also turns in a showstopping performance of “Little Drummer Boy.”
In addition, FOR KING + COUNTRY (brothers Luke and Joel Smallbone) and their guests share intimate Christmas memories, family traditions and what the holiday means to them, as well as heartwarming messages of peace and hope.
FOR KING + COUNTRY reflects: “What does Christmas mean to you? For us, it sounds like the most meaningful songs ever written. It looks like different genres, family members and cultures coming together – reunited under love, joy, and the redemption of a baby boy. We linked arms with our Country Comrades at CMT to put together a special night that does just that… grateful.”
Multi-Grammy Award winning duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist FOR KING + COUNTRY received a 2023 nomination for the upcoming 65th Grammy with Hillary Scott of Lady A for their recently released song, “For God Is With Us”. The single is up for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” for the award show that will take place on February 5 and marks the seventh Grammy nomination of their career (with four wins).
FOR KING + COUNTRY garnered the 2022American Music Award for “Favorite Inspirational Artist;” received a Billboard Award nomination for “Top Christian Artist,” and three Dove Awards wins this year for their latest album, “WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?” The album debuted earlier this year in the Top 10 (#7) on the Billboard 200.
“CMT Crossroads Christmas: FOR KING + COUNTRY & Friends” is executive produced by CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and John Hamlin of Switched On Entertainment. The Executives in Charge of Production are Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino. Leslie Fram is Executive in Charge of Talent; Shanna Strassberg is Talent Producer.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, “CMT Crossroads” will mark the occasion later this month with the landmark return of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in “CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss” premiering Tuesday, Nov. 29th.
Justin Aaron offered a powerful cover of a gospel classic during the Top 13 Live Playoffs of NBC’s singing competition show The Voice on Monday, November 21st.
You can view his live performance of Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s “Break Every Chain” below. To find out if Aaron advances to the Top 10, tune into The Voice tonight at 8pm ET on NBC.
BEC Recordings artist Jordan St. Cyr swept the GMA Canada Covenant Awards, winning the most out of any other nominees. Held virtually this past weekend, singer/songwriter St. Cyr won an astounding six Covenant Awards for the 42nd annual event, including Artist of the Year as well as Album and Male Vocalist of the Year. He also won for best Pop Song, Live Music Artist, and AC Artist of the Year.
“Receiving 6 Covenant Awards tonight was truly incredible!” St. Cyr shared on his social media accounts. “Thank you Lord for the team You’ve surrounded me with and the songs You’ve put in my heart.”
St. Cyr will wrap his 2022 when he embarks on the annual K-LOVE Christmas Tour with Crowder, Matt Maher, and Katy Nichole, kicking off November 30. Along with performing a few holiday favorites, he will get to share his new holiday single, “The Wait Is Over” (listen HERE). Be sure to visit his tour page for the latest tour dates.
Multi-Grammy Award winning duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist FOR KING + COUNTRY garnered the 2022 American Music Award for “Favorite Inspirational Artist.” The annual awards ceremony is entirely fan-voted each year and nominees are based on key fan interactions — as reflected on the Billboard charts — including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. The 2022 American Music Awards aired at 8 p.m. on ABC live from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 20.
“As two Australian chaps from the southern hemisphere, never did we think we’d see the day we would win an American Music Award,” says FOR KING + COUNTRY. “This award represents all who were born in another land, who took a leap of faith and moved to make a new life for your family and loved ones. Sharing these stories with you for you for the last decade and watching them become your own has been the honor of our lifetime. Thank you for your votes, and for your consistent kindness to us.”
Adding to their recent AMA accolade, the duo also received a 2023 Grammy Award nomination with Hillary Scott of Lady A for their collaborative single, “For God Is With Us”. The song is up for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” for the 65th annual awards show that will take place on Feb. 5. This marks the seventh Grammy nomination of their career (with four wins).
To usher in the holiday season, FOR KING + COUNTRY will embark on their 14-city “A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS | THE 2022 TOUR EXPERIENCE.” The 10th annual tour kicks off on Nov. 26. in Kansas City, Mo. at T-Mobile Center and culminates in the duo’s hometown of Nashville, Tenn. with a sold-out show and worldwide livestream event at the Opry House on Dec. 18, followed by a special encore performance at the Opry on Dec. 19. Order tickets HERE.
In addition, fans can catch Joel and Luke Smallbone in their upcoming U.S. and Canadian 2023 “What Are We Waiting For? The Tour Part II” that kicks off on March 25 in Honolulu, Hawaii and continues through May 31 in Vancouver, BC. Order tickets HERE.
Just in time to get us all excited about the upcoming holiday season, Dallas native Lady Redneck brings us her take on a timeless classic with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
This scaled-down, slow-tempo aria is a testament to the power and control Lady Redneck, aka Stephanie Lee has over her mezzo-soprano vocal range. Coupled with a simple arpeggiated acoustic guitar melody, Lady Redneck takes a more Acappella route in delivering this rendition of a holiday favorite.
The effective use of vibrato comes through as Stephanie slows down each passage and adds a slight trill to each passing phrase. This helps fill the listening field where instrumentation would normally sit. A traditionally Christian Country performer, Lady Redneck offers yet more diversity to her catalog with this single release. Previous tracks like I Dented Your Truck, and Livin’ In the USA feature emblematic and characteristic upbeat country jams, while tracks such as Come Thou Fount and You First Love Me offer a romantic and classic approach to her art.
With Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas we have a well-known song that fans all around the world can sing along to, yet are going to be marveled at the sheer power this performance carries, especially at high volumes. One thing that really does stand out is Lady Redneck’s continued control over timing.
This track is meant to elicit an angelic response in its listener and the slow, methodical delivery of each phrase slightly behind the beat builds massive amounts of tension that Stephanie Lee is able to release with each cadence resolution.
It is this syncopation of the perceived tempo and familiar melody that Lady Redneck plays with that keeps the audience hanging off every phrase. Not unfamiliar with releasing holiday songs, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas joins Last Christmas in Lady Redneck’s growing catalog of hits. The production on this track is very well executed as each phrase and note is allowed to carry out over the listening spectrum with clarity. The guitar sits very neatly into the lower register allowing the vocals to travel up and down her performance range and complimenting each lyric being set up. Being shared with her over one million followers this holiday gem is sure to garner attention from commercial radio stations, and other serious industry investors. As we get ready to deck the halls and light our trees, Lady Redneck provides us with a reflective piece at this time of year. A soft, delicate, yet powerful track to remind us of the beauty to be found over the holidays and the importance of remembering that peace can be found with the right approach. A very enjoyable track, and one that should be heard promptly as we approach the hectic time of the season.
Just in time for the holiday season Cory M. Coons releases his rendition of a classic Christmas am; I Saw Mommy Kissin’ Santa Claus. This upbeat Country rocker is fun, energetic, and vibrant, perfect to get us in the mood for holiday cheer.
Featuring his daughter Charleigh Lynn Coons, the finale of this track steps back the tempo and offers a child’s perspective as she sings the main theme of the track. Adding the child singing the main verse at the end just works so well as the music from the rapidly strummed acoustic guitar reaches a tension level that seems to not be able to be released.
As Cory M. Coons abruptly drops out allowing the young girl to sing the song feels like it has reached a very satisfying conclusion, along with a very pleasant feeling to carry on afterwards. Coons’ vocals on this track are very clear as each phrase and stanza are shaped well, his voice almost forcing a smile on the listeners faces as some invisible force brings happiness to all that listen to this track.
As he poses the question of what would Daddy say if he walked in on them, even though we know Dad is in the suit, we get a hint of taboo and naughtiness in the undertones of his voice. This is clever as it really adds to the entertainment of this classic track.
I Saw Mommy Kissin’ Santa Claus just gets us in the mood for Christmas; the presents, the tree, and the magic of Santa are all encapsulated within this track. This version of a traditional pop hit would serve well on any Adult Contemporary, Country, Pop, and Soft Rock commercial radio first this holiday season, and one we can revisit every year hereafter. The production on this track makes it perfect for radio, as the vocals in contrast with the guitar are well separated allowing all the overtones of both lyric and string to be heard crisp and clear, all while being blended perfectly to give a fullness to the overall sound. A staple of pop holiday music I Saw Mommy Kissin’ Santa Claus is a favorite among many, and this version is right up there as one the best versions I have ever heard. Cory M. Coons brings fun, warmth, and happiness to the approaching holiday season. A very enjoyable track, and not the last time I will listen to it this season.
The Experience, an annual gospel concert platformed by the House On the Rock is returning to the Tafawa Balewa Square after two years of a virtual and a hybrid version respectively due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s edition themed, Jesus: The Exceptional One, will be holding onsite at the TBS on the 2nd of December, 2022 commencing at 7pm.
One of the most remarkable things about this much-awaited event is its ability to bring together a cross section of people through music in absolute surrender to their Maker giving no thought to age, gender, race, status or religious inclination. Nothing beats the sound of drums, the feel of worship, the excitement of the crowd, the heartfelt expression of love and adoration to the God who inhabits the praises of His people.
The Experience is arguably one of the most anticipated, most watched and most streamed gospel concert in the world. It’s strictly virtual edition in 2020 tagged: Global Edition was viewed over 5million times on YouTube and Facebook.
The 17th edition of The Experience boasts an array of award-winning frontline indigenous and international artistes such as, Travis Greene, Sinach, Donnie McClurkin, Nathaniel Bassey, Chandler Moore, Dunsin Oyekan, Phil Thompson, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Mr. M & Revelation, Tim Hughes, Tope Alabi, Mercy Chinwo, Onos Ariyo, Preye odede, Eno Micheals, Eben and the Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir of the House On The Rock and many others.
According to the organizers, as with previous years, this free concert will be a platform hosted with utmost security, professionalism, hospitality, and most importantly with a focus to continue to provide a platform where attendees can pray for our great nation and worship God freely.
The Convener and Metropolitan of all House On The Rock, Paul Adefarasin, has reiterated that this is The Experience that you don’t want to miss as it promises to be a night of pulsating praise, passionate worship, fervent prayers and an outpouring of the presence of God like never seen before. It is noteworthy to state that whilst attendance at The Experience2022 is free, it is important that attendees arrive promptly so that they can fully enjoy what promises to be an enthralling evening of live music comparable to the best concerts on the globe.
The House On The Rock is a metropolitan church headquartered in Lagos with branches across Nigeria and the continents with over tens of thousands in membership and on a mission to reach a hurting and dying generation with Jesus’s message of hope and compassion.
Let the countdown to unfettered praise continue with only a few days to The Experience.
Hosted by Wayne Brady, the 2022 American Music Awards aired live from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST on ABC.
The AMAs represent the year’s top achievements in music determined by the fans, for the fans. Nominees are based on key fan interactions – as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay, and tour grosses. See a relevant winner’s list before.
FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST Anne Wilson for KING & COUNTRY — WINNER Katy Nichole Matthew West Phil Wickham
FAVORITE GOSPEL ARTIST CeCe Winans DOE E. Dewey Smith Maverick City Music Tamela Mann — WINNER
Coming on the back of his well-received Alive Forever single from last year, UK worship leader, songwriter, music producer, and musical director Tunji Dairo a.k.a TJ DAIRO is back in 2022 with his first-ever Christmas single, just in time to celebrate the festive season this year.
Titled ‘LIGHT OF THE WORLD’, the contemporary gospel/funk music offering will be immediately familiar to lovers of gospel music because it embodies the energetic and authentic sound that is associated with the genre.
‘Light Of The World’ sees Tj Dairo start with an account of the birth of Jesus which was foretold and marked by divine visitations and the presence of celestial bodies in the skies. The energetic rhythms in the music, vocal, horn, and string arrangements set the stage for the core message of the season which is ” Rejoice, the savior is born -Jesus, the light of the World”
Speaking about the inspiration behind the new single, Tj Dairo says, “As the Christmas season approaches, it is fair to say that the entire world is still in a state of confusion. Nations and governments are literally punching in the dark trying to solve a plethora of problems that will undoubtedly require some divine intervention. This song is a reminder that God has already provided a solution by sending his son. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12. The song is energetic, engaging, and full of life whilst keeping in step with its core message which is a clarion call to us to share our faith and also be light in a dark world”
Written, arranged, and produced by Tj Dairo, who is also on keyboards and music programming, Davina Dairo and Anita Dairo rapping, and finally Tj Dairo and Morayo Orekoya on vocals.
Born into one of the most revered musical dynasties in Nigeria, the legendary Dairo family, music has always played an important role in Tj Dairo’s life. He draws his influences from Christian Greats like Panam Percy Paul, CeCe Winans, Don Moen, Fred Hammond, Graham Kendrick, Israel Houghton, Ron Kenoly, and Michael W Smith, with his songs creating musical and lyrical layers to convey his message in a way that doesn’t alienate listeners but lifts their spirits and provides them with a sense of hope that all will be well in the end.
His unique gift and creativity have seen Tj Dairo work and perform with the likes of Blue, II Divo, Simon Webb, Steve Mac, Michelle Williams, Graham Kendrick, Tim Hughes, Samuel Ljungblahd, Noel Robinson, Paul Dairo and Muyiwa Olarewaju among others, while his passionate commitment to Christian music has paved the way for him to serve as music director and consultant for churches across the UK and Europe. He is also an associate pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church (UK) and served as music director for the Festival Of Life in London, one of the biggest Christian festivals in the UK and Europe for 10 years. Recently, he worked with Tim Hughes and appeared on the ‘UK Blessing’ recording which was recorded in 2020. Tj serves on the planning team for the UK Songwriter’s consultation led by Graham Kendrick and Philippa Hannah.
‘Light Of The World’ is out on November 18th, 2022 on all online digital music platforms.
