Acclaimed BEC Recordings artist Tasha Layton is celebrating her second consecutive #1 radio single with “How Far.” Penned by Layton, Keith Everette Smith, Matthew West and AJ Pruis, the powerful ballad currently holds the top position on the Mediabase Christian Audience chart, where it has remained for two consecutive weeks. In addition, “How Far” held the #1 position on Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart for the week of September 12.

“How Far” follows Layton’s 2021 chart-topper, “Look What You’ve Done,” which reached #1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart. Both songs are featured on the artist’s debut recording, How Far, released in May, and produced by GRAMMY and Dove Award-winner Keith Everette Smith.

“I have been hearing from so many people who have been touched by the message of ‘How Far,’” said Layton. “They share about how the song has motivated them to reach out to or pray for someone who is running far from ‘home.’ They talk about daughters and sons, or even their own journeys of running from God, only to be reminded that God is pursuing them—that no one can escape God’s love. Others mention how the song helps them know they can make it when they’re struggling because God loves them and will be with them always. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the way God is using ‘How Far’ to reach hearts and motivate people to show God’s love to those around them.”

This summer, Layton debuted on the iconic Grand Ole Opry, and was featured on the K-LOVE On Demand original series Empty Stage with Andrew Greer. She will be appearing on Danny Gokey’s “Jesus People” Tour, along with special guest Jordan Feliz. Kicking off September 22 in Vienna, Virginia, the tour is slated to stop in 27 cities across the country.

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced the first round of performing artists for the 53nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. Performers include Erica Campbell, Jekalyn Carr, Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, and Gateway Worship Español ft. Daniel Calveti, Becky Collazos, Christine D’Clario and Josh Morales. The GMA Dove Awards will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app, Friday, October 21st at 8:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation on October 28th, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET.

Tickets have sold out for the in-person GMA Dove Awards Nashville event happening October 18th at the Allen Arena. Key partners for this year’s Dove Awards include Christian non-profit Cantinas Arts Foundation, whose mission is to support artists who share their talent and faith through Arts and Media, WieRok Entertainment, dedicated to creating great content for the masses, and Lipscomb University, who is now in its 8th year as venue host for the Dove Awards.

For ways to watch TBN, please visit TBN’s Channel Finder here: http://bit.ly/FIND_TBN

Multi-chart toppers and award-winning superstars Erica Campbell and Chris Tomlin were recently announced as co-hosts for this year’s awards.

The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt serve as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.

Renowned worship leader Phil Wickham and Transparent Productions announce his nationwide 2023 Singalong Tour featuring special guests Matt Maher and Leeland Mooring. The 21-city tour will be sponsored by Compassion International. Tickets are on sale now – click here to purchase.

This will be the fourth year that Wickham takes the Singalong Tour out on the road, and this year represents the largest Singalong tour yet with more dates spanning coast-to-coast. As a fan-favorite tour each year, the Fall 2021 tour sold-out 75 percent in advance of the show date. In continuing the momentum, the 2023 tour date for Leesburg, VA sold-out during the pre-sale weekend with other dates selling more than 50 percent of the tickets prior to the public sale.

“I am so excited to announce that Matt Maher and Leeland Mooring will be joining me next year on the 2023 Singalong Tour,” shares Phil Wickham. “ It has been 13 years since we did a tour together, and it will be amazing to get back on the road with these incredible worship leaders and friends!”

The format of this tour is unlike any other, with all three artists on stage for solo and collaborative performances throughout the evening.

Wickham continues, “The idea behind these nights is to simplify and get back to the root of what we’re doing – a family gathering simply to celebrate and share the name of Jesus. It’s about all of us being together.”

The Singalong 2023 tour comes off the heels of Wickham’s wildly successful 2022 nationwide Hymn of Heaven tour, which featured 28 (of 32) sold-out dates across the country. His newest album release, Hymn of Heaven, has seen multiple No. 1 hits with “Battle Belongs” and “House of the Lord,” and his latest radio single “Hymn of Heaven” topped the chart at No. 1 and is still currently holding a Top 10 spot. Hymn of Heaven is his eighth studio album, and it has already amassed more than 415 million streams and more than 150 million video views since its release in 2021.

“It’s been thirteen years since the first time Phil Wickham and I have played live music together, and between then and now, I’ve appreciated his friendship and ongoing commitment to the church,” states Matt Maher. “I’m honored to be a part of Singalong next spring (representing mere mortals a baritone). Phil and Leeland are incredibly gifted and I’m honored to be gathering people together to sing and pray in these cities!”

Additionally Leeland Mooring shares, “We’re getting the band back together! When Phil called me and asked me to be a part of this tour with him and Matt I was ALL IN! Both of these guys have tremendously impacted my walk with Jesus through their songs and their friendship. As songwriters, all three of us know the value of atmosphere that some places have already embedded in them, in the walls, songs. Songs that haven’t yet been sung and life-changing moments in the air. We’re believing that when we gather with expectation and the sound of our voices in worship to God that Heaven will kiss the earth and we’ll never be the same! Wanna come and join us?”

Don’t miss these three incredible worship leaders for this one-of-a-kind tour experience. See below for the complete list of the Singalong 2023 Tour dates for a city near you.

Saturday, 1/21/2023: Temple Church – New Bern, NC
Sunday, 1/22/2023: Relentless Church – Greenville, SC
Friday, 2/3/2023: Southeast Christian Church – Louisville, KY
Saturday, 2/4/2023: Reardon Auditorium – Anderson University – Anderson, IN
Sunday, 2/5/2023: Church on the Rock – St. Louis, MO
Friday, 3/3/2023: Crossroads Church Oakley – Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, 3/4/2023: Elmbrook Church – Milwaukee (Brookfield), WI
Sunday, 3/5/2023: Central Wesleyan Church – Holland, MI
Thursday, 3/23/2023: Cornerstone Chapel – Leesburg, VA
Friday, 3/24/2023: Cornerstone Chapel – Leesburg, VA – SOLD OUT!
Saturday, 3/25/2023: Liberation Church – Richmond, VA
Sunday, 3/26/2023: Fountain of Life Center – Burlington, NJ
Friday, 4/14/2023: First Christian Church – Canton, OH
Saturday, 4/15/2023: Eastern Hills Church – Buffalo (Williamsville), NY
Sunday, 4/16/2023: LCBC Church – Manheim Campus, Manheim, PA
Friday, 5/5/2023: Rocky Mountain Calvary – Colorado Springs, CO
Saturday, 5/6/2023: Calvary Albuquerque – Albuquerque, NM
Sunday, 5/7/2023: Green Acres Baptist – Tyler, TX
Friday, 5/19/2023: Visalia First – Visalia, CA
Saturday, 5/20/2023: Redemption West – San Jose, CA
Sunday, 5/21/2023: TO BE ANNOUNCED

RIAA Gold-selling, Dove Award-winning pop recording artist and songwriter Jordan Feliz was inspired by his firstborn baby girl, Jolie, to write and record “Beloved,” the title track to his debut album released in 2015. The song went on to encourage millions of listeners around the world, including noted children’s author Jes Woller and illustrator Hilary Griffith, who combine their talents for the heartwarming children’s hardcover book, Beloved, releasing today (Sept. 20) via Centricity Music in conjunction with Callawind Book Publishing. The book is available now to order from https://jordanfeliz.com/belovedbook.

Written by Woller, edited by Centricity Music’s Director Of Marketing and Communication, Kory Henkel, and beautifully illustrated by Griffith, this precious, 24-page read-aloud storybook for two- to six-year-olds teaches young children about finding their value not in the things of this world, but rather in the love of Jesus.

“Jolie, my love. ‘Beloved’ started as a reminder for you. A telling of the simple truth that you are loved and cherished by the creator of the universe,” says Feliz to his real-life daughter. “It is my deepest desire that you would never forget that it is in Him where your worth is found. Now it is a prayer that we get to proclaim over our entire family and the world!

“I pray that everyone who reads this book would be reminded of God’s love for them and that their identity in Him would be more solidified,” continues Feliz.

Beloved shares the story of a little girl, appropriately named Jolie, who spends a day at the beach with her father. Her dad, who bears a remarkable resemblance to the “Beloved” song’s author in the picture-book, tells his daughter she is “beloved.” Jolie spends the fun-filled day wondering about the meaning of the word, and how she can continue to be beloved by her daddy. Tucking her in bed as the day comes to a close, her father reveals that she will always be loved by him and her mommy, and even more so by Jesus, and goes on to share with his daughter the hope-filled message she enjoys as a child of God.

“It was such a privilege to work on this project and offer a reminder to children that they are loved and cherished, regardless of circumstances or their own efforts,” says Woller. “Beloved is a beautiful song, and my prayer is that this book can further emphasize how much value God places on us and how deeply each one of us is beloved.”

“We loved the song ‘Beloved’ since the first time we heard it,” adds Henkel. “We knew it was a special story and we wanted to give it a new life and relevance even seven years after it was first released. Jes wrote such a lovely manuscript and Hilary brought it to life in a remarkable way. We’re very proud of who Jordan is, not just as an artist, but as a dad. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this special song to life in a unique way.”

Singing “Beloved,” fan favorites and No. 1 radio hits like “Jesus Is Coming Back” and “Glorify” from his current, third full-length album Say It, Feliz recently wrapped his Jesus Is Coming Back headline tour with special guest Jonathan Traylor and is currently on the “Jesus People” tour with three-time GRAMMY nominee and American Idol alum Danny Gokey. Co-produced by Jordan Mohilowski and Feliz’s longtime collaborator Colby Wedgeworth, Say It combines pop, gospel and soul along with some of Feliz’s most transparent and personal lyrics to date.

NewSong announces they will be hosting a Christmas tour this year with Francesca Battistelli. The tour kicks off December 1 and runs through December 18. For more details, click here.

Still, the full-length debut from Dallas-based singer/songwriter, worship leader and multi-instrumentalist John Marc Kohl, is set to release October 7 from The Worship Initiative. Hallmarked by a range of genre-spanning influences, Still delivers deeply vulnerable, autobiographical themes grounded in the promises of God’s unyielding faithfulness.

Co-produced by Kohl and Will Hunt, with two tracks produced by Bryan Fowler (TobyMac, Newsboys), Kohl penned or co-penned the entire 12-song set, collaborating with such acclaimed songwriters as Fowler, Shane Barnard, Mike Donehey and The Worship Initiative’s Aaron Williams, among others.

“The album is a remembrance of the faithfulness of God through various points of my life,” Kohl says. “The themes that have emerged are dependence, struggle and faith, and I hope people can get to know me through these songs. My story—warts and all—points to Jesus. Oh, how He loves me, still. In spite of habitual sin, still. In the midst of doubt and depression, still. When I succumb to my pride and a false sense of superiority, still. There is no fault, sin, or failure too great, too deep, or too wide for the perfect blood of Jesus to cover.”

Project opener “Tapestry” is a soulful pop groove celebrating God’s goodness. “A few years ago, I went through a very dark season of what I would call a spiritual depression,” Kohl shares of the inspiration behind “Tapestry.” “While it felt like a breaking to my core, much beauty and good came from the suffering. We won’t always understand pain, but I know that God doesn’t waste it as He weaves a beautiful story of mercy and grace. We see glimpses of His faithfulness now, but how I long for the day when I can see the entire picture of His goodness, the wonder of His tapestry.”

Further exploring the thematic arc of God’s response to human pain and suffering, the album’s forthcoming single, “Desert Places” (feat. Demi Pyle), is slated to hit streaming platforms September 23. The poignant piano ballad conveys a desperation for renewal and healing as Kohl sings, “You meet me here/in the wilderness/You draw me near/and I’m comforted/I’m surrendering to Your embrace/seems You work best in desert places.”  

In addition, the emotive title-track showcases a Savior who never tires of pursuing His children. “’Still’ was one of the first songs I ever wrote about Jesus,” Kohl recalls. “I remember staying up until 3 am, crying and struggling through the writing of it. I was so angry with myself because of persistent sin in my life, and I felt like I deserved more punishment. I really couldn’t believe that Jesus would still love me after all the messes I’ve made; the wreckage of sin in my life; and the people I’ve hurt. I’ll never fully understand the persistence of His love for His beloved.”

John Marc Kohl is a veteran worship leader, songwriter, and multi-faceted musician dedicated to glorifying God through music. An artist in residence at The Worship Initiative, Kohl and his wife, Lila, reside in Dallas.

Founded by Shane & Shane’s Shane Barnard and Shane Everett—leading influencers of corporate worship around the world for nearly two decades—The Worship Initiative is an equipping ministry which features a library of hundreds of popular worship songs; team training materials; instrument tutorials; and song-based devotionals, among other offerings. The Dallas-based organization has released more than 30 albums to date, and its unique community of artists, songwriters and theologians seeks to be a catalyst for musical and spiritual growth in the Church.

Award-winning Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist Blanca shares her third full-length studio album, The Heartbreak And The Healing, today (Sept. 23, 2022). The new collection offers two sides of the same story — the hurt and the redemption.

Written in the wake of a painful divorce, the songstress vulnerably cracks her heart wide open on the all new 14-track collection that beautifully showcases the merger of her unstoppable voice and her transparent lyricism.

A diverse fusion of pop, Latin, hip-hop and Gospel, the LP follows Blanca on a journey of self-discovery as she rises from the ashes stronger and more empowered than ever before.

The fresh set features chart-topping hit “Even At My Worst” and current radio single “The Healing (feat. Dante Bowe),” which the pair recently performed at the 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards, where Blanca was nominated for Female Artist of the Year.

The Heartbreak And The Healing was produced by Anton Göransson and Taylor Hill.

Matt Redman introduces new single ‘Son of Suffering’ announcing an upcoming album. The song was penned by Redman alongside worship leaders and writers David Funk, Aaron Moses, and Nate Moore. ‘Son of Suffering’ encapsulates the mysterious beauty of Christ’s blood and tears, as Redman notes that, “as well as taking us to the cross and celebrating how Jesus fought for our salvation there, this song is also about His solidarity with us in our own pain.”

The new single brings remembrance to the Church that Jesus didn’t just look down upon the world’s pain but came down and met us in our struggle. A sense of divine acquainted with grief and suffering shines through the song, painting a worshipful picture of Jesus’ humility and compassion.

“I think that might be a key thing to sing about this… so many people came out of the pandemic lockdown and are still experiencing an unusually tough season,” Redman adds. ‘Son of Suffering’ carries on the worship leader’s passion to find new ways of singing about the eternally glorious theme of the cross of Christ. Pursuing the sacred call of helping the Church to sing, Redman hopes that ‘Son of Suffering’ helps illuminate the heart of Jesus to any who sing it.

“Son Of Suffering” is available now.

Keith and Kristyn Getty, the world’s foremost contemporary hymn writers and performers, will release a new studio album on Friday containing eleven new tracks celebrating the eternal confidence and hope found in our resurrected Savior.

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death showcases the Gettys’ signature sound and features an array of special guest collaborators such as Michael W. Smith, Rend Collective, Skye Peterson, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, a full gospel choir, and a special guest appearance by the Getty daughters. The album is produced by Grammy Award-winner Bryan Fowler and Ben Shive.

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death is replete with new hymns that are written for congregational singing and whose lyrics are filled with joy, confidence, and hope. Standout tracks include “The Lord Almighty Reigns,” which was recently debuted by the Gettys in a live performance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, with thousands singing along and proclaiming the majesty of our God and the glory of that future day when every tribe, tongue, and language will triumphantly proclaim “Hallelujah, the Lord Almighty reigns.” The album’s focus track, “Rejoice,” features Rend Collective and is inspired by the Apostle Paul’s famous statement, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I say it again, rejoice.”  “Take Shelter” features singer/songwriter and Getty Music hymn writing team member, Skye Peterson, and is a hope-stirring reminder that there is only one place where we can find true refuge and rest: the loving arms of Christ.

The album also includes two versions of the title track, “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” – a Radio Mix as well as a second recording based on a different musical arrangement. Both recordings feature the vocals of multiple Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist Michael W. Smith, marking the first time these artists have recorded together. With lyrics that offer comfort that our faith in Jesus will help us through every challenge we face, this hymn gave hope to millions during the pandemic and very quickly became one of the fastest-growing songs in Christian music, according to CCLI (the organization that licenses music to religious institutions).

As part of the Christ Our Hope in Life and Death album release, Getty Music will be featuring an array of new content on its website in the coming weeks, including new lyric videos for each song, information about the making of the album, live performance clips from the upcoming fall tour, and more.

To download Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, or for more information on Keith & Kristyn Getty, please visit www.gettymusic.com

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death Track listing: