Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage”, “The Game”) will star as Marvin Sapp with Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II” “Manifest Evil”) joining him as Sapp’s wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp. The biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry, and growth in his faith. Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story premieres Sunday, August 21st at 9/8c on TV One.

Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick, and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is the Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is the Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

Multi-platinum, GRAMMY winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are joining forces once again to co-bill their popular Christmas tour this upcoming holiday season, where they will be joined by special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys. Presented by Balsam Hill, this iconic pair is set to kick off their combined holiday show on Nov. 26, in Memphis and travel to nine markets including Tulsa, Dallas, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis and more. All shows will go on sale Friday, July 29.

The highly anticipated Christmas concert will feature selections spanning the artists’ expansive Christmas repertoires and combine the vast collection of critically-acclaimed holiday albums between them. Both Grant and Smith’s recordings have become part of the backdrop of Christmas for families all over the world, and their holiday tour is one of the most heralded events of the season to the delight of fans at sold-out shows throughout North America.

“I look forward to every chance I have to share the stage with Michael…. especially at Christmas,” Grant says. “He is such a gifted musician and I enjoy creating these special memories with him on stage. This tour is one we both can’t wait to do every single year.”

“It’s no secret how much I love Christmas music,” Smith adds. “And performing some of these classic holiday songs with Amy makes it even more special. This time of year is made even better because we get to spend the Christmas season on stage together.”

Following the nine-city run with Grant, Smith will continue the Christmas tour with Tait for eight more dates, hitting Nashville, Omaha, Minneapolis and more. Meanwhile, Grant will return to Nashville for her Christmas at the Ryman residency with her husband Vince Gill. The 12-performance holiday concert run at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium will kick off on Dec. 11.

“Having Michael Tait join us this year is something Amy and I are both looking forward to,” Smith says. “We’ve been friends for years, and to now have his voice and energy incorporated into this show is going to make it even more incredible! I look forward to continuing on to eight more cities with him to round out my own Christmas tour schedule.”

In support of their longstanding relationship with Compassion International, Grant and Smith will be bringing awareness to their child sponsorship experience at each show.

Smith and Grant will also be supporting Heartlight Ministries, a ministry and residential facility offering healing and hope for parents and struggling teens.

2022 Amy Grant / Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour featuring Michael Tait
Dates and venues subject to change without notice. 

Nov. 26 – Memphis, TN – The Soundstage at Graceland**
Nov. 28 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center Concert Hall**
Nov. 30 – Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre**
Dec. 01 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater**
Dec. 02 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park**
Dec. 06 – Indianapolis, IN – Old National Centre Murat Theatre**
Dec. 07 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre**
Dec. 08 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre**
Dec. 09 – St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre**

2022 Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour featuring Michael Tait
Dates and venues subject to change without notice. Dec. 12 – Tysons, VA – Capital One Hall*
Dec. 13 – Johnson City, TN – Martin Center for the Arts*
Dec. 14 – Chattanooga, TN – Walker Theatre*
Dec. 15 – Nashville, TN – The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University*
Dec. 19 – Omaha, NE – The Holland Performing Arts Center*
Dec. 20 – Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion*
Dec. 21 – Minneapolis, MN – The Orpheum*
Dec. 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place***Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Michael Tait
*Michael W. Smith and Michael Tait

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the selection of five Honorees who will receive the 45th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the annual national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C. are: acclaimed actor and filmmaker George Clooney; contemporary Christian and pop singer-songwriter Amy Grant; the legendary singer of soul, Gospel, R&B, and pop Gladys Knight; Cuban-born American composer, conductor, and educator Tania León; and iconic Irish rock band U2, comprised of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.

The Kennedy Center also announced today that Done+Dusted, the award-winning production company and producers of the Center’s Mark Twain Prize since 2018, have been selected as Executive Producers of the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein said this about the 2022 Honorees:
“Whether saving humanity, masterminding a heist, or captaining a ship in dangerous seas, actor George Clooney’s unique brand of earnest charisma and his complete embodiment of a character has led us to root for him every time; multi-platinum singer-songwriter Amy Grant became the first artist to bring contemporary Christian music to the forefront of American culture, then equally thrived after crossing over into mainstream pop with hit after hit, and today is revered as the “Queen of Christian Pop”; in her 55-year music career, legendary singer and America’s beloved “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight went from the Pips of Georgia to Grammy royalty, showcasing a boundless vocal range and soulfulness that has stood the test of time;  a brave, young Cuban refugee turned Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and music ambassador, Tania León has blessed America for more than five decades with her astoundingly original compositions and continues to be a major influence on classical music; and one of most influential rock bands of the modern rock era, U2, won over America and the world long ago with their iconic anthems, potent lyrics, and powerful messages of social justice and global citizenship—earning a musical legacy that crosses generations, inspires, and unites.”

Deborah F. Rutter, Kennedy Center President, added:
“For nearly a half-century, the Kennedy Center Honors has represented the very best of America’s creative culture. The Honors is often referred to by past recipients as the pinnacle of awards because it recognizes not just one performance, album, or film, but esteems an artist’s cumulative body of work and influence over many decades. This level of distinction is important. Through this holistic viewpoint, each year’s Honorees add another layer to the complex and inspiring collage of artists that together tell the story of our collective contribution to global culture.  Now, as the Center completes its yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration, I cannot help but think that the Kennedy Center’s namesake would surely smile at this celebration that brings us closer to his vision of ‘an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft.’”

Throughout its 44-year history, the annual Honors Gala has become the highlight of the Washington cultural and society calendar, and its national broadcast on CBS is a high point of the television season. On Sunday, December 4, in a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage, the 45th class of Kennedy Center Honorees will be saluted by today’s leading performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world. Seated in the Box Tier of the iconic Kennedy Center Opera House, the Honorees will accept the recognition and gratitude of their peers through performances and tributes. The 45th Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a dinner in the Grand Foyer.

The Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on the CBS Television Network at a later date for the 45th consecutive year as a two-hour primetime special and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Joining this year’s Honors creative team is Done+Dusted, a production company with a reputation for creating and capturing the moments that make headlines and shape culture. The 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors will be produced by Done+Dusted in association with ROK Productions, represented by Elizabeth Kelly, who will executive produce alongside David Jammy and Ian Stewart. The show will be directed by Alex Rudzinski.

Done+Dusted is a multi-award winning global entertainment group with offices in Los Angeles, London, and Abu Dhabi, the preeminent producer of live television events in the world. D+D has produced the previous three Mark Twain Prizeshows at the Kennedy Center, and has reimagined and reinvigorated the country’s preeminent recognition for humor, resulting in an Emmy-nominated tent-pole on the Kennedy Center calendar.

Whether it is producing the most watched television event in history (The London Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies),  the Apple TV+ world ratings blockbuster Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, the ABC hit series of Disney Singalongs, multiple network “roadblocks” including Stand Up To Cancer and Graduate Together, YouTube Originals’ most watched live event ever, Dear Class of 2020, the last four Emmy Awards (including two during the pandemic), or the ABC ratings sensation Little Mermaid Live, D+D’s work bears the distinct badge of quality, spectacle, and storytelling that makes it, unequivocally “Done+Dusted.”

The Exclusive Sponsor of the Kennedy Center Honors is CBS.

The Exclusive Underwriter of the Kennedy Center Honors Gala is Boeing.

The Official Airline of the Kennedy Center Honors is Delta Air Lines.

The Kennedy Center Honors Founding Producer is George Stevens, Jr.

The Honors recipients are recognized for their contributions to American culture through the performing arts—whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television—and are confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Center’s Board of Trustees. The primary criterion in the selection process is excellence. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement; the selection process, over the years, has produced balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines.

The Honoree selection process includes solicitation of recommendations from former Honorees, the artistic community, the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and the general public. This year’s selected Honorees were chosen based on the recommendation of the Center’s Special Honors Advisory Committee, which is chaired by David Bohnett and includes past Honors recipients and distinguished artists Julie Andrews, Gloria Estefan, Herbie Hancock, Judith Jamison, Lionel Richie, and John Williams as well as David M. Rubenstein, Deborah F. Rutter, Bryan Lourd, Cappy McGarr, Shonda Rhimes, and Daryl Roth. These individuals play a critical role in the evaluation and selection process, and the Kennedy Center is indebted to them for their involvement.

45TH KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE STATEMENTS

“Growing up in a small town in Kentucky I could never have imagined that someday I’d be the one sitting in the balcony at the Kennedy Center Honors. To be mentioned in the same breath with the rest of these incredible artists is an honor. This is a genuinely exciting surprise for the whole Clooney family.” –George Clooney

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Through the years, I’ve watched so many of my heroes serenaded by colleagues and fellow artists, always moved by the ability of music and film to bring us together and to see the best in each other. I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends, and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.” –Amy Grant

“I’m humbled beyond words to be included amongst this prestigious group of individuals, both past and present. You could never have told me as a young girl starting my career that I would be honored on a stage such as this, with artists and humanitarians such as these—it just wouldn’t have seemed possible. It would have been the dream of all dreams. I have been blessed with so much in my life and this certainly stands with those achievements at the top of that list. To be honored as a Kennedy Center Honoree is among the highlights of my career. I stand here with my fans, my family, my friends, my team, and my faith in accepting such an amazing distinction. It is dedicated to all those who paved the path for me to be able to accomplish the wonderful blessings I’ve been able to receive. The Kennedy Center’s commitment to the arts is unparalleled and I am so very grateful for this moment.” –Gladys Knight

“Little did I imagine when studying in La Habana that life was going to grace me with such a distinction! My first thoughts went to my ancestors: they believed in my dreams, and what we lacked in material wealth, they made up for in spirit, encouragement, and support. My heartfelt thanks go to the many people who have blessed my path by helping my talent to blossom and by giving me the chance to be heard. I am incredibly humbled to join such a prestigious family of artists, and deeply grateful to the Kennedy Center for bestowing me with this incredible honor.” –Tania León

“In December 1980, we made our first trip across the Atlantic to America. Our first show was at The Ritz in New York City, the second, The Bayou in D.C. We had big dreams then, fueled in part by the commonly held belief at home that America smiles on Ireland. And it turned out to be true, yet again. But even in the wilder thoughts, we never imagined that 40 years on, we would be invited back to receive one of the nation’s greatest honours…It has been a four-decade love affair with the country and its people, its artists, and culture. We consider America to be a home away from home and we are very grateful to the Kennedy Center Honors for welcoming us into this great clan of extraordinary artists.” –U2 (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.)

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrated its 37th year honoring excellence in Gospel music during an uplifting weekend of events, concluding with the live-taped ceremony on Saturday, July 16, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hosted by Stellar Award-winning artists Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard, this year’s celebration will premiere Sunday, August 7 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET, BET Her, and BET International and will be syndicated in various local markets across the country between August 13 and September 11, 2022.

Pastor Mike, Jr. leads the list of winners with a total of six Stellar Awards, including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol. 1. CeCe Winans won three Stellar Awards, including Producer of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year, all tied to the album Believe For It. Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music received three awards for their collaboration, Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP, including Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, and Special Event Album of the Year.

Other notable winners during the 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards include Tamela Mann and Ricky Dillard, both of whom received two Stellar Awards, with Dillard also receiving the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Toyota in recognition of his contributions to Gospel music as a renowned choir leader and recording artist. In addition, Two-time nominee E. Dewey Smith was named Best New Artist for his 2021 albums God Period and Let Praises Ring.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards features showstopping performances by Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, Maverick City Music, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Doe, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, Darrel Walls, James Fortune and more.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards also bestows special honors to industry titans who continue creating a legacy of excellence that reaches and influences the masses, both within and outside of the Gospel genre. Six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning hitmaker and producer Aaron Lindsey received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award Presented by Aflac. Candi Staton also received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, an honor that reflects her career of nearly seven decades as a music pioneer and a captivating Gospel music artist.

Top nominees for this year’s ceremony included CeCe Winans, who led the field with nine nominations, followed by Pastor Mike, Jr., who received eight nominations. Tamela Mann, Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, and Todd Dulaney all received six nominations. Kelontae Gavin received five nominations. Maverick City Music, Israel Houghton, Ricky Dillard, E. Dewey Smith, and Jason Clayborn received four nominations each.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is proud to be presented this year by AT&T Dream in Black. This year’s sponsors also include Procter & Gamble (P&G), Walmart, State Farm, Toyota, McDonald’s – Black & Positively Golden, and Aflac. The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is also proud to partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For additional updates, follow The Stellar Awards on social media — @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter, and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook — and check out the Stellar Awards website. The hashtag for the show is #StellarAwards.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: WWW.STELLARAWARDS.COM

Top-selling, popular Gospel star Jekalyn Carr was presented with the Key to the City, by City Commissioner, Natalie Hall last night, July 14, 2022, also proclaiming it “Jekalyn Carr Appreciation Day.” The event kicked off the exciting, events filled Stellar Awards Weekend in Atlanta.

Last night, at the Bear Tag Entertainment celebrity basketball at the Riverside Epicenter, Carr was presented with a proclamation and the Key to The City in recognition of her success as a Gospel artist and her contributions to the arts and entertainment community in Atlanta and her continued efforts in furthering opportunities for young women in Georgia.

Carr, an Atlanta resident, is here for the second year in a row as co-host for the 37^th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Last year she stunned the crowd as the youngest host in Stellar Awards history.

Jekalyn Carr continues to elevate and expand her brand with a string of Number 1 hits and the launch of the JEKALYN BEAUTY brand. Carr also furthers her relationship with Praise 102.5 as the host of her radio show “Jekalyn Carr Family Affair Show” which airs Monday-Friday 10am-3pm.

Ten-time Grammy nominee Tauren Wells made his performance debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry to a sold-out audience on Friday, July 15. The pop singer, who released his third album ‘Joy In The Morning’ this past month, joined a lineup of legendary artists including Bill Ray Cyrus, Lauren Alaina, Rhett Akins, Coffey Anderson, Erin Kindsey, Jeannie Seely and Bobby Osbourne & Rocky-Top X-Press. Wells performed fan-favorites “Hills and Valleys,” “Known” and “Joy In The Morning” to the packed crowd.

With over 1 BILLION global streams to date, 10-Time Grammy Award nominee, Tauren Wells is a genre-bending recording artist, with a lifetime of influences across gospel, pop, r&b, and more. His 2022 fall North American tour will include shows at The Town Hall in New York City (October 17), Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre (November 5), The Soundstage at Graceland in Memphis (November 12) and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (November 15). Special guests Aaron Cole and Lakewood Music will support.

Central City Productions announces the launch of the Stellar TV network, set to premiere in fourth quarter of 2022. The Stellar TV network is a wholly owned subsidiary of Central City Productions, Inc., the oldest Black-owned and operated television production company in the country. Central City Productions has been in operation since 1970 and remains dedicated to creating Black excellence in television programming.

Central City Productions is the creator of the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, the longest-airing Black ad-supported awards show on television featuring the best in Gospel Music, plus a multitude of other uplifting and original television programs such as Black Music Honors, Black College Quiz, America’s Black Forum, Mentoring Kings, Mentoring Queens, Family Night, and many others. The network’s owned and operated library of 50 years is primed with more than 5,000 hours of family-friendly entertainment.

The Stellar TV launch will be hosted by Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation’s largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. Marc Morial is also a leading advocate for the growth of Black-owned television networks and a leading voice on the national stage in the battle for jobs, education, housing, and voting rights equity. The formal announcement will take place on July 15, during an invitation-only press announcement event during the Stellar Gospel Music Awards weekend of taping in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Now more than ever, Black audiences want to see themselves reflected in what they watch on television, including programs that are safe for the entire family. We are excited about our early engagement and commitments with our charter media partners, who include Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Verizon, Toyota, State Farm, AT&T, General Motors, Dentsu/Carat, Publicis Media, Hearts and Science, and Nielsen Audience Measurement; along with our distribution carriage partners Charter Communications, Verizon FIOs, XUMO, and STIRR TV, who are walking the talk as they do business with Black-owned networks to reach Black consumers,” said Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions and founder of the Stellar TV network. “With the launch of Stellar TV, Black America and others have another avenue to witness positive, uplifting and multifaceted representation of our culture, our voice and our music.”

According to a February 2022 diverse-owned media report from Nielsen, Black families are accessing more content than ever, and are leaning into programming where they can feel seen and represented. Black-owned media networks are more than two-and-half times more likely to attract Black audiences, underscoring the value of programs created for and by the community, both to audiences themselves and to advertisers and marketers.

Upon launch, Stellar TV programming components will include exclusive original content from Stellar TV’s library, plus its annual and quarterly flagship specials, along with new premiere content. In addition, Stellar TV’s charter partner, Procter & Gamble’s Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard, will be the keynote speaker at Stellar TV network’s press announcement and will highlight P&G’s “Widen The Screen” Black creative producers initiative, which will air on Stellar TV.

Stellar TV is also an active member of Publicis Media’s Once & For All Coalition, which is a cross-industry consortium that aims to break down industry barriers to equitable representation and financial opportunity for diverse-owned media suppliers.

Distribution carriage partners as of this press release include: Charter Communications, a leading cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand, which is set to premiere the Stellar TV network during the fourth quarter of 2022; Verizon FIOS, a television service operating over a fiber optical network that covers roughly 11% of the U.S. population; XUMO, a free ad-supported streaming service that offers over 200 channels of premium programming; and STIRR TV, an ad-supported video streaming service owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

The Stellar TV network is also committed to building the next generation of television production professionals. Stellar TV is committed to providing Black and Brown students in film and television programs at community colleges in urban cities with hands-on production training, shadowing, mentorship, internships, and employment opportunities in Stellar TV productions.

Multi-Platinum band MercyMe announces “MercyMe Live 2022,” an arena tour hitting 19 cities this fall and featuring returning special guests Rend Collective and Andrew Ripp. Launching Oct. 20 in Saginaw, Michigan, and concluding Nov. 20 in Norfolk, Virginia, the month-long run will visit major markets, including New York, Baltimore and Boston, among others. Tickets are available beginning Friday, July 11 at MercyMe.org.

The touring news arrives on the heels of the group’s latest single, “Then Christ Came.” The song officially went for adds at radio this past Friday (7/8), with early support from nearly 30 stations including SiriusXM/The Message, KTIS/Minneapolis, WONU/Chicago, KJNW/Kansas City, and WPOZ/Orlando.

Two years in the making, “Then Christ Came” was originally slated for MercyMe’s tenth studio album, inhale (exhale). However, frontman Bart Millard and his co-writer, David Leonard, didn’t finish the track in time. Yet, knowing it was already a special song, the band included a brief, incomplete demo of the chorus on their latest project. Recently, Millard revisited the lyrics and finished the song with friends Jason Ingram and Phil Wickham.

“We are just so excited with how it turned out,” Millard shares of the hard-fought offering. “Sometimes we over-complicate things trying to come up with new, creative ways to sing about Jesus. But the message of this song is simple in that it’s about who I was before, and then Jesus showed up, and now everything has changed. We love how it turned out and hope you like it, too!” Listen to “Then Christ Came” across all digital platforms HERE.

The award-winning group will bring their new single, as well as many chart-topping hits, directly to fans on the upcoming leg of the “MercyMe Live 2022” tour. Moreover, ahead of their fall trek, MercyMe will return to Red Rocks for one night only, Oct. 17, 2022. The engagement will mark the band’s second time to headline the iconic venue.

“MercyMe Live 2022” Tour Dates:

Oct. 20 — Saginaw, MI

Oct. 21 — Peoria, IL

Oct. 22 — Milwaukee, WI

Oct. 23 — Ft. Wayne, IN

Oct. 27 — Roanoke, VA

Oct. 28 — Reading, PA

Oct. 29 — Wallingford, CT

Oct. 30 — New York, NY

Nov. 3 — Baltimore, MD

Nov. 4 — Boston, MA

Nov. 5 — Williamsport, PA

Nov. 6 — Cleveland, OH

Nov. 10 — Jackson, MS

Nov. 11 — Springfield, MO

Nov. 12 — Tupelo, MS

Nov. 17 — Birmingham, AL

Nov. 18 — Greenville, SC

Nov. 19 — Huntington, WV

Nov. 20 — Norfolk, VA

*All dates and cities subject to change.

5x-Stellar Award nominee and powerhouse vocalist, Kim Person, keeps meriting staggering achievements and favor since the release of her current musical offering, “Journey 2.0″last October. Her high-energy, up-tempo lead radio single, “Wonderful”, scored the #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Indicator Airplay Chart two (2) weeks ago and has remained there for back-to-back weeks (Issue Dates 7/2/2022 and 7/9/2022). “Wonderful”, produced by Phillip Bryant (Tamela Mann, Maranda Curtis, JJ Hairston) and released on Kim’s indie label (KLP Music Enterprise), is her highest career appearance on that chart to date.

In addition to this wonderfully historic moment, “Wonderful” (the sizzling “Gospel Funk”-flavored track), has also landed in the Top 30 on Mediabase Airplay and the Top 50 on Billboard National Airplay. Kim is also overwhelmingly excited about being nominated for three (3) Stellar Awards this year in the following categories: Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, and Traditional Album of the Year. To top off an already landmark season for Kim, she’ll be performing “Wonderful” during the Pre-Show at the 37^thAnnual Stellar Gospel Music Awards held in Atlanta, GA, July 15-16, 2022.

A native of Lumberton, NC and currently based in Raleigh, NC, Kim Person’s “Journey 2.0” EP is the follow-up to the 2019 “The Journey” album, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and #25 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. “Journey 2.0” EP spent six (6) weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. Kim also earned her inaugural Stellar Award nominations for New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year in 2020.

Red Street Records announces the new single from Consumed By Fire, “First Things First,” is out now (click HERE to listen), marking it their first since signing with the label. A music video also drops today, which can be viewed below. More songs are slated to release this fall, leading up to an EP release in early 2023.

Consumed By Fire is brothers Caleb, Josh, and Jordan Ward, a Southern pop and rock band combining their church roots with an array of musical influences. When they weren’t leading worship at their parent’s church during childhood, they were singing songs from James Taylor, Amy Grant, Bob Seger, Russ Raff, or The Eagles and they began to find their own musical sound. Now, after years of making music and touring the globe, the band is finding renewed motivation for their lifelong dedication to sharing God’s grace far and wide, taking up the mantle of their father’s heart for ministry – a major factor in the band’s renewed focus came from losing their father earlier this year. As their inspiration, he encouraged them in songwriting, musicianship, and a deep love for the Gospel.

“For us, this new music is our chance to carry on Dad’s legacy in a personal way,” Jordan says. “We’re able to take the things he taught us from scripture and everyday life and share it with others through our music and our shows. This is our opportunity to carry that torch for him.”

Preparing for their new EP brought out songs more personal and honest than ever before, such as “First Things First,” the piano-driven ballad echoes the band’s newly rooted commitment to put God first, despite what’s happening around them.

“Writing ‘First Things First’ spearheaded the creation of a new direction for us,” Jordan adds. “Every record you make is sort of a chapter of your life. In this chapter, everything we thought we wanted and were geared up for, we’re saying we surrender all those things. We’re saying, Lord, we want what You want. It’s a prayer of surrender, especially after losing our dad. We just want to surrender our dreams and our hopes to the Lord.”

Jordan concludes, “As kids, we were young and passionate, full of fire. Now that we’re adults, we’ve seen a little bit. Road years are like dog years and it’s easy to become jaded and cynical. But working on this new project, it’s like the Lord was waking us up. We’re living out ‘consumed by fire’ in a brand new way.”