Later this month, Naomi will make her Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville and her debut solo live worship album is set to be announced in the coming months.

GRAMMY-winning artist Naomi Raine is a vocal powerhouse who is best known for her leading role in the award-winning multi-cultural Gospel group Maverick City Music. This weekend, she made her national TV debut as a solo artist on Fox & Friends, performing Maverick City Music’s “Promises” and “Not Ready,” an R&B-tinged jam from her recently released solo record ‘Journey.’

Watch Naomi perform “Not Ready” on Fox & Friends, here: foxnews.com/video/6313483677112

Last Wednesday (10.5), Naomi shared ‘Journey: Acoustic Sessions’ (TRIBL Records), a stripped-down version of six songs from her stellar ‘Journey’ album. She also shared a new video for her song “Okay (Acoustic)” from the acoustic sessions and shared the trailer for her new Docuseries (watch here), which premiered today (10.11) at 12 PM EST on her YouTube channel. New performance videos from Naomi’s acoustic sessions will roll out each week on YouTube.

Later this month, Naomi will make her Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville and her debut solo live worship album is set to be announced in the coming months.

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced the second round of performing artists for the 53nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. In addition to previously announced performers, the night will also include Anne Wilson, Blessing Offor, Brooke Ligertwood, DOE, Maverick City Music, Social Club Misfits, Steven Malcolm, Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac and a special Southern Gospel tribute featuring Karen Peck of Karen Peck & New River, High Road and Kim Hopper of The Hoppers. 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 8:00p.m. ET and 10:00p.m. ET and simulcasting on SiriusXM The Message.

Presenters for the night include Bart Millard, 2x Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger, CeCe Winans, David & Tamela Mann, and more. See the full list of performers and presenters at DoveAwards.com.

Tickets have sold out for the in-person GMA Dove Awards Nashville event happening October 18th at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena. Key partners for this year’s Dove Awards include Grace Notes, an on-demand TV show where the biggest names in Christian music share the inspiring stories behind their favorite songs, and Christian music’s largest radio networks K-LOVE and AIR-1, creating compelling media that inspires and encourages listeners toward a meaningful relationship with Christ.

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.

Platinum-selling recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Tauren Wells, joins some of the biggest names in Christian music to perform during Universal Orlando Resort’s Rock the Universe 2023 – an unforgettable weekend of faith and fun at Universal Studios Florida – from January 27-29.

The “Known” singer will take the main stage on Friday, January 27. Wells released his third studio album, Joy in the Morning, earlier this year and has seen massive success with the hit singles “Joy in the Morning,” “Fake It,” “Empty” and “Come Home,” as well as national television appearances on Good Morning America and Fox & Friends. His unique sound blends contemporary Christian and Gospel with elements of pop, hip-hop and R&B. Wells’ dance-oriented performances and spiritual lyrics will once again bring Rock the Universe fans together for an unparalleled experience. He previously performed at the event in 2020.

Tickets to Florida’s biggest Christian music festival include admission to spiritual performances and exclusive access to popular Universal Studios Florida attractions during event hours. Starting at $135 per person, a Rock the Universe 3-park Rock Your Weekend Ticket includes entrance to both Rock the Universe events, plus three days of admission to one theme park per day at Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay.

At the heart of the event, Rock the Universe supports youth group ministries and offers special pricing, exclusive vacation packages, benefits and opportunities for groups of 10 people or more. To purchase Rock the Universe tickets and vacation packages, visit www.RocktheUniverse.com.

Chris Tomlin, Grammy-award winner and “the most often sung artist” as touted by Time Magazine as 20-30 million people around the globe sing his songs in church every week, performed “Holy Forever” from his new worship album ALWAYS on the Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday, Oct. 10.

In September Tomlin released, ALWAYS, a new full-length worship album. The project contains 13-tracks all of which were co-written by Tomlin except for the historical and beloved hymn “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful” which features Steffany Gretzinger. The Tennessean claimed, “For three decades, Christian musical artist Chris Tomlin’s been as much a faith leader as a songwriter, able to parlay his faith in spirituality into influential and popular music. Via ALWAYS, his seventeenth album, he surges forward from leader to legend in the worlds of gospel and contemporary Christian music…The 17-time Christian radio chart-topper releases new music that cements his legendary status in the genre.” Elevation Worship, Brandon Lake and Lady A also appear on the album. The album’s title track is Tomlin’s current radio single and is a nod to Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” The project was produced by Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, Bryan Fowler, Ed Cash, Jonathan Smith and Dave Haywood of Lady A co-produced “The Answer.”

Brandon Lake has partnered with Evan and Jenny Owens, founders of REBOOT Recovery in Nashville, Tenn., to provide immediate help to concert goers those battling depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles.

Concert goers will be directed by Lake to scan a QR code during the concert to receive a free copy of the Owen’s new release Healing What’s Hidden: Practical Steps to Overcoming Trauma. And, they will have the opportunity to visit a booth where local licensed counselors are available for immediate help. Nine of the shows area already sold out.

REBOOT Recovery, the nation’s largest faith-based trauma healing program, offers courses, training, and an online community to anyone looking to move forward from trauma and tragedy into a better future.

Lake’s latest full-length album, HELP!, the title of the tour, is a collection of songs that depicts his own personal battle against depression, anxiety, loneliness, panic attacks, and other mental health struggles.

“In my lifetime, I’ve never experienced more opportunity to cave under the weight of anxiety and depression,” reflects Lake. “I believe it’s important that we are real, honest, and raw about the mental battles we face-that we bring them into the light so God can remind us of who He is and who we are. I believe we need honest songs, but we also need warfare songs to come against those attacks that try and keep us from being everything God wants us to be and from living truly free. Freedom has been purchased, but we need reminders that it is our inheritance and the reality we can live in daily through Him who set us free.”

Lake has been nominated for five GRAMMY awards over the course of his professional music career. In 2022, he was awarded his first GRAMMY for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album,” in recognition of the record, Old Church Basement. In 2021, he won the GMA Dove Award for “Songwriter of the Year” and “Worship Recorded Song of the Year” for “Graves Into Gardens.” “This is a Move,” co-written with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, won a 2019 GMA Dove Award for “Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year,” and it was also nominated for a 2020 GRAMMY Award.

Premier Productions and Cody Carnes announce the God is Good! Tour with special guest Benjamin William Hastings.  The tour will span eight cities and will see Carnes on his first solo headlining tour.

“Wow, this is my first headlining tour,” said Carnes. “I’m so expectant for these nights. We’re months away and I’m already dreaming up ways to make this night special. I love that I get to do my own night because that means I have all the time I need to sing all the songs I’ve been a part of writing over the last few years.”

The God is Good! Tour will also see Benjamin William Hastings in a supporting role. Hastings joins the tour fresh off the Chris Tomlin x UNITED Tour, with his self-titled debut album releasing on November 4. “I believe moment after moment will be special, especially with my friend Benjamin William Hastings bringing his incredible songs to the night as well. You do not want to miss it,” said Carnes.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, October 17th at 10:00 a.m. local time at codycarnes.com.

The eight-city winter tour will kick-off on February 8th in Cullman, AL and will stop in Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC and Houston, TX before the final show on February 19th in Dallas, TX. For a full list of dates and cities, see below.

Passion Music’s Kristian Stanfill recently announced that he has been working on a solo project. Make It Out Alive will be available next month (Nov 11). Stanfill shares this collection is full of “songs about the power of vulnerability, our need for connection and the miracle of Grace.”

Stanfill adds, “‘Make It Out Alive’ isn’t just my story. It’s OUR story. These songs carry a message of freedom for us all.” You can learn more about the heart behind this new project with a handwritten letter from Kristian below. And be sure to stay tuned for more updates.

Last week, Grammy Award winning rock band Switchfoot shared the news that the group’s 2021 collaboration with NEEDTOBREATHE and JUDAH is now available to download and stream at all DSPs. It was released last year as an Amazon Original song.

Earlier this year (Sept 2022), Switchfoot announced their new LP, this is our Christmas album, is due out November 4th. Marking the band’s first-ever holiday record, this is our Christmas album finds Switchfoot infusing their signature West Coast sound to a number of holiday classics and five, new original Christmas songs. Cheery, nostalgic and brimming with sunshine, the 11 track collection was inspired by everyone from the Beach Boys to Black Flag, and promises to be the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season with a new California twist.

“Christmas is an emotional treasure chest for a songwriter to pull from,” lead Singer Jon Foreman says. “It’s a season stretched tight with contradictions: celebrating the free gifts of love and grace with an outburst of materialist capitalist consumption. An emotional roller coaster of family and friends, hopes and scars- bringing out the worst and the best in all of us.” A project that’s been years in the making, this is our Christmas album, wraps its arms wide around these contradictions.

Whether through patriotic themes, or tributes to her faith, Lady Redneck is establishing herself as a powerhouse in the Christian Country genre. With her latest single, You First Loved Me, she continues the trend of devotion to her faith. This down-tempo ballad utilizes a simple yet effective melody to underlie the soprano vocal performance Lady Redneck is attributing to her signature sound style.

What we have, in essence, is a lyrical presentation where the vocals have become their own solo instrument, not so much in the Acappella feel, but rather a continuation of the dynamic range of the piano accompaniment.

With Lady Redneck slipping in and out of key to the main melody, it creates a tension that draws the listener in and accentuates the reproachfulness, and remorse of the subject matter as the theme carries out a realization that her religion was there before she found it. As an accomplished singer by all rights, this modulation of key centers is a deliberate act that further demonstrates the control Stephanie “Lady Redneck” Lee is achieving with each release.

Apart from the instrumental bridge section, You First Loved Me is a soft ballad that carries a steady pace throughout. This pace, however, is cleverly resolved in the final stanza with dynamic strings and keys-only
resolution. “You First Loved Me, but I’m glad you do, and Lord I love you too.” With the ever-growing catalog of singles that revolve around her faith, and tug at the heartstrings of patriotism, You First Loved Me seems to fit very well within.

The choice to utilize a percussion-free performance brings a high degree of contrast to the normally high-tempo dance-friendly rhythms we have come to expect from Lady Redneck. With that said, there is still a great deal of potential commercial success for You First Loved Me in any Gospel and Christian radio format. This song could also be incorporated into a choral performance at any church service as the overall channeling of emotion would fill a hall quite elegantly. It is the expressive nature in which Lady Redneck demonstrates her devout message that makes this track approachable, and even enjoyable.

As stated by Stepahine “Lady Redneck” Lee. “This song is special to me because it takes the pondering of my heart and expresses it by asking questions about his omniscience and power.” By utilizing her dynamic metaphors and colorful imagery audiences are quite prone to feel the same magnetic response as well.

Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan

Walker Hayes joins Country Faith Radio with Hillary Scott to share how he transformed tragedy in his life into triumph. Walker also explains that he developed a powerful friendship with spiritual mentor, Craig Cooper, with whom he recently wrote a book on finding peace after being down-and-out. Tune in and listen to the episode in-full this Sunday (October 9) at 8am PT / 10am CT / 11am ET or anytime on-demand at apple.co/_CountryFaith

Walker Hayes on Being an Atheist and Alcoholic Before Becoming a Believer
You know, I’m ashamed to say this, but I would’ve called myself an atheist, a humanist, for most of my married adult life. Just like everybody, I come from a big family. We got some issues. There’s issues with addiction. There’s absence. There’s a lot of heartbreak in all families, and sadly, that turned me to just kind of a godless phase, I would’ve said. You know how Nashville can be, it’s a confusing town, and Nashville’s like the popular kid in high school, you hate it, but you want it to like you so much. So we had a lot of that, Laney and I walked through that together. I’m an alcoholic. I’m seven years sober now, but I wasn’t thinking about becoming sober for a very long time. That was a problem in our marriage.

Walker Hayes on Losing a Child and Almost Giving Up His Sobriety 2 Years In
I was two years sober when we lost Oakley and I drove to this bar to just self destruct. I had every intention of… I didn’t care if I killed someone, got killed, got arrested. I just needed to… And when I got to this bar, my wallet wasn’t in the door of my Honda. So I turned around and went home and when I walked in the home, I remember I still had dirt on my shoe from burying Oakley. And I saw Laney alone on the couch, the other kids were all playing together, and I was just broken. For once in my life I had no one to blame. And I just was so icky. I just felt so gross. I was like, “Man, I just left my best friend to go and focus on me. I just left my kids to focus on me. But at the same time, they lost a sibling. She lost a daughter.” And all I could see was my own pain. And that frustrated me, and Laney found me an AA meeting that night. I explained to her kind of what I was going through and she helped me find an AA meeting and it was amazing.

Walker Hayes on When He First Met His Friend and Spiritual Mentor Craig (Whom He Wrote “Craig” About)
I met this guy named Craig [Cooper]. And he is such a huge part of my story because this guy Craig, I met him at a church I didn’t want to be at. I was hammered when I walked into Redeeming Grace. But this guy, I couldn’t make him go away. No matter how nasty, how different my beliefs were. No matter how crazy I even thought he was, this dude would not go away. And I wasn’t used to people … Even me, look, I’m as guilty as I would say anybody was ever guilty to me, is my entire life was performance based. But I got to this season where I lost a kid where I was like, “I can’t perform. I can’t even keep my kid alive.” But in the meantime, this guy Craig, he wasn’t loving me based on my performance for once.

Walker Hayes on Grappling with Being Grateful for God’s Blessings But Still Questioning Whether He Belongs in the Music Business
My favorite part of all of this that God created is writing a song. And so, I miss that. And selfishly, sometimes… People would probably be alarmed to hear this, but sometimes I go… My wife and I’ll be like, “You think you should just write?” This business really exposes a very narcissistic version of me. And I don’t love it. I don’t like that guy, but he’s inside me. I’m capable of some really gross stuff. And this business, it has that weight on my heart. I find myself getting out there [on stage] not being grateful, going, “Why couldn’t I hear this cue?” And I find myself being like, “I need these particulars to happen because we’re at this phase now.” And that’s an icky, icky version of me. And sometimes I’m like, “Man, I wonder if I was just like a high school football coach. Would I be that gross?” And the truth is, I would.