Two-time GRAMMY Award winner and platinum selling artist Lauren Daigle can add another record to her already impressive resume as her latest single, “Hold On To Me,” jumps from No. 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. 

This is Daigle’s fifth single to top the chart, extending her record of most No. 1s among women since its inception in 2003. In addition to the news of “Hold On To Me,” Daigle brought home Female Artist of the Year at the 8th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards for the fifth time, giving her the record of most consecutive wins in any category.

Since the release of her GRAMMY Award winning, platinum certified album Look Up Child, Lauren Daigle has reigned on the Billboard Charts. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 Albums chart making Daigle the first female artist to simultaneously hit the Top 10 on both Billboard’s Pop and Christian Billboard Album Charts. In addition, the GRAMMY Award winning crossover hit, “You Say,” became the longest-running No. 1 song of any genre on the weekly Billboard Hot charts at an incredible 129 weeks and was recently certified 4x-platinum by the RIAA.

Her latest single “Hold On To Me” is Daigle’s fifth No. 1 and has given her the record of most No. 1s among women on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Daigle has earned seven Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, ten GMA Dove Music Awards and sold-out concert venues all over the world

BET “Sunday Best” alum Latice Crawford‘s new EP, THE CURE, is available now. The transparent and motivational EP is concrete proof of Latice’s ability to deliver melodic and soulful messages to listeners and followers of Christ. THE CURE is available now on all major digital retail and streaming outlets.

“This new music I’m releasing is all about our common symptoms (our temptations, struggles, stumbling blocks on our journey, those pills we use to maintain or fill our voids.) My hope is that my music will simply help us identify our stuff, see that we all have the same issues, and that we all use a variation of the same resources. I hope that we can judge less, and come together to see, and ultimately find our common source, the cure, Jesus Christ,” Latice Crawford shares.

THE CURE by Latice Crawford is a six-track confessional with transparent lyrics revealing her testimony over the last few years – diving deep into love, life, relationships and religion. THE CURE features the ballad, “Amazing” – a beautiful ode of gratitude to God with Latice’s signature vocals; “Something, Something” with a throwback vibe and “Your Fault” which is sure to get all believers to the dance floor.

The New York native and Stellar Award nominated singer stole the hearts of believers on BET’s singing competition “Sunday Best,” using her three-octave, contralto vocal range, finishing third on the second season. Her self-titled debut album reached two Billboard charts, and the Top Gospel Albums chart. Her second album, “Diary of a Church Girl,” also appeared on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Many may already know the fabulous, runway and editorial model, but Crawford also is a contributor to Essence and Huffington Post, writing on a range of topics to include mental wellness, parenting, race relations, and self-care. 

Purchase & Stream THE CURE Now

The Cure is available for download HERE

Follow Latice Crawford on social media using the handle @LaticeCrawford.

Iconic multi-platinum, singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith announced he will be re-recording and re-releasing his #1 highest-selling album of all time, Worship, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the album’s release on September 11, 2001. Worship Forever will re-imagine the album from start to finish, this time, with a full symphony orchestra.

Worship Forever will be recorded in front of a live audience at Allen Arena on July 12, 2021 in Nashville, TN and released on September 10, 2021. Tickets for this memorable night go on sale today, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, and are available at www.MichaelWSmith.com/worship.

Originally released on September 11, 2001, Worship offered hope during a time of despair and mourning.

Smith says, “The Worship record was a special one for me.  From the recording live in Lakeland, Florida – to the release on 9/11– the day our nation was attacked.  I’ve seen God use those songs and that music in ways I could have never dreamed.  I’m so excited, now, to be reimagining this record – start to finish – with a full Symphony Orchestra.  It’s going to be a special recording and night.”

Grammy award winner Chris Tomlin is celebrating the beginning of summer with the announcement of new music and a new tour. On July 2nd, Chris will release the Chris Tomlin & Friends: Summer EP and on August 13th will kick off a 13-city amphitheater tour with Kari Jobe, Bethel Music, and special guest Cody Carnes. Tickets are on sale to the public on Friday, June 11 at 10am local time at christomlin.com and fans can sign up for the exclusive pre-sale now HERE.

“Over the last year I’ve come to realize that I have taken for granted the ability to gather together as the church in worship,” shared Chris. “Ever since I was young, I have felt a calling on my life to help give people a voice to worship God and for me, I can’t think of a more critical moment in time for us to come back together and worship… unified and as one voice. Worship is more than a concert, it’s about your soul connecting to God, it’s eternal and an opportunity to join in everlasting praise. To not only worship outside amidst God’s creation but to do it alongside some of the most influential worship leaders in the church right now is something I am honored to be a part of. This is truly going to be a moment of impact and one we will never forget.”

Chris previously spoke to Billboard about the friendships he built while making Chris Tomlin & Friends and his hope to take a step towards breaking down walls and smashing up the genres. The project featured 13 tracks with some of country music’s biggest superstars, including executive producers Florida Georgia Line, Lady A and Thomas Rhett as well as Russell Dickerson, Chris Lane, RaeLynn, Cassadee Pope and Brett Young in addition to Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE, Blessing Offor and We The Kingdom. Chris performed one of the tracks of the project, “Thank You Lord”, which featured Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett, on the Today Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden as part of promo for the album.

As one of the most successful Christian touring artists today, Chris will launch the amphitheater tour this August which is currently slated for 13 cities running through September 3. Chris’ headline tours have sold-out venues everywhere, including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Red Rocks and many more. Additional touring plans will be announced in the coming weeks. For up-to-date touring information go to www.christomlin.com.“Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Bethel Music Live In Concert” Tour Dates:
8-13     Cedar Rapids, IA           McGrath Amphitheater
8-14     Detroit, MI                     Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
8-15     Milwaukee, WI              BMO Harris Pavilion
8-19     Rogers, AR                    Walmart AMP
8-20     Oklahoma City, OK      The Zoo Amphitheatre
8-21     Austin, TX                     Germania Insurance Amphitheater
8-22     Beaumont, TX              Ford Pavilion
8-27     Charlotte, NC                PNC Music Pavilion
8-28     Simpsonville, SC          CCNB Amphitheatre
8-29     Albertville, AL              Sand Mountain Amphitheater
9-1       Tuscaloosa, AL              Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
9-2       Orange Beach, AL        The Wharf Amphitheater
9-3       Jacksonville, FL            Daily’s Place

Travis Greene earns his fifth #1 hit single at Gospel radio, with “Good and Loved” feat. DOE hitting #1 on two Gospel radio charts. The radio track hits #1 on the latest charts for Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart and the MediaBase Gospel Chart.

Originally featured on his chart-topping album Broken Record, Greene recorded a new version on this radio track for “Good and Loved,” which he taped for the 2020 Stellar Awards in a duet with DOE. In their duet performance, the two multi-GRAMMY nominated singers also displayed their instrumental skills playing guitars and piano.

“Good and Loved” brings a powerful message of hope and comfort, praising God’s covering and constant love through times that are difficult as well as times of joy. Written by Greene, his latest #1 milestone follows on his previous four uplifting #1 Gospel radio hits “Won’t Let Go,” “You Waited,” “Made A Way,” and “Intentional.” The five-time GRAMMY nominee, eleven-time Stellar Award winner also recently garnered a 2021 Stellar Awards nomination in the category of Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, for his album Broken Record. Follow Travis Greene online through his social channels and his church Forward City, to stay connected on his latest news, music and ministry.

Congratulations to Maverick City Music, who took home Top Gospel Album at the Billboard Music Award for their April 2020 release of Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1. The Billboard No.1 worship group earned double-nods in their winning category and was also a contender for Top Gospel Artist.

This Sunday, May 30th, the collective will perform at the K-Love Fan Awards, where they lead the pack with four nominations, including Group of the Year, Artist of the Year, Breakout Single of the Year and Worship Song of the Year.

Maverick City Music recently made headlines with their newest release Old Church Basement, a collab album with Elevation Worship, which broke streaming records at both Apple Music and Spotify. On Apple Music, the group set a new worldwide record for the most first-day streams for a Christian and Gospel album, and on Spotify, the album broke the U.S. record for the most streams in a day for an album by a Christian group and was No. 4 out of all U.S. albums its first weekend of release. Old Church Basement was released April 30 and is a powerful collection that aims to bring listeners back to a pure place of worship and features vocals from Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Naomi Raine, Chris Brown, Dante Bowe, Tiffany Hudson, Joe L Barnes, and Amanda Lindsey Cook. Listen to Old Church Basement HERE

This upcoming fall, Maverick City Music will embark on its first-ever tour and the 90 minute shows will feature electrifying performances with collective members Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine, Joe L. Barnes, Aaron Moses and more. Capacity for the venues ranges from 3,000-8,000, and all Covid-related protocol will be observed. Currently, 11 out of the 12 tour dates are sold out. Learn more about the tour and tickets: https://tourlink.to/maverickcitytour

The “2021 Billboard Music Awards” (BBMAs) aired live on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC. For nearly 30 years, the BBMAs has celebrated music’s greatest achievements, honoring the hottest names in music today. Unique among music awards shows, honorees are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts, the ultimate authority and measure of success in music. Top Christian/Gospel Artist, Top Christian/Gospel Album and Top Christian/Gospel Song were among the honors awarded this year. See below for a list of relevant nominations.

Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
Elevation Worship – WINNER
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Kanye West – WINNER

Top Christian Album
Bethel Music, Peace
Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens
Carrie Underwood, My Gift – WINNER
We The Kingdom, Holy Water
Zach Williams, Rescue Story

Top Gospel Album
Koryn Hawthorne, I AM
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Ryman
Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 – WINNER
Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2
Kierra Sheard, Kierra

Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, “Graves Into Gardens” – WINNER
for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly, “TOGETHER”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship, “The Blessing (Live)”
Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson, “Famous For (I Believe)”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton, “There Was Jesus”

Top Gospel Song
Koryn Hawthorne, “Speak To Me”
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, “Movin’ On”
Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All”
Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright”
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, “Wash Us In The Blood” – WINNER

Provident Entertainment celebrates 23 nominations for the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with 10 artists nominated in 17 categories, including the major categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year. 

Releases from Kierra Sheard, Mali Music, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, All Nations Music, Travis Greene, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Melvin Crispell, III, and KB all garnered nominations for the upcoming awards, covering the range of Contemporary and Traditional Gospel, as well as Urban/Inspirational, and Rap Hip Hop categories. 

With a dominating eight nominations for her hit album KIERRA, chart-topper Kierra Sheard celebrates nominations in the major categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for the hit single “Something Has to Break (Live) ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard,” Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year, along with four other categories. 

Also honored with multiple nominations are Mali Music, a co-performer and writer for the Song of the Year-nominated Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music duet “Movin’ On” (RCA Inspiration/eOne) and his latest album THE BOOK OF MALI, Marvin Sapp’s latest acclaimed album CHOSEN VESSEL, Donnie McClurkin’s album A DIFFERENT SONG, and the hit debut album COME ALIVE from the group All Nations Music.    

Le’Andria Johnson, who’s nominated for “Hold On,” has two nominations for Traditional Female Artist of the Year. Separately, she received the second nomination for Traditional Female Artist of the Year, for her appearance on PJ Morton’s album. 

Phil Thornton, SVP and General Manager of RCA Inspiration/Provident Entertainment says,“Congratulations to all of the artists for the amazing creativity and powerful inspiration that they share with the world in their music, to impact others and bring a message of hope, love, healing and strength that remains much needed in these difficult times. Thank you to the Stellars for the recognition and continuing to honor gospel music!”  

The 36th Annual Stellar Awards will be July 10, 2021 in Nashville, TN.

Provident Entertainment’s 2021 Stellar Awards Nominations (listed by artist):

Kierra Sheard (Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration)

Artist of the Year

Song of the Year (“Something Has to Break (Live) ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard”)

Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year

Album of the Year (KIERRA)

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

Contemporary Album of the Year (KIERRA)

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (“It Keeps Happening (Live)”)

Music Video of the Year (“Something Has to Break (Live)”)

Mali Music (K Approved Enterprises/RCA Inspiration)

Song of the Year (“Movin’ On ft. Mali Music”)

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (“Movin’ On ft. Mali Music”)

Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year (THE BOOK OF MALI)

Marvin Sapp (Verity Records)

Male Artist of the Year (CHOSEN VESSEL)

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year

Donnie McClurkin (CamDon Music/RCA Inspiration)

Traditional Male Artist of the Year

Traditional Album of the Year (A DIFFERENT SONG)

All Nations Music (All Nations/RCA Inspiration)  

Duo/Chorus Group of the Year (COME ALIVE)

Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

Music Video of the Year (“Bless Your Name”)

Travis Greene (RCA Inspiration)  

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year (BROKEN RECORD)

Le’Andria Johnson (RCA Inspiration)

Traditional Female Artist of the Year (“Hold On”)

Traditional Female Artist of the Year (Gospel According to PJ-*not a Provident release)  

Koryn Hawthorne (RCA Inspiration)

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year (I AM)

Melvin Crispell, III (BET/RCA Inspiration)

New Artist of the Year (I’VE GOT A TESTIMONY)

KB (HGA Music/Essential Sound)

Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year (HIS GLORY ALONE)

Heartsong Live is marking her 4th year anniversary with a virtual conference tagged “Inspire Me Conference 2021” with theme “Faith & Religion”.

Inspired Me Conference was inspired from the daily broadcast show by founder Eloho Efemuai who has anchored the show consistently for four years with many testimonies from listeners across the globe.

This is the first edition and Hope’s to continue yearly. This edition focuses on Faith and Religion. How does faith & religion influence our choices in businesses, the media, family and more. The importance of networking with other key players in the industry media to inspire change.

A few things you should expect is pure worship, the sharing of in-depth word of God, Blessings and the move of the spirit.

The Inspire Me Conference is holding on Saturday May 22, 2021 and its virtual. Event will be streamed Live on  Heartonglive.co.uk and on Heartsong Live YouTube Channel.

Speaking at the event are Richard Anson from UCB  & Sandra Godley host of BBC CWR’s Sunday Breakfast show.

While Sarah Teibo MOBO award nominee and Ian White founder of The Inspiration Orchestra will be performing in songs.

There will be other activities during the live event. 

Join us on social media with the hashtag #hslinspiremeconference #hslat4

On June 25, Phil Wickham will release his eighth album, Hymn Of Heaven (Fair Trade Services). Encompassing 13 songs, including his multiple-week No. 1 hit “Battle Belongs,” the anticipated project is the follow-up to his 2018 release Living Hope, which features the RIAA Gold-certified single and GMA Dove Award for “Worship Recorded Song of the Year” of the same name.

Throughout the process of crafting new music during a global pandemic that created unprecedented obstacles for the local church, Wickham saw an opportunity – the church wasn’t relegated to a building. It was happening in our homes and in our hearts.

“Hymn of Heaven is full of praise and thankfulness, just lifting up the name of Jesus and speaking what we really know the reality is even though we don’t see it,” he says. “All I want to do is facilitate moments where people can encounter the presence of God.”

Collaborators who joined Wickham to write for Hymn of Heaven include multi-GRAMMY winners Jonathan Smith (who also produced the album), Jason Ingram, Ethan Hulse, Brian Johnson, Ricky and Ran Jackson, as well as Passion City’s Sean Curran, Hillsong’s Chris Davenport, Bethel Music’s Kalley Heiligenthal, and Brandon Lake, who is featured on the track “Where I’m Standing Now.”

“I just want to write songs that I’d want to sing with my church in a way that musically lights my heart up, and I think I’ve done that better on this record than I ever have before,” Wickham adds, fully comfortable in his artistic skin. “I cannot wait for people to hear this album. I can’t wait for these songs to be a part of people’s lives.”

To promote the album, Wickham is touring this spring and summer on his Night Of Worship tour along with festival dates throughout the summer. It was also recently announced he will appear alongside Pat Barrett and Brandon Lake this fall on their Singalong Tour hitting various cities across the U.S. Be sure to visit his touring page to find out more.

Hymn Of Heaven tracklisting:

1. Battle Belongs
2. Hymn Of Heaven
3. House Of The Lord
4. It’s Always Been You
5. Where I’m Standing Now (feat. Brandon Lake)
6. Reason I Sing
7. His Name Is Jesus
8. 1,000 Names
9. Falling In Love
10. Look To Jesus
11. God Of Revival
12. 316 (Spontaneous)
13. Heart Full Of Praise