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

Capitol CMG and multi-platinum supergroup Newsboys are pleased to announce the newly minted partnership that reunites the two parties.  Over the past 3 decades, they have released 20 projects through various iterations of CMG labels.  Newsboys debut single “Magnetic,” from the forthcoming full-length project slated for September 2021, is available across all digital platforms now.

Co-Presidents, Capitol CMG Hudson Plachy and Brad O’Donnell state, “We are honored to partner with Newsboys and our entire team is excited to support their vision and music in this next season. We have an incredible history of success with Newsboys and couldn’t be more excited to welcome them back to Capitol CMG.”

Newsboys manager Wesley Campbell adds, “Newsboys have a long and storied history with Capitol CMG, and the band couldn’t be more excited to enter this new season together.  The new music the lads have been working on is full of energy and determination, and we look forward to sharing it with the world through this synergistic partnership.”

From the first releases with Star Song and Sparrow to Inpop, the partnership with CMG is steeped in milestones and award-winning music, sold out concerts on a global scale and millions of records sold.

GRAMMY Award-nominated Crowder just earned No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart and Billboard Christian AC with “Good God Almighty,” a song that has earned 20 million global streams and is currently on top playlists, including Spotify’s Top Christian, Apple Today’s Christian and Amazon’s Christian Hits.  See the full story on Billboard here.

“There are SO many great songs out there right now, it’s stunning to see ‘Good God Almighty’ hit #1!” says Crowder. “So happy this song is connecting with folks in such a powerful way.”

Crowder will release his album ‘Milk & Honey’ on Friday, June 11th via sixstepsrecords / Capitol Christian Music Group, and his 30+ date Milk & Honey Tour will kick off in North Carolina this September.

Two-time GRAMMY Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Lauren Daigle has announced an exclusive online streaming event like she has never done before. The event, “A Night at The Ryman with Lauren Daigle and Friends,” will be streaming on June 6^th and is made possible with streaming technology powered by Mandolin. It was filmed at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and features never before seen collaborations with multi-platinum recording artist Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, GRAMMY Award winner and five-time CMA Nominee Natalie Hemby of The Highwomen, singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb, and Petey Martin.

The stream is available for fans in the US and Canada at two different times on June 6, 6:30pm ET and 6:30pm PT. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available. The VIP tickets include an intimate virtual Q&A with Lauren, livestream access, and exclusive behind the scenes content. Tickets can be purchased  at LaurenDaigle.com/Tour. Each ticket includes a 48-hour replay of the broadcast. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Price Fund, a Lauren Daigle foundation.

“Sharing the stage and collaborating with other musicians has always been a high-point of any live show for me,” shares Daigle. “To be joined with some of my dearest friends for a night of music and fun is such a blessing and makes me eager to be able to get back on the road!”

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 125 weeks and was recently certified 4x-platinum by the RIAA. 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.

Old Church Basement, the collaborative album from GRAMMY-nominated and Billboard No. 1 worship groups Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music has made history, setting a new worldwide record for the most first-day streams for a Christian and Gospel album on Apple Music. Additionally, on Spotify, the 13-song project 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. It also tops both Billboard’s Christian and Gospel Album charts and ranks at No. 31 on its Top 200 Overall chart.

Old Church Basement, released April 30, 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 the new album here. Leading up to its release, the album’s first single, “Jireh” dropped March 26, followed by “Talking to Jesus” on April 9 and “Wait On You” out on April 23.

“Before any lights and a stage, for a lot of us, it was just a few chords on an acoustic guitar or piano in a youth room with a few of our friends,” says Chris Brown from Elevation Worship. “But that’s where we fell in love with God’s presence. Our hope is that this collection of songs makes it easy for you to return to that pure-hearted place of worship within you.”

Naomi Raine of Maverick City Music adds, “Old Church Basement is a reminder that God is still good and the church is still God’s idea. It’s an invitation to come back to a community that is solely after His heart, that just wants the simplicity of the Good News that Jesus brought and the genuine love and fellowship that we can have because of Him.”

Old Church Basement Tracklist:

1. Old Church Basement (feat. Dante Bowe)
2. Jireh (feat. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine)
3. Talking To Jesus (feat. Brandon Lake)
4. Wait On You (feat. Dante Bowe & Chandler Moore)
5. Wait On You (Reprise) [feat. Dante Bowe & Chandler Moore]
6. Million Little Miracles (feat. Joe L Barnes)
7. Shall Not Want (feat. Chandler Moore)
8. Come Again (feat. Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore)
9. Used To This (feat. Naomi Raine & Brandon Lake)
10. Names (feat. Tiffany Hudson)
11. Mercy (feat. Chris Brown)
12. Before and After (feat. Amanda Lindsey Cook)
13. Build Your Church (feat. Naomi Raine & Chris Brown)

Spotlighting the honest realities of his own mental health journey, acclaimed hip-hop and spoken word artist, church leader, speaker and community advocate Legin drops his latest single, “Streets of Gold,” today. Blending gospel and trap influences with live brass and bass, the Cardec Drums and Ben Mekkes-produced track finds Legin delivering some of his most personal verses yet.

By addressing his struggles with stress, discontentment, rejection and division, among other issues, Legin hopes the song will encourage listeners to seek help when life overwhelms. “I pray this song will give people the honesty to recognize their weaknesses and struggles and bring them to God, while realizing the present and future Hope of Christ that helps our now and secures our forever,” he shares.

The message of “Streets of Gold” paves the way for the second installment of Legin’s GOOD ENUF Virtual Concert Series, premiering Tuesday, June 15 at 8:00 pm ET. The multi-event series, which kicked-off in March, employs a unique blend of music, Bible teaching and mental health education to address the rise in depression and suicide since the onset of the pandemic. GOOD ENUF events are ultimately designed to connect those in need with helpful resources, while raising funds to subsidize counseling expenses for as many people as possible. Tickets for June 15’s GOOD ENUF Session 2 are available here.

“Being able to touch on sensitive topics like abuse, fatherlessness and race tensions, while prioritizing the Gospel and giving people hope and tangible help, was a great feeling,” Legin shares of GOOD ENUF Session 1. “This next event will be a deeper dive into my story, as well as the stories of people I’m trying to encourage and impact. We’ll share new songs that are very personal to me, and the segments featuring my counselor will reflect some of the current things I’m processing. Together we’ll assess my needs and what’s next, and I believe this event will be even more transparent than the first.” 

“Counseling is a journey similar to a spiritual journey,” he continues. “In the Gospel, you walk with Christ down a narrow road, and who you are the first day you repent and believe isn’t who you are years later as you continue to grow with Him. Eventually, you look back and realize how far you’ve come with Him. Other people can see it too. You can practically apply that same thought to the healing counseling can bring. Expect a long walk, but eventually you—and others—will look back and realize how far you’ve come. It’s OK to need this help; it’s spiritual to receive it.”

Sponsors for GOOD ENUF Session 2 include Aviation Institute of Maintenance; Centura College; Tidewater Tech; Chick-fil-A Broad Creek Crossing (Norfolk, Virginia); Chick-fil-A Frederick Boulevard (Portsmouth, Virginia); and Norfolk’s CrossRoads Church, among others.

Dove Award nominee, 12x Stellar nominee and 3x Billboard finalist Maverick City Music will embark on its first-ever tour this fall, 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.

Tickets start at $30, and there is a $5 discount for group sales of 10 or more tickets on standard general admission. General on-sale for tickets begins this Fri., May 7th at 10 AM (local time). Fans can also gain access to a pre-sale, which is available now, by texting “Tour” to 404-737-0975. Purchase here: tourlink.to/maverickcitytour.

Since its debut on Friday (4.30), Old Church Basement, a collaboration between Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship has quickly made an impact on the charts. It’s currently sitting No. 2 on the iTunes All-Genre Albums chart and No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Chart. The group has five of the Top 10 videos on the iTunes All-Genre video chart, and their song “Jireh” is on the Spotify Viral 50 Chart.

In the two years since releasing their debut EP, Maverick City Vol. 1, the group has already notched multiple Billboard No. 1 albums and singles, earned a pair of Dove Award nominations, racked up more than 250 million streams across platforms, and amassed more than a million subscribers on YouTube. The critical response was similarly rapturous, with Relevant raving that “Maverick City Music represents a leap forward for Church Music—an evolutionary step forward that the whole genre has been waiting for without realizing it.”

For more on Maverick City Music, and to listen to their album Old Church Basement, visit maverickcitymusic.com.

MAVERICK CITY MUSIC ON TOUR:
Thurs., Sept. 30 | Princeton Pike Church of God| Cincinnati, OH
Fri., Oct. 1 | Willow Creek Community Church | Chicago, IL
Sat., Oct. 2 | Grand Rapids First | Grand Rapids, MI
Sun., Oct. 3 | The Nad, Grove City Church of the Nazarene | Columbus, OH
Thurs., Oct. 14 | Connection Point Church | Kansas City, MO
Fri., Oct. 15 | Victory Church | Tulsa, OK
Sat., Oct. 16 |The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory | Dallas, TX
Sun., Oct. 17 | Bayou Music Center | Houston, TX
Thurs., Oct. 21| Evangel Temple Assembly of God | Jacksonville, FL
Fri., Oct. 22 | Bayside Community Church | Bradenton, FL
Sat., Oct. 23 | First Baptist Ft. Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sun., Oct. 24 | Calvary Orlando | Orlando, FL