Megan Danielle covered Lauren Daigle’s “Thank God I Do” on the latest American Idol episode, which aired Monday, April 24. Danielle made the Top 12 this season and will compete next week to see if she advances to the next stage of the competition. 

American Idol airs on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm ET.

Megan Danielle has previously covered Daigle’s “You Say” during the audition and We The Kingdom’s “Holy Water” on the Top 20 show this season.

https://youtu.be/O–qcq2mfUk

The 2nd Annual SGMA of West Virginia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert took place on April 22nd, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Elkview, West Virginia. Dean Hickman, the founder of The Guardians Quartet, was among the 8 inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ceremony.

With his tremendous impact and influence on the entire Southern Gospel community, Hickman is more than deserving of this honor. Dean began his career in Southern Gospel music at just 19 years old with The Golden Keys Quartet.

In 1988, Hickman founded The Guardians Quartet, now one of the preeminent artists in the Southern Gospel genre with several #1 songs and accolades to their credit. Hickman also contributes greatly in industry leadership serving on the boards of the Southern Gospel Music Association and Sea Walker Media Corporation, among others.

He is a supporter and encourager of other Southern Gospel artists and has made an immense impact on the Gospel community.

Dean Hickman

Dean Hickman commented on his induction, “I am extremely proud of my heritage, growing up in the great state of West Virginia. I was part of a great family who loved God and were blessed beyond measure.

However, little did I know the blessings that God would bestow upon me throughout my adult life. One of these blessings is when I recently learned that I was being inducted into the West Virginia Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

This is an unbelievable honor that I cherish from the bottom of my heart. Southern Gospel music has influenced my life since I was a teenager, and I am so thankful to the West Virginia Southern Gospel Music Board for this tremendous honor.”

Megan Danielle covered a We The Kingdom song on the latest American Idol episode, which aired Sunday, April 23. Danielle made the Top 20 on this season and will find out tonight if she advances to the next stage of the competition. 

American Idol airs on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm ET.

During the audition round, two-time GRAMMY Award winner Lauren Daigle made a surprise return to ‘American Idol’ to surprise and support auditioner Megan Danielle who sang Daigle’s genre-crossing hit “You Say.”

https://youtu.be/-MKcTDo1GbE

Worship leader Warren Peay covered a Zach Williams song on the latest American Idol episode, which aired Sunday, April 23. Peay made the Top 20 on this season and will find out tonight if he advances to the next stage of the competition. American Idol airs on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm ET.

Zach posted the video on social media along with the caption: “Thank you @warrenpeaymusic for covering my song “Up There Down Here” on @americanidol last night.

Warren also covered my song “To The Table” in his audition and each time he covers my songs, it’s a blessing to hear. Cheering for you, brother!”

https://youtu.be/PIjXsEqnWok

Prolific highlife prince of the south-south, Godfada returns with the official video of one of his lovely songs titled “Ikwo Uwem” directed by King Baseda.

Available on YouTube, this song is poised to bless your soul and minister to your spirit while providing a beautiful Melody to your hearing.

The new single is an ingenious highlife remake of a popular Ibibio hymn and an original medley by Godfada.

Godfada – “Ikwo Uwem” Official Video

Watch and Download Below

The 22nd Annual Absolutely Gospel Awards took place on April 18th, 2023, at the Capitol Theater in Lebanon, Tennessee. Daywind Music Group artists and songwriters were honored with 19 wins at the ceremony, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Fan Favorite Artist of the Year.

The night also featured great performances from Daywind Music Group artists Tribute Quartet, High Road, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Joseph Habedank, and Jim & Melissa Brady.

Dusty Wells, director of Artist and Label Relations for Daywind, commented, “What a great night for DAYWIND MUSIC GROUP at the ABSOLUTELY GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS.  Congratulations to all of the artists, songwriters, producers, musicians, engineers, orchestrators, arrangers, publishers, and label staff for their excellent work. 

Our mission at Daywind is to help creators make music that touches hearts and changes lives.  Our entire team wants to thank the fans, radio, retail, and digital service providers. 

We appreciate greatly ABSOLUTELY GOSPEL not only for hosting such a wonderful event but also for the work they do every day to celebrate and grow Gospel music!  We are humbly honored and so grateful.”

Dusty Wells received a special surprise of his own during the evening when he received the Deon Unthank Memorial Award for his work on advancing Southern Gospel music.  The award is named for the founder of Absolutely Gospel.

Karen Peck & New River were the big winners of the night, taking home 5 awards: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Fan Favorite Artist of the Year, Mixed Group of the Year, and Artist Songwriter of the Year.

Winners:

Progressive Single of the Year
“He’s Got A Way” – Southbound (written by Clint Brown, Jody Braselton, and Seth J. Elbe

Artist Songwriter of the Year
Karen Peck Gooch

Professional Songwriter of the Year
Jason Cox

Producer of the Year
Wayne Haun.

Fan Favorite Artist of the Year
Karen Peck & New River

Male Vocalist of the Year
Joseph Habedank

Female Vocalist of the Year
Melissa Brady

Southern Roots Single of the Year
“Children Sing” – Nelons (written by Jason Clark and Tony Wood)

Southern Roots Recording (Album) of the Year
God is Real – The Sound (produced by Barry Weeks)

Traditional Single of the Year
“Not My Will” – Tribute Quartet

Deon Unthank Memorial Award
Dusty Wells

Special Event Project of the Year
Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times – Becky Isaacs Bowman (produced by Becky Isaacs Bowman and Ben Isaacs)

Bluegrass Artist of the Year
Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Southern Music Video of the Year
“Scars in Heaven” – The Nelons

Mixed Group of the Year
Karen Peck & New River

Female Group of the Year
High Road

Male Group of the Year
Brian Free & Assurance

Album of the Year
2:22 – Karen Peck & New River (produced by Wayne Haun)

Song of the Year
“Answer Is Jesus” – Karen Peck & New River (written by Karen Peck Gooch, Lee Black, and Kenna West)

SOUTHBOUND, the dynamic trio consisting of Clint Brown, Jody Braselton, and Seth J. Elbe, won the award for Progressive Single of the Year at the 2023 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

The 22nd annual ceremony, which honors the best in Christian and gospel music, took place on April 18 at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Clint Brown expressed his appreciation upon receiving the award, stating, “We are grateful to the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards for this honor. We would also like to extend our thanks to Michael Turner and the entire team at Straight Arrow Management and Daywind Records.

Winning Progressive Song of the Year for “He’s Got A Way” is a tremendous thrill for me, Seth, and Jody. We hope that listeners will never forget the song’s message – that no matter what you’re facing, God has a plan.”

SOUTHBOUND’s winning track is a powerful and uplifting single that explores finding strength and hope during difficult times. The unique sound, which blends traditional gospel with modern influences, has garnered them critical acclaim and a devoted fan base.

WME has signed five-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Brandon Lake for global representation in all areas.

With over a decade of experience as a worship leader and songwriter, Lake has become one of the most sought-after artists in the Christian music genre, releasing music under Provident Entertainment/Sony Music. 

His debut single “This Is a Move” has been streamed over 18 million times on Spotify, and his latest album House of Miracles has received critical acclaim and includes his recent single ‘Gratitude,” which has held the No. 1 spot at Christian radio for six weeks and counting.

Lake is currently on his sold-out, 26-city Miracle Nights Tour with special guest Benjamin William Hastings and made his headlining debut at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium this past weekend with special guest Thomas Rhett.

In August, he is set to co-headline the Summer Worship Nights Tour with Phil Wickham, hitting arenas in 12 cities. The singer-songwriter is currently working on new music slated to be released this summer.

Lake joins WME’s notable Christian roster and has seen prominent success over the past year. Clients Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin walked away with seven wins in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music categories at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, and their 2022 Kingdom Tour is now recognized as the largest-grossing tour in Christian Music history.

WME also had a stellar showing at the 53^rdAnnual GMA Dove Awards, with clients Phil Wickham, Crowder, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Maverick City Music, Tauren Wells, and others taking home twelve wins, the most of any agency.

Todd Tilghman, the winner of the 18th season of NBC’s “The Voice,” has added three more accolades to his collection at 2023 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, the 22nd annual ceremony.

The annual ceremony, which honors the best in Christian and gospel music, took place on April 18 at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Tilghman won the award for Positive Country Music Video of the Year for “Home Wasn’t Built In A Day,” as well as Positive Country Male Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Upon receiving his awards, Tilghman expressed his gratitude and excitement, saying, “Man, I am so blown away. Thank you to Absolutely Gospel Music and everyone out there who’s part of what I’m doing. It’s not easy. Not at all.

But nights like tonight remind me that people are listening, and they care. God is so very good.”

Tilghman continues an aggressive tour schedule filled with concerts, festival appearances, and more.

Singer Marcus Jordan invites Gospel music fans to DANCE!  His new single, “DANCE,” is a high-energy track with the intensity and excitement of high praise.  “Dance” is available now on all digital outlets.

You can find “Dance” on the hottest Gospel music playlists on your favorite music streaming outlets.  “Dance” is streaming now on the “Gospel Now” Playlist on Amazon Music, Apple Music Gospel’s“New In Gospel,”  and Pandora’s “New Gospel Now” Playlist.  

“Dance” is taking off at Gospel radio with early adds and spins on Sirius XM Kirk Franklin’s Praise, WOAD in Jackson, MS, WFBR in Baltimore, MD, WNEX in Macon, GA, WDJL in Huntsville, AL, and WEAM in Columbus, GA. 

“This song is hot, and the bass line is bumping!” states Pam Dixon of Praise 100.7 Columbus, GA.

Leo with the Lion of the Lion’s Den Gospel Show and Beacon of Light Gospel Radio Station says, “I just added Marcus Jordan “Dance”. I really love this record, great song Marcus Jordan!!” 

“You are dropping those bangers, Marcus! Keep doing it,” says Evangel Thompson of GodRadio1.com.

Marcus has also released the official lyric video for “Dance.”  

Stream & Enjoy Below

Watch all of his music videos and watch and share “Dance” from his official YouTube page.

Connect with Marcus on his social platforms and follow his schedule to catch him in person performing live.  Marcus will minister in music at the Women of Destiny Ministries “Men and Women” Conference on August 11-12 in Lake Jackson, Texas.   He will also be shooting the official music video for “Dance” soon, so stay connected and keep Dancing!