Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin joined NBC’s TODAY Show to perform “Kingdom,” a poignant fan-favorite off their collab album, ‘Kingdom Book One,’ out now (6.17).

Additionally, Franklin and Maverick City Music co-founders Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay discussed the movement behind Maverick City Music, how the genre-transcending group continues to pave the path for minority representation in the world of gospel music and beyond, and the process behind the creation of their new music, which took place in a Florida prison and aims to shine a light on the plight of mass incarceration.

Maverick City Music and Franklin are currently headlining arenas on their Kingdom Tour, which has shattered multiple records since the 37-date trek kicked off last month. The tour continues tomorrow in Oklahoma City, OK, before heading to Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, TX, this weekend. Fans can purchase tickets to the nearly sold-out trek HERE.

Chart-topping BEC recording artist Tasha Layton recently marked another first in a year filled with milestones with her debut on the iconic Grand Ole Opry. Layton performed her breakthrough single, “Into The Sea (It’s Gonna Be OK),” and her #1 smash, “Look What You’ve Done,” before the welcoming Opry audience.

She joined CMA Award-winning country superstar Brett Eldredge; breakout hitmaker Lainey Wilson; and Grand Ole Opry members John Conlee and Riders In The Sky, among others, for the evening’s show.

Before leaving the stage, Layton shared with Opry announcer Charlie Mattos how special it was to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, in part because her grandmother had been such a big country music fan. To add to the evening’s significance, Layton’s guitarist, Matt Podesla, played the guitar originally owned by Layton’s grandmother, now one of the artist’s prized possessions.

It may seem an unusual pairing for a two-time Billboard #1 Gospel artist and a well-known psychotherapist to write a book together. But that’s just what singer, author and worship leader Anthony Evans, along with licensed psychotherapist and TV personality Stacy Kaiser, have done in their new release When Faith Meets Therapy: Find Hope and a Practical Path to Emotional, Spiritual, and Relational Healing (Aug. 16, 2022; W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson).

Anthony, who is a well-known Christian musician and the son of world-renowned Pastor Dr’s. Tony and Lois Evans, and Stacy, a sought-after professional, media personality, and speaker, met five years ago when he was seeking emotional, relational and spiritual healing. Stacy led Anthony through a process of internal renovation and continues as his personal therapist. The two opened to the world up about their partnership through their When Faith Meets Therapy Zoom talks.

With the release of their book, the duo takes the conversation around mental health and faith to the next level, packaging insights from Anthony’s personal experience with therapy as well as poignant takeaways from Stacy. The authors offer hope and practical steps to getting started on a mental health journey, examples of strategies that worked for Anthony, and encourage readers to take the next step toward individualized professional help if needed.

“In our book, Stacy and I want to have an open, honest conversation about faith and mental health in a way that doesn’t make a person feel worse about themselves and their relationship with God,” writes Anthony. “A lot of faith meeting therapy is talking about boundaries and balance, power and responsibility, fear and healthy relationships. Mental, physical, and spiritual health are connected. It all works together.”

“It is important to understand that therapy is not a replacement for your spiritual work or connection.

Like tutoring in a math class with formulas that are hard to understand, It’s an enhancement to help you understand the truth, and no counselor should ever criticize or downplay the role of faith in your life,” writes Stacy. “Anthony and I talk a lot about God and faith in our sessions because that’s a vital part of his life. A good therapist gives you lots of space to talk about all facets of your life, from family, to work, to faith and more.”

Centricity Music artist Katy Nichole and Curb | Word Entertainment band Big Daddy Weave joined together to release “God Is In This Story” earlier this month (June 10) to radio, digital and streaming outlets everywhere. The song is the new radio single for both artists and is being jointly promoted by Centricity Music and Curb | Word Entertainment. Today (July 6), the official music video drops, which can be viewed below.

The relationship between the two artists began when Nichole was invited by Big Daddy Weave to join them on select dates during the band’s spring 2022 tour, which was her first-ever series of tour dates. Shortly thereafter, she shared with Big Daddy Weave her song “God Is In This Story” that was co-written with Grammy nominated songwriters Ethan Hulse and Jeff Pardo, and asked if the group would record it with her.

The release arrives at a poignant time for both artists, with Nichole’s testimony of physical and mental suffering and subsequent healing reaching 150+ million through the viral phenomenon of her first single and record-breaking multiformat Billboard No. 1 hit, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” and Big Daddy Weave’s mourning the passing of founding member Jay Weaver on January 2, 2022.

Big Daddy Weave lead singer Mike Weaver shares, “It’s been a really difficult season of saying goodbye to my brother and missing him, but also a time of realizing that there’s so much more for us to do. This is a song of hope, a song of encouragement, that God really is present with us in all of the seasons of our lives – the really great ones and the ones that are difficult. God is not giving up on us. He is in the details of our lives. We can trust Him that He is working things together for our good.”

“The one thing that we all have in common is that we all have a story to tell,” adds Nichole. “Looking back on my life, I always thought, ‘Oh, my story is too broken, and no one is going to want to hear about that.’ But what I didn’t know is that people were actually seeing Jesus through my story, because God was turning the broken things into beautiful things. So if you think that your story is too broken, I promise you that it’s not because God is in it.”

Katy Nichole, hit No. 1 for the first time recently with “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” on both Billboard’s Christian Airplay and AC Indicator charts. “Making history, the song reaches the Christian Airplay penthouse in its 12th week, completing the quickest jaunt to No. 1 for a female artist’s first entry in the chart’s 19-year history,” notes Billboard. The viral debut single also continues its sixth week atop the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart while topping the iTunes Christian & Gospel Songs chart for 12 consecutive weeks.

Reach Records releases its summer 2022 playlist titled, You Are The Moment. The project features tracks from Reach Records artists including WHATUPRG, Tedashii, 1K Phew, Lecrae, and many more.

You Are The Moment is available now.

Building upon the momentum that has been growing since the iconic group announced their name change and new musical direction, Avalon Worship has released the live version of the song “Graves Into Gardens” on video and recorded formats. “Graves Into Gardens (Live)” is available now.

Long admired for show-stopping, mega-hits like “Testify To Love,” “Can’t Live A Day,” and “Adonai,” the American Music Award-winning, GRAMMY-nominated pop vocal group surprised industry and fans alike when they announced their new name, new project and new musical direction – Avalon Worship.

Produced by Don Koch and released on Red Street Records, the project – Avalon Worship – reflects who they are as individuals as well as a worship collective.

Avalon Worship includes both original recordings as well as worship covers of some of the most well-known songs sung in churches every weekend, all carried by the group’s signature, powerhouse vocals.

K-Anthony shares new music with “I Saved It All.” The video for the track, which dropped earlier this week, can be viewed below.

As Mary made her way to the Master’s feet she blocked out all the onlookers and criticizers. She saved all she had to purchase the most expensive oil to wash the Savior’s feet to show Him her appreciation for His love, grace and mercy. K-Anthony out-laid for His Savior every note, every word, and every melody of this song “I Saved It All” to express his love and appreciation for God’s saving grace in his life, with the hope to inspire individuals to give of their best to the Lord.

“I Saved It All” is available now.

K-Anthony’s early musical experiences began in the church he attended in his youth, located in Falmouth, Jamaica. He is influenced by the island music, and you can hear his love of reggae and R&B. His strong musicality shows his classical training gained through his Bachelor of Arts degree in music. K-Anthony’s songs are well crafted with the lyrics front and center with a decidedly optimistic tone, but the underlying theme of his music is his love for God and hope for the future.

K-Anthony has a strong desire to bring that hope and sense of purpose in life to young people who feel lost and he uses his message to bring inspiration to others. K-Anthony is honored and humbled to be a 2021 JUNO Award nominee.

Tommy Iceland releases “Idols.” The official lyric video can be viewed below. “Idols” is available now.

Local Sound introduce their second post-EP single called ‘My Confidence.’ As they gear up towards a new project releasing this summer, the Nashville-based band and house church movement keep teasing us with songs that capture the essence of their community’s deep love of Jesus and each other.

‘My Confidence’ is a response when fear and anxiety come knocking at our door, such as when covid broke out and many experienced these disturbing emotions, including some of Local Sound’s band members. This new song emerged to encourage and teach from the inside out, pushing listeners into the arms of God, a safe place where confidence can be found when all else fails.

Singer Alexis Butcher points out that, “in order to place Christ as our confidence and foundation, [we] have to surrender everything into His hands and trust that He is good.” ‘My Confidence’ features a beautiful slow pop soundscape and is as catchy as it is profoundly hopeful. With their new single, Local Sound nudge us to embrace the beauty available in surrender.

“My Confidence” is available now.

Auckland, New Zealand worship team Equippers Worship begins pre-orders for their upcoming album Still Waters & Shadows (DREAM Worship).  

Pre-orders come with the instant gratification track “Fall Afresh” on Apple/Amazon with all other digital retail service providers making the song available today as well.  The song was produced by David Darby and Joshua Huirua and was written by Joshua Huirua and Kenan Stephenson.

“Fall Afresh is a song about our need for God and out desire for more of His Presence. We pray it blesses people and helps them to connect with Jesus. ” Kenan Stephenson, Equippers Worship

“Fall Afresh” is available now.