Receiving recognition in five different categories including Song of the Year, Kirk Franklin led the gospel music industry in nominations for the 41st annual Grammy Awards, announced today at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza in Nashville, Tenn., by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
Franklin’s Christian and mainstream hit song Lean on Me, which he performs with Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Bono, Crystal Lewis and the Family, received nominations for Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best R&B Song, while Franklin?s The Nu Nation Project received nominations for both Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
“The strong representation of Gospel music and Christian artists in this year’s Grammy nominations is yet another indicator of how strong our music is becoming,” said Gospel Music Association President Frank Breeden. “Gospel music has enjoyed unparalleled growth rates in the music industry over the past five years, and it is fitting that the Grammy’s reflect this trend. We salute all of the Gospel music nominees for their outstanding accomplishments.”
Following are the nominations for the Grammy Awards’ six Gospel Music categories:
Best Rock Gospel Album
1. SOME KIND OF ZOMBIE, Audio Adrenaline [ForeFront Records]
2. AMPLIFIER, Big Tent Revival [Ardent/ForeFront Records]
3. YOU ARE THERE, Ashley Cleveland [Cadence/204 Records]
4. GOD FIXATION, Petra [Word Records]
5. SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, Sixpence None the Richer [Squint Entertainment]
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
1. MISSION 3:16, Carman [Sparrow Records]
2. SUPERNATURAL, dc Talk [ForeFront Records]
3. STEADY ON, Point of Grace [Word/Epic Records]
4. LIVE THE LIFE, Michael W. Smith [Reunion Records]
5. THIS IS MY SONG, Deniece Williams [Harmony Records]
Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
1. THEY GAVE THE WORLD A SMILE: THE STAMPS QUARTET TRIBUTE ALBUM, James Blackwood Quartet and The Light Crust Doughboys [Light Crust Doughboys Records]
2. FAITHFUL, The Cathedrals [Homeland Records]
3. DOWN BY THE TABERNACLE, Bill & Gloria Gaither and their Homecoming Friends [Spring House Records]
4. JUST AS I AM, Andy Griffith [Sparrow Records]
5. THE APOSTLE – MUSIC FROM & INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE, Various Artists [Sparrow Records, Rising Tide (MCA)]
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
1. JUST RIGHT FOR A MIRACLE, (Bishop G.E. Patterson Presents) Rance Allen & The Soul Winners? Conference Choir [Podium Records]
2. NOW THAT I?M HERE, Beverly Crawford [Warner Alliance Records]
3. HE LEADETH ME, Cissy Houston [House of Blues Music]
4. LIVE! MY SOUL FEELS BETTER RIGHT NOW, Della Reese [Homeland Records]
5. BEEN THERE DONE THAT, Rev. Timothy Wright & The B.J Mass Choir (featuring Myrna Summers) [Savoy Records]
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
1. SONGS FROM THE HEART, Yolanda Adams [Verity Records]
2. FINALLY KAREN, Karen Clark-Sheard [Island Black Music]
3. THE NU NATION PROJECT, Kirk Franklin [GospoCentric Records]
4. PAGES OF LIFE – CHAPTERS I & II, Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ [Verity Records]
5. EVERLASTING LOVE, CeCe Winans [Sparrow Records/Pioneer Music Group]
Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album
1. JUST CHURCHIN’, Bobby Jones & New Life with the Nashville Super Choir; Nathan Young, Choir Director [GospoCentric]
2. LOVE ALIVE V – 25TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, The Love Center Choir; Jonathan Grier, Edwin M. Harper, Walter L. Hawkins, Rusty Watson & Maggie Wincher, Choir Directors [GospoCentric]
3. PASTOR HEZEKIAH WALKER PRESENTS THE LFT CHURCH CHOIR – LIVE AT LOVE FELLOWSHIP TABERNACLE, LFT Church Choir; Pastor Hezekiah Walker, Choir Director [Verity Records]
4. REFLECTIONS, The Associates; O’Landa Draper, Choir Director [Warner Alliance Records]
5. STRENGTH, New Life Community Choir; John P. Kee, Choir Director [Verity Records]
