SGN Scoops Digital

2013 Absolutely Gospel Music Award Nominees Announced

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (January 21, 2013) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the nominees for the 2013 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting on February 1, 2013, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in certain categories.

“We are so excited about this year’s awards program,” mentioned Deon Unthank, President/CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “Our site has seen such tremendous growth over the last two years, and we cannot wait to produce another awards show. Each year, things just get bigger and better, and this year’s show will be no different!”

Chris D. Unthank, Editor-In-Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com said, “We applaud our staff and those other media representatives who voted for thinking outside of the box this year and really embracing what our awards program is all about. These nominations really represent the best of last year, and we can tell that our staff and the other voters really took this year’s nominations process seriously.”

As far as nominations go, Southern Gospel favorites The Perrys landed a stellar nine nominations this year, more than any other artist. The group earned nods for Song of the Year and Traditional Song of the Year (for “Blue Skies Coming”), Album of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year (for Through the Night), Mixed Group of the Year, and Special Event Project of the Year (for the Celebrate Me Home DVD release). In addition, reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Libbi Stuffle earned her third consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year nomination. Speaking of consecutive nominations, The Perrys’ lead vocalist/songwriter Joseph Habedank claimed his fifth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year and sixth nod for Songwriter of the Year (Artist) (after winning the award in 2011).

Last year’s big winner The Isaacs and reigning Female Group of the Year Sisters followed behind The Perrys with an impressive eight nominations each. Sisters earned their very first nod for 2013
Pacesetter, the awards’ most prestigious honor, this year. The Isaacs’ Ben Isaacs also landed a 2013 Pacesetter nomination for his production work in 2012.

Following behind those artists was Karen Peck & New River with seven nods. In addition, Karen Peck’s solo record How You Walk the Miles earned an Album of the Year mention. Brian Free & Assurance, Mark Trammell Quartet, and the Booth Brothers all landed six nominations. Three artists received five nominations – Tribute Quartet, Collingsworth Family, and Jeff & Sheri Easter.

Triumphant Quartet and Three Bridges both earned four nominations, while several artists received triple mentions, including The Talleys, Canton Junction, Gaither Vocal Band, The Hoppers, Michael English, and The Nelons. Soul’d Out Quartet, Greater Vision, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Beyond the Ashes, the Bowling Family, The Browders, The Williamsons, and Guy Penrod were each nominated for two awards. Read more »

Dates and Featured Performers Announced For 13th Annual Absolutely Gospel Music Fest

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (June 13, 2012) – The administrators of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the dates and talent line-up for the 13^th Annual Absolutely Gospel Music Fest.

“Once again, we are so excited about bringing in some of the biggest artists in our industry to the area for a weeklong festival of Gospel music! Every year we get more and more artists who ask to be a part of the Music Fest, and this year is no different! We know that everyone is going to love the talent line up we have this year!”

This year’s Music Fest is set to run from Monday, July 16, 2012 through Friday, July 20, 2012. The event will again be held at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is absolutely free to the public.

Performers scheduled to appear at this year’s Music Fest include Gold City, Karen Peck & New River, Buddy Jewell, The Bowling Family, Tribute Quartet, Three Bridges, HisSong, Adam Crabb, Wilburn & Wilburn, Beyond the Ashes, Eighth Day, John’s Call, The Hemphills, Freedom, Southern Sound, Crystal River, Sharron Kay King, Mark 209, Tim Hill, The Beelers, Jim Sheldon, Jeff & Sue Duffield, and Sunday Edition.

The artist listing is subject to change without notice.

As in years past, this year’s convention will remain free to the public. A love offering will be taken each night.

For more information, feel free to email the site at chris@absolutelyGospel.com . More details can be found at http://www.absolutelygospel.com .

Michael Wayne Smith Special Guest on Gospel Music Today

Chapel Valley recording artist Michael Wayne Smith is the guest on the current edition of Gospel Music Today.  The Feature Group is Terry Luna & Another Day, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news   and concert updates. Ken and Jean visit The Civic, in Neosho, MO, to hear The Chuck Wagon Gang sing. Jean reviews a new CD by The Duncans, and the show features singing by The Bowling Family and a vintage video by The Speer Family. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

December 2011 SGNScoops Magazine

Merry Christmas from the Scoops Staff! We are proud to present December’s Issue,”The Gift of Grace!”  We are excited to feature The Bowling Family, Gloria Gaither, Marshall Hall, Christy Sutherland, The Diplomats, Scott Godsey, Amber Nelon, Rachel McCutcheon and Karen Peck.  This issue includes New Music Reviews by Sandi Duncan Clark, Jennifer Cambell’s Women of Faith Experience, Stephanie Kelley’s trip to the Flight Museum, Inspiration from Lou Wills Hildreth, Encouragement from John Mathis and Rhonda Frye and a concert review on Voices Won Anniversary Singing. Rob Patz gives a little hint about the Diamond Awards location, Lorraine Walker wraps up a 3-part series on “Media and the Gospel” and Laurette Wills shares how we can stay fit during the holidays. We hope you enjoy the beautiful cover designed by Stephanie Kelley and the Magazine layout design by Pete Schwager. Enjoy our Christmas treat and please share it with your friends!

Click Here For The Magazine Here

Gospel Music Fest August 27

I would like to invite you to our Fifth Annual Gospel Music Fest, August 27th at 6 PM. This will be a great night of Gospel Music with special guests The Bowling Family, River of Grace and the Gardners. There is no admission costs, but a love offering will be received to benefit Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Huntland High School. For more information visit www.thegardners.com.  Hope you can join us!

TUNE-IN: JASON CRABB hosts HARMONY HONORS

The SGMG Harmony Honors were presented on Monday, July 18, 2011 at TBN Music City Auditorium.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (July 21, 2011) – The HARMONY HONORS were presented at TBN’s Music City Auditorium on Monday, July 18 with a night of exciting performances and special presentations to distinguished honorees CLAUDE AND CONNIE HOPPER and JEFF AND SHERI EASTER. The ninth annual event was presented by the Southern Gospel Music Guild and hosted by Grammy® Award-winning vocalist JASON CRABB. The evening featured an all star line-up of musical performances and appearances by THE BOWLING FAMILY, THE HOPPERS, JEFF & SHERI EASTER, KAREN PECK & NEW RIVER, KEVIN WILLIAMS, LEGACY FIVE, LES BEASLEY, THE MARTINS, THE NELONS, TRIUMPHANT QUARTET and SGMG PRESIDENT CLARKE BEASLEY.
Special Harmony Honor presentations were made to Claude and Connie Hopper, celebrating 50 years of marriage and music ministry, and Jeff and Sheri Easter, celebrating 25 years of marriage and music ministry. These special tributes were highlighted by video tributes from friends including BILL GAITHER, MARK LOWRY, and THE BOOTH BROTHERS.

SGMG Harmony Honors Special Presentation L-R: Jeff, Morgan & Sheri Easter, Clarke Beasley (SGMG President), Host Jason Crabb, Dean & Kim Hopper, Les Beasley (NQC President), Mike Hopper, Connie & Claude Hopper. Photo by Aaron Crisler/The Judy Nelon Group

SGMG President Clarke Beasley stated: “The entire SGMG (Southern Gospel Music Guild) was thrilled with the Harmony Honors presentation, and those who attended were really treated to an example of our music at its finest as the performances were strong and the production was first class. We felt it really made a strong statement about the level of talent with which our music is blessed, and we are eager for the response the telecast will receive.”
TBN will broadcast The Harmony Honors on FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011 at 9 PM CST/10 PM EST.

Photo by Aaron Crisler/The Judy Nelon Group

Viewers are encouraged to email comments@tbn.org to thank them for airing the show.
For more information, visit www.SGMG.org.

Photo by Aaron Crisler/The Judy Nelon Group

Jason Crabb Hosts Harmony Honors

Jason Crabb hosts Harmony Honors featuring the Bowling Family, Triumphant Quartet, Martins, Karen Peck & New River, Legacy Five, Nelons, Jeff & Sheri Easter, and The Hoppers.  Harmony Honors will be held on Monday, July 18 at 7:00 at TBN  1 Music Village BLVD Hendersonville, TN 37075. Admission is free.

Southern Gospel Radio “Can’t Get Over” Eighth Day’s Latest Radio Release

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – (July 7, 2011) – Popular Southern Gospel trio Eighth Day continues to see new milestones at radio with their latest single release. Stations all across the country “can’t get over” the group’s single “May I Never Get Over the Cross.”

This ministry-oriented single has been making waves at radio since it’s release several months ago. According to the August 2011 issue of the Singing News Top 80 chart, “May I Never Get Over the Cross” ranked as third most played song in the country.

“We have been stunned by the response that we have seen from this song,” mentioned Eighth Day’s Scott Robinson. “We are so humbled that radio has embraced this song in the way that they have. This song has been such a huge force for us in our concerts and ministry events. We are so excited to see that radio has gotten behind the song as well!”

In addition to cracking the top 5 on the Singing News Top 80, earned a career first last month as the smash-hit single reached the #1 spot on the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weekly Chart – the Southern Gospel industry’s most watched weekly radio report. The song went #1 for the week of May 2, 2011 and continued to hold the #1 spot for three more weeks. The four week run at #1 has been bested by only one other song this year (The Dunaways’ “When There’s No Hope, There Is Grace”) and remains Eighth Day’s most successful song to date.

“May I Never Get Over the Cross” was released to radio earlier this year through Spin-N-Motion Promotions. It is the group’s fifth single from their SGN Music Award nominated project Everything Holy. All five singles from that album have reached the Top 40 on both the Singing News Top 80 and AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weekly Chart.

Eighth Day was recently honored with news that they were named as one of the 20 most played artists of 2010. According to AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), Eighth Day ranked #14 on the Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 list – in between mainstays and hit makers The Isaacs and The Bowling Family. The list was compiled by the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weekly Chart year-end figures.

More information on Eighth Day can be found at http://www.eighthdaymusic.com.

Hosts Announced for 2011 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (March 7, 2011) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the hosts for the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration. Hosting the Awards Celebration this year are Devin McGlamery and Madison Easter.

Devin McGlamery is no stranger to fans of Gospel Music. He is currently the lead vocalist of Dove Award nominees for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Devin has received his first Absolutely Gospel Music Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year this year and with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is nominated for an additional six awards in this year’s program.

Madison Easter is a beloved musician who travels with his family group – Jeff & Sheri Easter. Easter’s brand of humor has made him a popular individual on social networks and within the Southern Gospel community. Madison was awarded Musician of the Year at last year’s program and is nominated for the award again this year. Easter also co-hosted the Awards Celebration last year with Mike Bowling and Sonya Isaacs Yeary.

“We are so excited about our hosts for this year’s program,” mentioned Deon Unthank, administrator for AbsolutelyGospel.com. “Both of these guys have their pulse on what is happening in the world around us, and I know they will breathe a breath of fresh air into this year’s program! What an exciting night it will be for everyone!”

Performers for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration include Jeff & Sheri Easter, Booth Brothers, Karen Peck & New River, The Bowling Family, The Nelons, Sisters, The Dunaways, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Crystal River, and the Mystery Men Quartet.

Additional performers and hosts are still being confirmed and will be announced at a later date.

The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 12, 2011.  The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennesse and is free to the public.  The awards program will start at 7:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

As far as nominations go, the Gaither Vocal Band landed a stellar nine nominations this year, more than any other artist. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and The Bowling Family each earned eight nods. Following behind those artists were The Perrys, Dove Brothers, Triumphant Quartet, and Booth Brothers with seven nominations apiece.  Brian Free & Assurance and The Freemans both landed six nominations.  Three artists received five nominations – The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River and The Greenes.

Jeff & Sheri Easter and Legacy Five both earned four nominations, while several artists received double mentions, including Jason Crabb, The Dunaways, The Nelons, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Sisters, Gordon Mote, the Talley Trio, and Greater Vision.

Songwriter, producer and Signature Sound’s pianist Wayne Haun earned the most individual nominations for his work during 2010. Producer Lari Goss earned seven. Earning four individual nominations were 2010’s Male Vocalist of the Year Michael English and producer Ricky Free. McCray Dove, Marty Funderburk, Kyle Matthews, Dianne Wilkinson, Bill Gaither, and Mike Bowling all landed three individual nominations for their work in 2010.

The Pacesetter Award is awarded to any artist, individual, or organization which has shown great strides in the industry and has raised the bar for others. This year’s nominees for the 2011 Pacesetter are last year’s winner the Branson Gospel Music Convention, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, digital news outlet SGN Scoops Digital, and syndicated radio program This Week In Gospel Music with Mickey Bell.

For a full list of nominees, visit AbsolutelyGospel.com.

More information on the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including additional performers, sponsors, etc.

First List of Performers Announced for 2011 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (February 28, 2011) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the first list of performers for the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration.

Performers for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration include Jeff & Sheri Easter, Booth Brothers, Karen Peck & New River, The Bowling Family, The Nelons, Sisters, The Dunaways, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Crystal River, and the Mystery Men Quartet.

Additional performers and hosts are still being confirmed and will be announced at a later date.

Deon Unthank of AbsolutelyGospel.com said, “We’ve gotten such great feedback over the years about our awards program, and we are so excited that so many wonderful artists have once again agreed to be a part of the show this year. We can’t wait to honor our music again this coming April!”

The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 12, 2011.  The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennesse and is free to the public.  The awards program will start at 7:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

As far as nominations go, the Gaither Vocal Band landed a stellar nine nominations this year, more than any other artist. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and The Bowling Family each earned eight nods. Following behind those artists were The Perrys, Dove Brothers, Triumphant Quartet, and Booth Brothers with seven nominations apiece.  Brian Free & Assurance and The Freemans both landed six nominations.  Three artists received five nominations – The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River and The Greenes.

Jeff & Sheri Easter and Legacy Five both earned four nominations, while several artists received double mentions, including Jason Crabb, The Dunaways, The Nelons, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Sisters, Gordon Mote, the Talley Trio, and Greater Vision.

Songwriter, producer and Signature Sound’s pianist Wayne Haun earned the most individual nominations for his work during 2010. Producer Lari Goss earned seven. Earning four individual nominations were 2010’s Male Vocalist of the Year Michael English and producer Ricky Free. McCray Dove, Marty Funderburk, Kyle Matthews, Dianne Wilkinson, Bill Gaither, and Mike Bowling all landed three individual nominations for their work in 2010.

The Pacesetter Award is awarded to any artist, individual, or organization which has shown great strides in the industry and has raised the bar for others. This year’s nominees for the 2011 Pacesetter are last year’s winner the Branson Gospel Music Convention, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, digital news outlet SGN Scoops Digital, and syndicated radio program This Week In Gospel Music with Mickey Bell.

For a full list of nominees, visit AbsolutelyGospel.com.

More information on the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including hosts, additional performers, and sponsors, etc.