::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Hezekiah Walker and Mary emerged as the top winner at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards held at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry on January 16, each taking home 4 trophies. Both artist received the top, most coveted awards, with Mary Mary earning one for Song of the Year, "The God in Me" and Hezekiah Walker receiving the Artist of the year title. Walker and his contemporary Ricky Dillard united on the show opener to kick-off a night of perfectly paired collaborations. Show highlights include dualing piano with Male Vocalist of the Year, Smokie Norful and the Maestro Richard Smallwood, the The closing act was Donald Lawrence and the Atlanta West Pentecostal Church, winners of the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound choir sing-off. The Stellar Awards attracted 4400 people to Music City and Congratulations to All of the Winners: Artist of the Year-Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship Song of the Year-Mary, Mary-"God in Me" Male Vocalist of the Year-Smokie No...

buzzz worthy. . . Nashville, TN – The historic recording career of Gospel superstar, composer, choir leader, pastor, and radio host  Hezekiah Walker  reaches new heights as the multiple GRAMMY ®  winner’s thirty-year worldwide influence in Gospel was feted at this year’s 3 rd Annual GMA Honors, with Walker inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  Celebrating that honor in addition to three other inductees this year, the Gospel Music Hall of Famer’s powerful music ministry of enduring hits rocked the stage during his induction’s performance tribute, with a revered lineup of talent that included James Hall, Kim Burrell, Maurette Brown-Clark, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Tye Tribbett, VaShawn Mitchell, and Ricky Dillard delivering a medley of such hits as “Clean Inside,” “Souled Out,” “Every Praise,” Walker’s latest hit single  “Better,”  and more.   “Better” is Walker’s lead hit anthem from his upcoming new album, elevating the unifying exper...

buzzz worthy. . . LISTEN TO "BETTER" BY HEZEKIAH WALKER Walker Debuts Performance of New Single “Better” on the Stellar Awards, airing on March 6 th   Nashville, TN (March 4, 2016) –  Entertainment One Music (eOne Music)  announces the signing of Gospel superstar, award winning beloved pastor and radio host  Hezekiah Walker , as he prepares to release his fifteenth album.  Hezekiah Walker delivers a highly-anticipated return with the release of his new smash hit single  “Better,”  available beginning March 4 th  and launching at radio on March 7 th .  Following his global hit anthem “Every Praise” and 2013 album  Azusa the Next Generation , the chart-topper sets the stage to continue creating powerful inspirational music and bringing his signature ministry style to fans everywhere on this first single, with this new album marking his sophomore Azusa project, slated for Summer 2016 to be released under the umbrella Azusa ...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Myrick sings "Every Praise" with Hezekiah Walker after the song save his life. Many Christians believe praise is a weapon. Songs have proclaimed it.  Preachers have taught it. Now the testimony of an Atlanta boy has confirmed it for the faithful. Video - In early April, then 9-year-old Willie Myrick was abducted from the yard at his home.  As told to Ryan Cameron  the Ryan Cameron Morning Show of Atlanta's V103-FM, Myrick went outdoors to retrieve  a tool from his dog cage when a man lured him into his car by dragging money across the ground.  The stranger grabbed the child and tossed him into the backseat of the car.  The alleged kidnapper, who is still at large, drove around the city for three hours aimlessly.  Co-host WandaSmith commended the child for being brave and asked what he said to the kidnapper to be set free.  Answered Myrick, "He was probably irritated over me singing." To pacify his...

buzzz worthy. . . New York, NY  - Every week for more than three months  Hezekiah Walker  and his smash hit single " Every Praise " (RCA Inspiration) has topped Billboards' Gospel Songs Charts and this week, Walker's 14th consecutive at #1, sets a new personal best for the artist. "Every Praise/Hezekiah Walker will go down in the archives of great inspirational songs as one of the best. This song makes you feel joyful. It brings a smile to your face. It exudes happiness," says  Elroy R. C. Smith , Inspiration Format Director at Radio One, Inc.  "Furthermore, I love this song so much that I purchased it recently on ITUNES.  Congratulations to RCA INSPIRATION and Hezekiah Walker for one of the greatest songs to date. " Featured on Walker's " Azusa The Next Generation " album, the hit single "Every Praise" was originally released by RCA Inspiration in June.  Walker, whose previous #1 single " Souled Out ...

Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker are the BMI 2012 Trailblazers of Gospel honorees it was announced recently . The event is slated for Friday, January 13 , the day before the 27th Annual Stellar Awards, at Rocketown (601 4th Avenue South). Gospel music's premier songwriters, brightest stars, and leading executives attend the invitation-only event, which is part industry celebration, part awe-inspiring worship service.

Weekend-long program will feature top industry talent and executives including Suzanne de Passe, Pauletta Washington, Niecy Nash, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tia Mowry, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Chrisette Michele, J. Moss, Brian Courtney Wilson and more     (Los Angeles, CA – July 9, 2010)   -- Following the great success of last year's inaugural conference, Relevé Entertainment announced today that THE MERGE SUMMIT 2010 will return to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, August 26 through Saturday, August 28, 2010.   THE MERGE SUMMIT’s founder, Dr. Holly Carter , serves as chairperson and Robi Reed as co-chairperson of the event.   The three-day conference integrates faith and entertainment and provides a platform and educational forum for men and women of faith to interface and partner with executives and talent in the entertainment industry from New York to Hollywood (see full schedule below...

Photos: Finale shots of finalists sharing a duet and interacting with host, Kirk Franklin. Leandria Johnson has "leaped  into her destiny."  Crowned the season three winner of BET's SUNDAY BEST, the 27-year-old Orlando, FL native discovered last night literally what it means to gain from losing.  The praise and worship leader came to the New Orleans auditions with nothing but the clothes on her back, but left with the title Sunday Best, keys to a 2010 Ford SHO  and a future overflowing with professional possibilities. Viewers voting online, by text, or phone sealed her fate as the third woman to win the title in the three year run of the show, while many followers commented online they wanted her opponent to break the all female winning streak. The man to beat was 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McClendon of Philadelphia, PA.    Christians have seen Leandria Johnson's type before in the pag...