::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

NASHVILLE, TN  – Get the sensational collection WOW Gospel 2019 , available now.  The latest hit installment from the longtime award-winning WOW Gospel series, the two-disc WOW Gospel 2019 album delivers a total of thirty tracks with today’s biggest songs and treasured artists.  For over twenty years, the renowned compilation series has charted a course in discovering new voices mixed with fan favorites on each multi-track album, and been a top hit on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart.   WOW Gospel is a joint venture from RCA Inspiration, Motown Gospel, and Word Entertainment, and features pioneering legends, new inspirational voices, and superstar pairings. Bursting with musical highlights showcasing praise and worship anthems, ballads, choirs, and contemporary inspiration, the WOW Gospel 2019 edition includes GRAMMY ® Award winners and nominees, with songs from Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann feat. Timbaland, Donald Lawrence, Israel Houghton, Tash...

buzzz worthy. . . Adrienne Bailon attend the White House Easter Egg Roll with cast members form "The Real." Adrienne Bailon  addressed rumors about her involvement with gospel singer Israel Houghton on 'The Real" today. She used her platform on the talker to clear the rumors that have been swirling since TMZ posted photos of the couple on a beach in Mexico. Bailon said that it isn't fair to blame her for Houghton's failed marriage because he was single when they started dating and she did not know him five years ago, which is the date reference Houghton gives for when his marriage fell apart. "He obviously is divorced. . .to put that blame on me is obviously hurtful," said the co-host of "The Real." Let's truly get real.  Fans are upset because when you look at the photos  fornication comes to mind, which is against the teachings of the Bible.  Houghton is an internationally known gospel artist and minister of music.  T...

buzzz worthy. . . Popular gospel singer   Israel Houghton still has his  position as the head worship leader at Lakewood Church if he wants it. Following TMZ breaking a story that Houghton is dating actress and Co-Host of "The Real" Adrienne Balion, there were reports that Pastor Joel Olsteen fired the Grammy winning worshiper, citing his relationship with Balion as the reason.  While Houghton is on an indefinite leave, his employment with the church has not been terminated.  He is "still a part of the family"  according to a statement the Houston based church released on their Web site last Thursday. “We can confirm that Israel is on indefinite leave, but it is important to clarify that we still consider Israel to be a part of the Lakewood family and that his employment has not been terminated.”  The 6-time Grammy winner said he met Bailion two years ago when they worked together on one his film,"I'm In Love With A Church Girl" and the...

buzzz worthy. . . BMI celebrated the careers of gospel giants Israel Houghton, LaShun Pace and The Anointed Pace Sisters at its 16th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards yesterday in Atlanta.  Photos by Arnold Turner. ‘The Gift’ by Donald Lawrence Wins Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year Honor ATLANTA, January 18, 2015 – Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, brought legends and contemporary stars together to celebrate the careers of gospel giants Israel Houghton, LaShun Pace and The Anointed Pace Sisters at its 16th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards yesterday in Atlanta. The event, held at the Rialto Center for the Arts, also recognized BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year: “The Gift,” written and performed by Donald Lawrence. The song, featured on Lawrence’s album Best For Last, topped the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and achieved  wide-spread success. BMI also recognized five additional opuses ...

buzzz worthy. . . Gospel music legend Andraé Crouch will be honored with the “Let the Church Say Amen” Celebration Tour in cities nationwide this holiday season. The tour will feature guest performances by some of Gospel’s top artists, including CeCe Winans, Marvin Winans, Israel Houghton, Rance Allen and jazz artist Gerald Albright. The “Let the Church Say Amen” Celebration Tour will hit multiple cities, with stops in Charlotte, Birmingham, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Richmond, Detroit, Indianapolis, Columbus, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland and more to be announced. The complete schedule and on-sale dates will be announced in the coming days. Produced by Riverphlo Entertainment (Mano Hanes), the “Let The Church Say Amen” Celebration Tour will pay homage to the living legend’s career spanning over five decades. With 7 Grammy Awards, 6 GMA Dove Awards and an Academy Award nomination for "The Color Purple," Andraé is a member of the Gospel Music ...

buzzz worthy. . . LEGENDS BALL HONOREES ANNOUNCED WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER CHARLES JENKINS AND GUEST MUSIC ARTIST, TAMELA MANN FRIDAY, MAY 16 TH  – SUNDAY, MAY 18 TH  2014 – CINNCINATI, OH (New York, NY – March 24, 2014) –  Calling all artists, singers, songwriters, praise & worship leaders, lay people, pastors, music business specialists, and more - one of the gospel music industry’s premier conferences is back for it’s 13 th  year –  Tracey Artis’ I Hear Music In The Air Conference  returns to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 16 th -18 th  2014. Known for her business savvy, sensitivity to gospel music needs, and standard of excellence, Tracey Artis  has built an iconic brand in gospel music and entertainment, and has gathered the best in the business to share their insight into how to create an effective and successful music ministry. “I Hear Music was a vision God gave me to help educate people all throughout the country on business, music and...

buzzz worthy. . . James Fortune & FIYA: Live Through It (FIYA World Music/Entertainment One Music) 2-Disc Live Album Release: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Featuring Top 10 Hit Lead Single “Live Through It,” Album Includes Guest Appearances from Tasha Cobbs, Zacardi Cortez, Israel Houghton, Isaac Carree, Alexis Spight and Da’ T.R.U.T.H. NASHVILLE, TN (January 8, 2014) – Award-winning Gospel star, songwriter, producer and nationally-syndicated radio host James Fortune will release the first-ever live new album from Fortune & FIYA, Live Through It, on Tuesday, February 25th, 2014. Bringing alive a powerful night of inspiring music and ministry, the highly-anticipated new album features 20 tracks on a two-disc set, with guest appearances from Tasha Cobbs, Zacardi Cortez, Israel Houghton, Isaac Carree, Alexis Spight, and Da’ T.R.U.T.H. Following on the #1 album Identity, which topped the Gospel, Christian and Independent Albums charts – Fortune & FIYA’s fourth new album L...

buzzz worthy. . . BET NETWORKS’ 13 th  ANNUAL “CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL” IS BACK WITH ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCES BY DONNIE MCCLURKIN, PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR, ISRAEL HOUGHTON, YOLANDA ADAMS, TYE TRIBBETT, ANTHONY BROWN, TAMELA MANN, TAMAR BRAXTON AND OTHER GOSPEL AND R&B STARS WITH “PEOPLE’S CHOICE” WINNER FOR BEST NEW TALK SHOW STEVE HARVEY AT THE HELM BET’s Annual Praise-Fest Tapes on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES —February 25, 2013 — “ CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL ,”   BET Network’s exciting two-hour music fest designed to pay tribute to the rich history of gospel music, returns for its 13 th season.  Film, TV and radio superstar  Steve Harvey  also returns as the affable host alongside celebrated musical director,  Ray Chew. GRAMMY ®  winners  Israel Houghton & New Breed, Dorinda Clark Cole, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark Sheard,  and  Yolanda Adams  are just a few of the m...

For their comeack release "Still:, brother and sister duo Benjamin and Priscilla Winans, aka BeBe and CeCe Winans, won two Grammys, leading the list of winners in the gospel category at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. The complete list of winners in the Gospel category are as follows: Best Gospel Song-“It’s What I Do” by Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)/The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III Best Gospel Performance-”Grace” by BeBe and CeCe Winans/Still Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album-Hello Huricane/Switchfoot Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album-Love God, Love People/Israel Houghton Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel-The Reason/Diamond Rio Contemporary R&B Gospel Album-Still/BeBe and CeCe Winans Traditional Gospel Album-Downtown Church/Patty Griffin

Eminem received 10 nominations for the 53rd Grammy Awards The nominees in the top five categories for the 2011 Grammy Awards were announced on Dec. 1 in a live telecast on CBS.  LL Cool J hosted the show at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles with announcements being made by celebrity presenters. The full list of nominess in all other categories can be viewed at http://www.grammys.com/ .  Eminem tops the list with 10 Grammy nominations for the come back album, "Recovery,"  including a nod for Album of theYear. I'm hoping to see Marshall (his real name) and Rihanna rock "Love the Way You Lie" at the Grammys, which was nominated for Song of the Year. R&B's soulfully sleek El Debarge also made a valiant comeback this year, earning two Grammy nominations for " Second Chance" ( Best Male R & B Vocal Performance and Best R & B Song.) If last night's performances were any indication, it's going the be a great show.  (2010...

New Album From Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar, Dove Award Winner Features Special Guest Vocalists Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Take 6 Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton highlights the greatest Gospel commandment with Love God. Love People. releasing August 31 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records.  Featuring the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, the album also reveals special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin , Fred Hammond and Take 6 ’s Claude V. McKnight, III , Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble , as well as song co-writes with Meleasa Houghton , Aaron Lindsey , Tommy Sims and Michael Gungor . As a worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Israel is also known for his work as a master collaborator, drawing out the best performances from all those around him.  Having written or co-written 11 CCL...

Photo by Rick Diamond Photography The New Orleans Saints weren’t the only saints in Miami during Super Bowl Weekend. The saints came marching in to the 11th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, one of the premier events during this most celebrated weekend of the year. Grammy Award-winning CeCe Winans was joined by NFL leading quarterback Donovan McNabb (Eagles) to host the evening of inspiration and praise. The NFL PLAYERS Choir returned, wowing the audience, which included Emmitt Smith (Cowboys/Retired) and James Brown (host of CBS’ “The NFL Today”), as they sang Donnie McClurkin’s “I’m Walking in Authority,” followed by Israel’s “Friend of God.” Donnie McClurkin returned to his role as choir director joined by Israel . The choir members, both active and retired players, included Leonard Weaver, Ovie Mughelli, Michael Gaines, Tommie Harris, Bryan Scott, Stephen Nicholas, George Foster, Montell Owens, Reshard Langford, John St. Clair, Jerome Smith, Stockar McDougle, Ebenezer Ekuban...

The 2010 Grammy Awards nominations have been announced, rocognizing gospel music in 7 categories. And the nominees are: Best Gospel Performance (For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.) Free To Be Me Francesca Battistelli [Fervent Records/ Word Entertainment] Jesus Is LoveHeather Headley Featuring Smokie Norful Track from: Audience Of One[EMI Gospel] I Believe Jonny Lang With Fisk Jubilee Singers Track from: Oh Happy Day[Vector Recordings/EMI Gospel] Wait On The Lord Donnie McClurkin Featuring Karen Clark SheardTrack from: We All Are One (Live In Detroit)[Verity] Born Again Third Day Track from: Revelation[Essential Records] Best Gospel Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.) Born Again Tai Anderson, David Carr, Mark Lee & Mac Powell, songwriters (Third Day)Track from: Reve...