Contemporary Christian Music super group Casting Crowns recently received notification of its first career RIAA certified double Platinum album. Casting Crowns, the band’s 2005 debut release, is one of only eight Christian projects ever to achieve 2x multi-Platinum status.

Joining the elite ranks of other 2x multi-Platinum Christian CDs including Satellite (P.O.D.), The Beautiful Letdown (Switchfoot) and Almost There (MercyMe), Casting Crowns was the band’s breakthrough album, spawning Gold single “Who Am I,” while making Casting Crowns a household name. The group has since become one of the most decorated acts in Christian music, reigning as Billboard’s top-selling CCM artist since 2007.

“I’m honored to work alongside Mark Hall and Casting Crowns, and congratulate them on such an incredible milestone. Their record was a game changer for Provident and CCM music and continues to minister to listeners,” notes Provident Music Group President & CEO, Terry Hemmings.

The news comes on the heels of one of Casting Crowns’ most successful tours to date, the “Come to the Well” tour, and recent recognition as Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album (Come To The Well) at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.

About Casting Crowns Prolific CCM music group Casting Crowns boasts a tally of one RIAA 2x multi-Platinum record, three RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, five RIAA Gold albums, two Gold DVDs and three Gold digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

The group has also been honored with two American Music Awards, out of six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards, 14 GMA Dove Awards, two 2012 Billboard Music Awards and four total Billboard Music Award nominations.

Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services; the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K. (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).

Casting Crowns recently concluded its 43-city “Come to the Well” spring tour, which saw 40 arena sellouts. Combined, both the fall and spring tour legs drew attendance exceeding 370,000 with more than 65,500 child sponsorships through the group’s partnership with Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision.

For more information on Casting Crowns visit: www.castingcrowns.com, www.facebook.com/castingcrowns, www.twitter.com/castingcrowns or follow Mark Hall’s Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.

Season 2 of Mary Mary’s reality show on WE tv definitely looks appealing to say the least.  By the looks of things, there’s more drama and big decisions looming for the sisterly duo.

In the sneak peek previews below, Tina and Erica entertain the thought of strippers.  And fights are ready to break out between their other sister GooGoo’s boyfriend and manager Mitchell Solarek.

The show picks up when Tina was 7 months pregnant, and advances into present day when Tina has her baby.

Look at the preview below.  Will you be watching?

Alexis Spight and Joshua Rogers are the last two standing in the Season 5 Sunday Best competition.

The young electric singers beat out more experienced hopefuls to get the chance at winning the coveted Sunday Best crown. The winner will get a 2013 Ford Escape, and a recording contract with Music World Gospel.

106 & Park was a chance for them to take the Gospel to a young secular audience, and the pair did it admirably.

You can preview their final two performances and submit your vote for one of them by following the information below. BET will announce the winners Sunday.

Throughout the year, Chicago Mass Choir gives back to the community and they are always honored to serve their own Chicago community. The choir is also very concerned about the youth and their future in the community and across the country.

On Saturday, September 1st, Chicago Mass Choir will join Robin Robinson of FOX News and Yvonne Wesley of WGBX radio for the Englewood “Live” a free stop-the-violence music concert and festival community event.

Chicago Mass Choir will serve as one of the musical guests during the festival along with a comedy showcase, performing arts presentations, social service information, and recreational activities for children.

The Englewood “Live” outdoor concert and festival is sponsored by the Englewood Community Council and Genesis Productions. The outdoor event will be held on the campus of Englewood High School located at 6201 South Stewart Avenue at 6:30 p.m.

Chicago Mass Choir supports the sponsor’s goal to expose the positive side of Chicago and the Englewood community. The goal is to also re-ignite a spirit of family values and community pride as they celebrate the people and future of the community.

Chicago Mass Choir President, Dr. Feranda Williamson shared her heart about the community, “It was truly an “honor” to be asked to participate in the “stop the violence” gospel music concert! I strongly believe in the power of prayer and pray that through our music ministry and other groups/choirs that will be a part of the outdoor concert that a word or message through song will inspire those that do not know Christ to give their lives to serving God and to stop the senseless killings of our youth and illegal drug activities that have infested our communities. We still believe that PRAYER works!”

Chicago Mass Choir Presents “XV”-Live CD/DVD is available in stores and online.

Anthony Brown & group therAPy’s self-titled debut album lands at Number 3 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Chart. Released last week to critical and consumer acclaim, this week’s charts prove Anthony Brown & group therAPy is a bonafide hit.

The CD also charted on the Christian & Gospel Albums Chart at Number 6 and to Number 130 on the Top 200 Chart.

Brown, a well-known songwriter, producer and vocal arranger, celebrated with an album release concert at his home church in Maryland and continues to be on the road this week in support of the album.

Driving the success of the album is the project’s first single, “Testimony.” Since its introduction to radio a few months ago, “Testimony” has stood out. Anthony Brown and group therAPy truly shine on this smash currently number 15 on Billboard’s gospel singles chart.

Anthony Brown & group therAPy’s eponymous CD offers contemporary gospel alongside praise & worship tunes with flawless vocals and melodies. group therAPy’s incomparable vocal ability are what make this album a must-have.

Gospelpundit.com described the CD as “so refreshing, so diverse, and so excellent,” and Root Magazine called it “a breath of fresh air.” The Gospel According To Torrence said “Anthony Brown and group therAPy bring a new and needed level of class and precision to modern gospel.”

Brown is a prolific songwriter and vocal producer with several production and writing credits under his belt. Among others, he was responsible for penning Maurette Brown-Clark’s number 1 hit “It Ain’t Over.”

Currently, Brown is finishing up his week-long east coast promotional tour which will culminate with a guest appearance at VaShawn Mitchell’s CD Release Party in Charlotte, NC.

Anthony Brown & group therAPy is available in stores and online now.  Click Here to Preview and Purchase CD.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr. will be removed from the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman by order of a ruling made today. The Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach granted this request made by Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, who did not believe Lester could be fair to his client. Lester set Zimmerman’s bail at $1 million during a July 5 bond hearing. That hearing was scheduled after Zimmerman had been taken back into custody after previously being released on a $150,000 bond.

During his original April 20 bond hearing, Zimmerman’s family members depicted themselves under oath as being destitute. Subsequent evidence submitted to Judge Lester revealed that Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, in reality had $130,000 in assets. Lester ordered Zimmerman back to jail to await a new hearing in order to set a bond amount appropriate to the couple’s means. Shellie Zimmerman has since been charged with perjury for testifying on April 20 that she and her husband were penniless. Documentation shows she and her husband had been moving portions of the $130,000 they had collected from supporters between various accounts.

Judge Lester took the occasion of the second hearing to give his opinion of Zimmerman and his wife misleading the court. At the July 5 hearing, “the judge set Zimmerman’s bond at $1 million but also accused him of showing ‘blatant disregard for the judicial system’ and ‘manipulating the system for his own benefit,’” according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled that these statements were an indication that Judge Lester should be removed.

“Although many of the allegations in Zimmerman’s motion [for a new judge], standing alone, do not meet the legal sufficiency test, and while this is admittedly a close call,” the appelate panel stated in its opinion, “upon careful review we find that the allegations, taken together, meet the threshold test of legal sufficiency.”

Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson is likely to take over the case if this ruling stands.

While attempts were made to reach out for comment to Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda, who is prosecuting Zimmerman’s case, his office declined to comment.

Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, responded, “We appreciate the appellate court reviewing our petition and we believe it is the correct decision,” in a statement released to the press.

George Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen, in Sanford, Florida on February 26. His immediate release under Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law, which does not require retreat from a deadly threat, sparked protests nationwide demanding Zimmerman’s arrest. Zimmerman was arrested six weeks after the fatal incident.