Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Cheri Keaggy is set to unveil her most vulnerable album to date, So I Can Tell, on July 10. The first CD since her independent 2007 release, Because He First Loved Us, Keaggy draws on the encouragement of Scripture and her utter reliance on the comforting power of God to create an honest, engaging recording that is reflective of her emergence from a difficult season in life.

“Out of the trials of the past months, I feel like God has given me some gold,” Keaggy says of the new songs. “Now it’s time for me to pour it out.”

Under the guidance of Gospel Music Hall of Famer and legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy, Cheri Keaggy called on the combined talents of Scott Dente and Ken Lewis from Global Genius Productions to produce the new record. The combination of rich, acoustic sounds with Cheri Keaggy’s signature plaintive vocals and searingly honest lyrics results in a project that confronts life’s realities, even when filled with despair, and offers listeners the way to navigate through the challenges to a place of hope through Christ.

“Cheri’s new CD is a real blessing on many levels and these songs are among my favorite Cheri songs,” says Phil Keaggy. “They are brimming with heart and truth. There is a deep passion in her lyrics that truly touches the soul of the listener. Cheri really shines on this masterful collection of her original material. This CD will touch you and lift you with hope.”

Penned following the end of her nearly 23-year marriage to her high school sweetheart, So I Can Tell is a testimony of God’s goodness in the midst of pain and suffering. Like a modern day psalmist, Keaggy’s lyrics express grief, loneliness, and God’s comfort in the contemporary hymns “Bind Me To You,” “There Will Be One Day” and the arresting “Hello, God.” She echoes the apostle Paul in the memorable piano ballad “To Live is Christ” and celebrates Christ’s provision in the ukulele-based crowd favorite “Air, Food, and Water.”

Through an accessible folk-pop presentation, the album leaves listeners with a renewed sense that God is with us, no matter what. So I Can Tell is filled with the radio-ready songs for which Keaggy is known and loved. Her lush vocals lovingly caress piano ballads like the title cut and the haunting “When You Were Jesus To Me.” Her voice takes on a lilting quality in the hope-infused “Starting a New Year Today,” written on the one-year anniversary of her divorce. As an added bonus, guitar maestro Phil Keaggy closes the album with the peace-evoking benediction “Postlude: Invitation to Hope.”

Cheri Keaggy partnered with her fans to raise the capital for the new project through the innovative Kickstarter “crowd-funding” business model. Keaggy joins Christian musicians such as Shaun Groves and John Schlitt, and Christian filmmaker Steve Taylor (Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz ), who also used the service to fund their most recent projects.

“I never would have had the courage to launch Kickstarter if I hadn’t already experienced God working so mightily on my behalf through the body of Christ,” says Keaggy. “Somehow I knew if God was in this music, then it would be no trouble at all for Him to supply the resources to make it happen. He truly is bringing ‘beauty from ashes’ with this project.”

About Cheri Keaggy:
Cheri Keaggy began her career as a worship leader at a small church in Southern California before recording her debut album on Sparrow Records, Child of the Father , in 1994. Honored with a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year, Cheri has gone on to record seven additional albums, resulting in nine No. 1 songs, three Dove Award nominations and a Dove Award win. After more than two decades in music, her ministry has expanded to include speaking engagements as well.

For more information on Cheri Keaggy and So I Can Tell , visit cherikeaggy.com . Follow Cheri Keaggy on Twitter ( @cherikeaggy ) or on Facebook by choosing “like” at the Cheri Keaggy Fan Page ( facebook.com/cherikeaggy ). Fans also can read Cheri Keaggy’s weekly blog at www.cherikeaggy.com.

When news broke last week that Jill Scott had a brief Twitter beef with two of the Braxtons over ‘Mary Mary’s’ new reality show, many wondered when the Philadelphia singer became such a fan of the gospel duo. However a recently released clip is shedding light on the situation and showing that Scott and the Mary’s are actually really good friends.

As previously reported Tamar Braxton took offense at Scott encouraging fans to watch Mary Mary’s reality program which she dubbed a “real representation” on WE tv. After being questioned by both Tamar and her sister Towanda, an obviously not amused Scott defused the situation saying, “You can’t be talking to me” and left the Braxtons speechless.

Before the Twitter mishap, Scott attended a baby shower for Erica Atkins-Campbell who was pregnant with her third child and serenaded her with a song.

It was just announced that WE-TV is bringing the sisters back for a second season.  So the reality show must be doing pretty well.  “Mary Mary” airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on WE tv. The season one finale airs on Thursday, May 31 at 9 pm, ET/PT. 

Congratulations to Mary Mary! Their hit reality show has been renewed for a second season and their set to begin filming later this month. The second season is set to include 10 one-hour episodes to air in early 2013.

The sister act consisting of Erica and Tina Campbell revealed the news, Wednesday morning, (May 9) on Good Morning America while promoting their new album titled Go Get It, which features remixes and additions to their previous hits along with a few new tracks including the single “Go Get It.”

The successful show MARY MARY has been viewed by 11.1 million total viewers since its premiere on March 29, and is delivering three times WE tv’s prime time female viewership. The season one finale airs on Thursday, May 31 at 9 pm, ET/PT.

The second season will follow the sisters through the birth of Tina’s fifth child, their latest album release – “Go Get It” – a family wedding, a cross-country album tour and countless appearances and events, all while balancing their busy, growing families. “”We’re super excited about season 2 — more music, more mommying, more husbands, more Goo Goo, Mitchell and Ms. Honey, and definitely more fun and chaos, says Mary Mary.!”

WE (Women’s Entertainment) TV’s demographic has always been women, but the network is now providing more programming aimed at African American women. We TV’s senior vice president of original production and development Lauren Gellert says, “The success of ‘Mary Mary’ is both a testament to the engaging personalities of Erica and Tina and to WE tv’s programming strategy of catering to an underserved audience of African American women. Coupled with ‘Braxton Family Values’ and the upcoming series ‘LA Hair’ and ‘Tamar & Vince,’ ‘Mary Mary’ is yet another opportunity for WE tv to serve this valuable audience and provide opportunities to our advertising and distribution partners to engage with them as well.”

Budding Gospel star Micah Stampley (Interface Entertainment) and Mathew Knowles’ Music World have mutually agreed to dissolve their business relationship.  This partnership resulted in the release of the compilation CD “Release Me” and the October 2011, critically acclaimed album, “One Voice.”  The two companies came together in June 2010.  

Stampley had this to say, “On behalf of Heidi and I and the Interface Entertainment Group of Companies, we sincerely thank Mr. Mathew Knowles and the Music World family. We wish them continued success and look forward to all the things God has in store for us in the future to come.” -Micah Stampley 

A representative for the Micah Stampley camp added “I am honored to assist and represent such an incredible and talented client like Mr. Micah Stampley as he and his brilliant wife Mrs. Heidi Stampley continue to build the Interface label and related ministries and brands. We close out a great chapter with Music World and begin a new Season even bigger and better! -Atty. James Walker

Stampley’s career took off after winning the Stellar Awards Gospel Star Search, when he caught the attention of Bishop T.D. Jakes.  Jakes would eventually sign the singer and the two also dissolved their partnership within a few years.

For more information on Micah Stampley please visit:

www.micahstampley.org

info@micahstampley.org

Twitter: @micahstampley 

Photo (L-R): Jeff Roberts, Jeff Roberts & Associates, President; Jason McArthur, Provident Label Group, VP of A&R; Brian Scoggins, Casting Crowns, Drummer; Mike Jay, Proper Management, Artist Manager; Hector Cervantes, Casting Crowns, Lead Guitar/BGV; Melody DeVevo, Casting Crowns, Violin/Cello/BGV; Megan Garrett, Casting Crowns, Piano/BGV; Juan DeVevo, Casting Crowns, Guitar/BGV; Chris Huffman, Casting Crowns, Bass/BGV; Mark Hall, Casting Crowns, Lead Vocals; Chris Farnsworth, KSBJ Special Events Promoter; Joe Piver, Jeff Roberts & Associates, Senior Agent; Richard Silva, KSBJ Special Events Sr. Event Manager; Jeff Young, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, Vice President of Operations. Photo by: MFL Photography

Best-selling Christian music artist Casting Crowns wraps the spring leg of its 42-city “Come To The Well” tour. With one of its most successful tours to date, Casting Crowns’ final show alone saw a sold-out audience of more than 16,000 attendees.

Following a hugely successful fall run, including more than 15 sell-out performances, playing before 155,000+ people, the spring leg kicked off Feb. 9, in Florence, S.C. Among its scheduled 42 shows, the tour hit arenas in major markets like New York City, Grand Rapids, Mich., Orlando, Fla., Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Birmingham, Ala., St. Louis, Mo., Minneapolis and Houston, among others.

The closing date in Houston on Saturday, May 5, marked Casting Crowns’ highest-grossing and most well-attended show ever with 16,000+ concert-goers. Director of KSBJ Special Events, Chris Farnsworth, who promoted the event, comments, “KSBJ Radio was thrilled to host Casting Crowns’ ‘Come To The Well’ tour this weekend. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion was the perfect venue to see over 16,000 members of the Gulf Coast community come together to make this the biggest audience of Casting Crowns’ career.”

A final tally of tour numbers for both fall and spring legs indicate cumulative attendance exceeding 370,000 with 40 sold-out dates making Casting Crowns’ “Come To The Well” tour one of the most successful Christian artist tours of all time.

About Casting Crowns: All of Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, five RIAA Gold Albums, two Gold DVDs and three Gold digital singles (“Who Am I,” “Praise You In This Storm,” “East to West”). 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, with six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards, 14 GMA Dove Awards and four 2012 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 42-city “Come to the Well” spring tour, which saw 40 arena sellouts, more than 370,000 in attendance (across the 40-city fall leg and spring dates combined) and has generated more than 13,000 child sponsorships through its 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.

Whitney Houston’s mother has released a new album of gospel tunes, her first new music since her daughter’s death and in more than a decade.

Cissy Houston’s “Walk on By Faith” was released by Harlem Records on iTunes this week and includes songs such as “Living Shall Not Be In Vain.”

Harlem Records rep Bill Coyle said Wednesday her last album was in 1997. He says she started working on the album last year and musically arranged all four tracks.

Cissy Houston has kept a low profile since her superstar daughter died in February, giving just one interview.

Whitney Houston was 48 when she drowned in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel bathtub on the eve of the Grammy Awards. An autopsy showed cocaine played a role in her death.

Click Here to preview the CD on I-Tunes.

The Queen of Soul is adding another jewel to her crown. Aretha Franklin is being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

She’s will be inducted on Aug. 14 in Hendersonville, Tenn., along with contemporary Christian singer Dallas Holm, Love Song, bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, family group The Hoppers and the late TV evangelist Rex Humbard.

Aretha Franklin’s father was a Baptist minister. Her 1972 album, “Amazing Grace,” has sold over 2 million copies and is one of the best-selling Gospel albums of all time.

This is only the latest in a long list of honors for the 70-year-old singer. In 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and roll hall of Fame. She also is among Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 best singers of all time.

The Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in 1971. More than 150 members have been inducted, including Amy Grant, Pat Boone, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley.

Tyler Perry is relieved that the fire that hit his multi-million dollar studio was not worse then it was.  The 4-alarm fire was limited to one building, and Tyler Perry seems poised to re-build.

In a statement below Perry makes no mention of what started the blaze, and it appears that the investigation is on-going.

Atlanta firefighters responded immediately to a fire which damaged the backlot façade of one of the buildings at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. We are grateful that there were no injuries, and that 99 percent of the damage is limited to the backlot facade. Mr. Perry wishes to express his heartfelt thanks to the Atlanta fire department for their professionalism in their quick response and limiting the damage. 

The flames were extinguished within an hour, many firefighters remained for several hours putting out hot spots. Several units were still there around midnight conducting a damage assessment, including salvage and overhaul.

Perry was at his Continental Colony Parkway complex Tuesday night and spoke with Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, but did not talk to reporters gathered nearby, Bundrige said. Employees leaving the studio grounds after the fire told reporters they were instructed not to speak to the media.

One witness present at the fire described the scene.  “It was all in flames,” a near-by resident said. “The building started popping. Whatever the fire was hitting, was blowing up. There were plenty of sparks coming over here where we are.”  “The flames shot as high as the nearby trees, roughly six stories in height.”

The 200,000-square foot studio, which opened in 2008, is home to sets, sound stages and a 400-seat theater. In March, Perry hosted a fundraiser for President Barack Obama at the studio.

Perry has worked as director, writer, producer, actor and playwright. His film credits include “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Meet the Browns” and “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” His latest movie, “Madea’s Witness Protection,” is scheduled to open June 29.