A trailer for Tyler Perry’s new dramedy, “For Better or Worse,” has been released.

The show stars Tasha Smith and Michael Jai White and is based on their characters Angela and Marcus from the feature film “Why Did I Get Married?”

Take a look at the video trailer below.  This is high drama and pretty funny!

Gospel music is continually evolving with fresh new songs and new artists. Now, there is a fresh approach to creating the music. Media personality Jawn Murray and EMI Gospel joined efforts to find the best unsigned artist in Gospel Music for “Jawn Murray Presents: UNTAPPED,” a music compilation set to be released on September 13, 2011.

A music competition, “Jawn Murray Presents: UNTAPPED” features 10 new gospel artists that were judged based on criteria set by EMI Gospel plus feedback by Murray, EMI Gospel executives and celebrity judges Dr. Bobby Jones (‘Bobby Jones Gospel’), singer and TV talent Lexi, Grammy-nominee VaShawn Mitchell and radio host Gerard Bonner (‘Bonnerfide Radio’).

“The competition is finally over and I believe our top 10 represent a solid collective of potential superstars from varied backgrounds and different styles of music. I’m glad to be able to use my platform to help these artists gain greater visibility and exposure in gospel music,” said Murray.

After deliberating over more than 300 submissions, the “Jawn Murray Presents: UNTAPPED” finalists are (in alphabetical order): Brian Reeves, Charles Butler & Trinity, Derrick Bull & Remnant, F’Lana, Joy Lewis, Lawrence Flowers & Intercession, Madelyn Berry, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Tobbi White-Darks and Tonia Hughes.

UNTAPPED is a compilation that is true to various styles within Gospel music. The UNTAPPED experience is a musical journey. From mass choirs, to traditional, contemporary, and pop Gospel sounds. Jawn Murray Presents UNTAPPED, showcases new unsigned artist, new songs and a new musical experience.

The excitement does not stop there. UNTAPPED is not over, one finalist from “Jawn Murray Presents: UNTAPPED” will receive the grand prize of a recording contract with EMI Gospel. That artist will be announced next year.

Actor/director/screenwriter/producer/author Tyler Perry, whose films have grossed more than $500 million worldwide, sits alone atop a new Forbes list of the highest-paid men in entertainment, beating out such contenders as Simon Cowell, Jerry Bruckheimer and Leonardo DiCaprio.

From May 2010 to May 2011, Perry raked in $130 million from a number of ventures, including his TV shows, “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne,” as well as his variety of Madea films and DVDs and his upcoming feature film role as the detective in “I, Alex Cross.”

Just behind Perry is producer Bruckheimer at $113 million, which comes from his take for the $1 billion-grossing fourth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, as well as his hand in producing a number of hit TV shows, including “The Amazing Race” and the “CSI” franchise.

Spielberg is third with $107 million, earned in part from his upcoming pair of big-budget films, “War Horse” and “The Adventures of Tintin.” Fourth is the only musician on the list, Elton John ($100 million), whose riches come from his back catalog and a world tour that grossed $204 million.

“X Factor” judge/creator Simon Cowell rounds out the top five with $90 million.

Also in the top 10: author James Patterson ($84 million), TV host Dr. Phil McGraw ($80 million), DiCaprio ($77 million), satellite radio titan Howard Stern ($76 million) and golfer Tiger Woods ($75 million).

Former American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, visited the Tom Joyner Morning Show recently to talk about the new CD, “Medicine: Live At The Black Academy of Arts & Letters” (MCG Records). Studdard sings the CD title song, “Medicine (For Someone Else).”

The project benefits youth arts programs at the non-profit Black Academy of Arts & Letters, a national institution based in Dallas, Texas.

“In a bad economy the first thing that gets cut is arts funding,” says Curtis King, founder of the 250,000 square foot complex adjacent to Dallas City Hall. “However, it’s the plays, concerts, poetry readings and other inspiring programming we offer that helps people get through rough times like these. So, we’re thrilled that these artists came together to make a CD that will raise money to help keep these programs going for our youth.”

The stars King refers to include American Idol champ Ruben Studdard who sings the title song “Medicine (For Someone Else)” that is climbing up the gospel radio charts. The majority of the songs on the13-track CD were written or co-written by Sam “Shake” Anderson – a bassist who has toured with the likes of Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield and Bruce Hornsby. It was recorded live before an ecstatic, diverse and capacity-crowd at The Black Academy. Backed by the 80-voice Black Academy Choir, the album also features performances by Ann Nesby, actress Jasmine Guy, Tommye Young West and Yarbrough & Peoples, among others. Visit http://www.tbaal.org for more information.

Amber Bullock is Sunday’s Best!  The St. Louis native won the final round against Andrea Helms with voting that was left up to the fans.  

The 2 hour Season 4 finale was packed with incredible performances by Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, VaShawn Mitchell, Lecrae, Zebulon Ellis, Jessica Reedy and Rance Allen.

There was a special tribute in honor of the late Mahalia Jackson’s 100th birthday in which past Sunday’s Best winners Y’Anna Crawley, Le’Andria Johnson, and Crystal Aikin performed.

Amber received a new Ford Explorer, a national recording contract, and a cash prize.  The contracts are now reportedly signed through Music World Gospel which Matthew Knowles owns.

This concludes another great season of Sunday’s Best where new stars were born, and powerful guest performances were seen.  I have a feeling you will be hearing from many of the contestants including Michael Pew the second runner up.  

I got a chance to talk to Michael Pew’s cousin, the best selling Gospel artist Earnest Pugh, and he insured me that Michael Pugh would not be slowing down.  The exposure of such a broadcast has catapulted many past contestants into successful careers whether they won or not.  Runner ups like Jessica Reedy, Zebulon Ellis, and Shari Addison are a few that come to mind.

Stay tuned to PATH for future interviews with several of the finalists, and congratulations to Amber Bullock!

Article Courtesy of Christian Post.com — Despite efforts to keep the 9/11 Memorial Service free of religion, invited speakers chose to read prayers and Scripture at the event. President Obama and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani read from the Bible on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City Sunday morning. Former President Bush read a letter written by Abraham Lincoln that mentions God.

Obama chose to read Psalm 46, which begins with, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (NIV).

The president arrived at the memorial site with first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, and former first lady Laura Bush. All four stood together in a moment of silence when they arrived at the memorial.

In the weeks leading up to the memorial service, controversy surrounded New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to not include religious leaders or prayers in the ceremony. On Friday, Bloomberg said that a memorial service with prayers and religious leaders would be like the government forcing religion “down people’s throats.”

Regardless of Bloomberg’s decision, prayers and religious speeches were abundant at the ceremony.

Bush, who was president at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, read from a letter written by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 to a mother who lost five sons during the Civil War.

Lincoln ended the letter saying, “I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”

Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor of New York at the time of the attacks, read from Ecclesiastes.

“The perspective that we need, and have needed, to get through the last 10 years, and the years that remain, are best expressed by the words of God as inscribed in the book of Ecclesiastes,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani then read from Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, which begins, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Read More on Christian Post.com

Pastor Jerome A. Bell will celebrate 50 years of life on September 17th, and will commemorate the blessing with a concert on Sunday, September 18th at 3pm.

The celebration will feature music from special invited guests Richard Smallwood, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, and Jimmy Russell & BOC. The host for the event is none other than the original Gospel comedian Broderick Rice. The celebration is open and FREE to the public.

“I’m extremely overwhelmed at the response thus far,” says Bell“And to be ALIVE to smell these flowers is pretty awesome!”

Pastor Jerome Bell is the recent recipient of the Presidential Civic Volunteer Citation and pin from President Barack Obama, Reverend Jerome A. Bell is a native of Washington, D.C. He has attended the University of Maryland, the University of the District of Columbia and, most recently, Washington Bible College’s Capital Bible Seminary, pursuing a Masters in Divinity. 

The event is taking place at Rehoboth Baptist Church where Rev. R. V. Palmer, II is Pastor. The address is 621 Alabama Avenue in Washington, D.C.

“I’m elated that this event is happening at Rehoboth Baptist Church,” Pastor Bell adds. “It’s a beautiful place with beautiful people.” “I’m hoping EVERYBODY will just SHOW UP!”  “We’ll have a light reception after.”  

Rev. Bell accepted the Lord as his personal savior as a 70’s teenager while attending The New Macedonia Baptist Church, the late Rev. Dr. Robert L. Walls, Sr., Pastor. Rev. Bell delivered his initial sermon in 1995, served as Senior Associate Minister at New Ephesians COGIC, Elder Jonathan Adams, Pastor, and was ordained in September 1997 by Rev. Dr. Kingsley Fletcher, President, North Carolina Bible College and Pastor of the Miracle Life Community Church in Durham, NC. Rev. Bell was also ordained by a called council of the Missionary Baptist Conference of Washington, DC and Vicinity at the request of Pastor Patrick J. Walker, current pastor of The New Macedonia Baptist Church, successor to the late Rev. Dr. Walls.  

In December 1997, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and with guidance and support from many around the U.S. and the world, Rev. Bell organized a body of people to establish the continuation of his ministry; giving birth to The Maryland Family Christian Center (“MFCC”). MFCC held its first service in January 1998. MFCC’s goal is to win souls for the Kingdom of God.  In March 2006 during the church’s eighth anniversary, Pastor Bell was presented with an honorary doctorate degree of divinity by Dr. Zamekio Jackson, President of The St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, FL.    

Pastor Bell, with a near 30 year career in the Gospel Broadcasting industry, began his broadcast profession at WYCB Radio, and continued with WDCU, WBZE and WWGB. These experiences helped to shape his ministry. Credited with being one of the few who has served as a regular host in all day-parts of radio broadcasting, Rev. Bell frequently does voice-overs for ministries and production/promotion organizations and assists numerous record companies with artist promotion. Throughout his career, he has served as Program Director, Music Director, Traffic Manager, and Chief Operating Officer, for various broadcast entities. 
Rev. Bell has been and continues to be involved in many significant programs and activities. Notable highlights: He served on President Ronald Reagan’s Campaign for the Prevention of Drunk Driving, with Michael Jackson as spokesman; he assisted in raising more than $100,000 for orphaned children as producer of a radio special for The American Adoption Agency; he is involved with numerous productions for Black Entertainment Television (BET), the Armed Forces Radio Network, The Smithsonian Institution, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (Dallas, TX), and several other notable entities. He was thrilled and honored to be a guest at the “Legends Celebration” held by Oprah Winfrey on the grounds of her California Estate, participated in the Celebration Of Gospel Music during Black Music Month hosted by President George W. Bush at the White House and is already confirmed for events at the White House under the Obama Administration.

Frequently asked to host and speak at workshops and conferences, Rev. Bell has served as a workshop clinician/speaker for the Edwin & Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Love Fellowship Seminar, the Gospel Music Workshop of America, The I Hear Music Conference, The Tehillah Music Group — under the auspicious leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton and Elder Jerry Praries of The Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship, of which he is a member, The Urban Impact Summit (founded by his attorney, James Walker) and other conferences. He served as keynote speaker for the World Gospel Fest in Barbados, was General Assembly speaker at The Gospel Heritage Conference @ New Birth Cathedral in Atlanta, GA (Bishop Eddie Long), has ministered in London, Germany, France, Italy, Salvador, Brazil, and throughout the Caribbean. For several consecutive years has ministered in several areas of Kenya, Nairobi, and Embarara, Uganda, Africa along with Pastor Jerome A. Barber (Sixth Mt Zion Temple in Hampton, VA) and assisted in the planting of a new ministry there. 

In addition, Pastor Bell is the CEO of The Bell Group & Ministries (BG&M) which represents Grammy Award Winner Lady Tramaine Hawkins. BG&M has also served Grammy Winner Richard Smallwood, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and currently assists several others. In February 2006 his first book was released: “Bridging The Gap Between the Music Department and the Pulpit” (Xulon Press). Pastor Bell already has two additional books underway.  

Pastor Bell and wife, First Lady Tonita Latrice, reside in Upper Marlboro, MD, with their five children; Tramaine Ashley, Tyrisha, Jonathan “JonJon”, Tekayla, and Tanisha.

The members of the Florida church where Zachery Tims served as senior pastor have announced a special tribute service for the late minister and have invited the public to share testimonies of how Tims impacted believers’ lives.

In an announcement dated Wednesday, Sept. 7, New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) requested tributes and testimonies on how Tims “motivated, inspired and changed” the lives of those who were exposed to his ministry.

The announcement, which was also issued through NDCC’s Twitter and Facebook pages, reads in full:

On Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the 9:00am & 11:30am services, we are having a Moving Forward Tribute Service for Pastor Zach and his legacy. It would be a honor to have your participation for this event. Please email your tributes / testimonies to charry@ndcc.tv on how Pastor Zach motivated, inspired and changed your life through the word of GOD. All emails are due no later than Thursday, September 15, 2011, Titled: TRIBUTE TO PASTOR ZACHERY TIMS.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.

-NDCC Family

The announcement, also shared on NDCC’s official Facebook page for Tims, was made on Tuesday. Visitors to the official Zachery Tims Facebook community page welcomed the tribute service and expressed continued sadness over Tims’ death.

Barbara Wade wrote, “He will [be] missed he had such compassion and love 4 people!”

“I remember my first meeting [with] him at the storefront on Silver Star. I knew I was placed in that ministry by God. He is missed,” wrote Anntoinette Jóynor Florence.

Renessia Fells said, “[W]ords can never express how much [Pastor] Zack has blessed my life, I miss him so very much yet I believe in my heart that he is in a better place 🙂 all of my Love thought’s and prayers are with his fam and loved ones and will remain with NDCC God…”

Tims, 42, was laid to rest on Aug. 20 at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Florida.

The Florida minister was found dead in his room at the W Hotel in New York on Aug. 12.

Tims served as senior pastor and CEO of NDCC in Apopka, Fla. He founded the 8,000-member church with this then-wife, Riva Tims, in 1996. The couple has four children.

As noted in the NDCC announcement, the tribute service for Tims is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. services. It was not immediately clear if the services will be broadcast live on NDCC.tv as Sunday services usually are.

Source: The Belle Report

This week saw minor movement among the Top 10 best selling Gospel albums.  Congratulations goes out to Dorinda Clark Cole, whose new album I Survived, debuts at #3. 

Isaac Carree spent last week at #1 when he debuted with his first solo project ever.  This week he moves to the #2 spot, with Kirk Franklin reclaiming the #1 position for his album, Hello Fear.  Also worth mentioning is Gospel rap artist “Pro” who spends his second week in the Top 10 at #8.  

Next week we’re expecting strong debuts from Le’Andria Johnson who was the Season 3 Sunday Best winner.  You can get more information about her album by clicking here.

Here is the full top 10…

1 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
2 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
3 | Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
4 | WOW Gospel 2011
5 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
6 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours
7 | Mary Mary – Something Big
8 | PRo – Dying to Live
9 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best Of Marvin Sapp
10 | Deitrick Haddon – Anthology: The Writer & His Music

James Fortune is at it again chronicling the making of his new CD that’s due out January 17th.  Fortune’s latest YouTube post shows him in the studio with Sunday’s Best winner Le’Andria Johnson and ZaCardi Cortez.

The video was fun to watch.  Looking dead tired, Fortune asks LeAndria Johnson and ZaCardi Cortez to sing their parts in the song.  When it comes to rifts, soul and that good Gospel sound, ZaCardi and LeAndria Johnson are at the top of my list.  

LeAndria Johnson recently released her new CD that you can purchased here.  ZaCardi has a new single out with Gospel legend John P. Kee, and is preparing for his first solo album.  

So far on the new album James Fortune has worked with some of the most notable producers in the business.  Producers mentioned are Aaron Lindsey, A’ron Lewis, J. Drew Sheard and Terence Vaughn.  Wow!  If you know anything about producers you can’t get much better than that!  

Artists so far include FIYA, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, Niki Ross, ZaCardi Cortez, LeAndria Johnson, Kim Burrell and much more to come!