The 2011 Trumpet Awards— held this past Saturday, January 29th, at the Cobb Energy Center —  honored U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, civil rights leader Al Sharpton, and Radio One CEO Alfred D. Liggins III.  The awards were hosted by husband-and-wife actors Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe, and TV personality Niecy Nash, and are scheduled to be broadcast in April 24 on TV One.

The annual event, hosted this year at Hyatt Regency Atlanta,  honors African-Americans who contribute significantly to “the cause of justice and equality,” the Trumpet Awards have been held since 1993 and have honored in the past luminaries such as Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, Henry “Hank” Aaron, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Michael Jordan.

The full list of this year’s honorees are:

• Al Sharpton • Civil rights
• Chief Justice Georgina Wood • International
• Richard Roundtree • Arts
• Judge Greg Mathis • Humanitarian
• Paula Madison • Corporate leadership
• Alfred C. Liggins III • Media
• The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. • Legal
• Drs. Andre, Keith & Kevin Churchwell • Medicine
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial • President’s Award
• The O’Jays • Music

In addition, the Trumpet Awards will be inducting a group of people onto its Walk of Fame. They are:

• Arthur Blank • Entrepreneur/Philanthropist
• Bishop Barbara L. King • Minister/Civil Rights Activist
• Mayor Carl Stokes • First Black mayor
• Henry “Hank” Thomas • Original freedom fighter
• James Brown • Singer/performer
• Leon Hall • Civil rights activist
• Congressman Louis Stokes • Ohio’s First Black Congressman
• Marc H. Morial • CEO, National Urban League
• Bishop Neil C. Ellis • Minister/Civil Rights Activist
• Dr. Gerald L. Durley

Special guest performances including Charlie Wilson, Ledisi, James Ingram featuring Atlanta Poet Hank Stewart, Melvin M. Miller, Angela Brown featuring Richard Smallwood, Stax Academy of Music All Stars, Eric Benet, Silk featuring Angie Stone, Kelly Price & Kandi Burruss, and NFL Players Choir featuring Donnie McClurkin & Myron Butler.

Be sure to visit http://trumpetfoundation.org/to learn more about the honorees past and present.  You can view the Trumpet Awards April 26 on TV 1 or sooner in select cities.  Visit the Trumpet website for additional times that begin airing March 27th.

Jessica Reedy (“Sunday Best” Season 2 Runner Up) signed with Light Records in the Fall of 2010 and her debut cd is scheduled for release August 16, 2011. Reedy’s single “God Has Smiled On Me” peaked at #1 just 24 hours after its release on I-Tunes and #22 on overall Christian & Gospel singles charts.

Jessica Reedy recently performed on The Celebration of Gospel and her performance even got the attention of gospel legend John P. Kee who tweeted, “Jessica Reedy ladies and gentlemen! Low Range Yes! Wow! Where have I been? Sista Sista Sista! @JessicaReedy need an autograph! LOL.”

Take a listen below to Jessica’s rendition of the Gospel classic “God Has Smiled on Me.” You can Purchase Jessica’s single on I-Tunes by clicking here.

Also Read: Kirk Franklin Releases Second Single Off Upcoming Album Called “I Smile”

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“Stay on the Path!”

The artist formerly known as TONEX is now going by “B-Slade.”  Now openly gay and still performing his trademark Gospel music.  His clothing and hair-styles are just as attention getting as ever.  His performances still electrifying.

The crowd at the Bonnerfide Radio Party found this out.  The Bonnerfied Radio Party took place January 14, 2011, and was one of the events everyone was looking forward to before the Stellar Awards kicked off in Nashville, TN.

Tonex performed many hits off his signature album “Out the Box,” as well as some new tunes.  However everyone was not pleased to see him still ministering the Gospel in light of his preferred lifestyle choice.  Some time ago Tonex announced on the Lexi show that he was gay, putting to rest years of speculation.  The uproar was intensified by his reasoning and justification of his lifestyle choice. 

The party, which took place at Limelight Entertainment Complex during Stellar Awards weekend, was packed full of Gospel industry people and there were some great performances from the likes of Ted Winn, Onitsha, and Jonathan Nelson.  In attendance was a who’s who list including Brian Courtney Wilson, Jessica Reedy, Da Truth and many more.  On this night some of the audience left, but the majority seemed engaged in his performance.  Some were offended and made their way toward the exit signs.  Not understanding how he could continue to spread the Gospel.

“We love life, amazing music, and amazing people. His gift is timeless and limitless. He’s part of our family and we love him,” added Bonner.

At the event PATH recorded the only video-taped interview with B-Slade.  The interview will be featured on the cover of February’s issue.  In it B-Slade tells us what B-Slade means.  He answers whether or not he feels homosexuality is a sin.  He talks about the people who stood by his side, and the ones that left him.  Find out what type of music he’s making now.  It’s TONEX or B-Slade like you’ve never seen him.  Look out for it!

So what do you all think?  Are you supporting B-Slade?

Perhaps pressure from media and social networks caused Joel Osteen to finally call homosexuality a sin.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, airing on CNN, January 26th, Joel Osteen goes further than he ever has on the subject of homosexuality.  Many felt Osteen has been skating around the issue by saying on numerous occasions that “homosexuality was not God’s best,” a statement that does not go far enough to many Christians.  Shows like “The View” and the Larry King Show have tried to get Joel to stop straddling the fence on the issue, and take a defining stance.  Christians on YouTube and web-shows like The Gospel View.com have debated the statement stirring up opinions in the Christian community.  Host Piers Morgan is the replacement for the recently retired Larry King.

Piers mentions that Elton John is his friend and asks Joel Osteen if he believed that Elton John was a sinner for having a gay partner?  Joel said yes, and mentions that there are many sins in the bible, and he is judging no one.  Boldly, Piers Morgan says that Joel is judging, referencing the over 8 million people that watch Joel Osteen on television to make his argument.

Later, Joel would sorrowfully state that there are things that he doesn’t understand about the issue.

As a media outlet it was clear to see that Piers Morgan was looking for the headline in the interview.  Something that was sure to stir up the internet and media outlets.  He got that by bombarding Joel with situational questions that related to the homosexual lifestyle.  He added opinions of people being born gay, seemingly trying to see if Joel would approve or disagree with him to add to the debate and audience backlash. 

The gay lifestyle is becoming more and more un-popular to speak out against, and increasingly accepted as a part of society.  Many preachers are softening their stance on the issue to keep their pews occupied.  We can only wonder what the impact of Joel Osteen’s interview will be but one thing’s clear, Joel will continue to field questions on the topic even more by making clear his position.  Christians will continue to have heavy hearts on the issue prompting televangelists to answer tough questions. 

Do you agree with Joel?  Was he bold enough with his position on the issue?  Is being Gay still a sin?  The last time I went to bible study we couldn’t pick and choose what we wanted to believe out of the bible.  What are your thoughts?

Here’s a sneak peek of Whitney Houston performing “I Look to You” with Kim Burrell on the upcoming Celebration of Gospel concert.   

Whitney Houston gets a lot of love from the Gospel community, and rightfully so after all that she has been through.  Her voice will probably never be the same, but you can tell she believes what she is singing.  Kim Burrell is being installed as Pastor in February, and she’s having a huge concert to celebrate.  Click Here for details on that.  The Celebration of Gospel airs Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 8/7c on BET.

Ricky Dillard has announced that the first single from his upcoming album will be “God Is Great.”  The album is due out in April of this year on Light Records.  Dilliard posted a YouTube link to the tune via his Twitter account over the weekend.  What do you think of the song?

Kirk Franklin released the second song off his upcoming album scheduled for release March 22, 2011. The First single “I Am” is getting raving reviews. Check out the second single “I Smile” below. What do you think?  Check out the first single “I Am” by clicking here.

Also Read: Kirk Franklin’s New Single “I Am”

Word has it Tye Tribbett and Wess Morgan will be on the Monique Show.  Pastor Wess Morgan is currently in Billboards Top 5 for the song “I Choose to Worship.”  Tye Tribbett is riding the wave of his first solo CD release “Fresh.”  Tune into BET Thursday to Check Tye & Wess Out!

Also Read: Steve Harvey’s Ex-Wife Takes to YouTube to Air Dirty Laundry