Record label entrepreneur, family man, choirmaster, singer and Little League coach, Troy Sneed wears many hats in his every day life. But, when it comes to his music, he doesn’t veer far from the pulpit. His new CD, In Due Season (Emtro Gospel/Taesis), is his highest charting project yet. The album has debuted at #11 on Billboard’s gospel album sales chart. When asked to comment on this achievement, Sneed smiled and said, " All I can say is "It will come to pass in due season!"

The project features a mix of warm inspirational tunes like the jazzy "It’s My Season" and the soulful "You Remain Faithful." There’s old school churchy tracks like the up-tempo "New Day" and the ballad "Somewhere Listening." The project also includes Sneed’s Top Ten smash "work it Out" and his current single "With You Always" that has broken into the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs Top 20 chart. Then, of course, Sneed rounds the project out with his trademark praise and worship sound on "My Light" and "You remain faithful." Sneed says, "Praise and worship is a big part of my ministry. I think that’s where we are in the body of Christ right now. Those kinds of songs minister to me first. This record is real praise and worship but it’s got that contemporary edge that makes it accessible to people of all ages."

25 years after they first started making music together, brother/sister duo BeBe & CeCe Winans, part of the gospel singing Winans family and one of the most successful gospel-based acts of all time, are joining forces again for their first new music and tours in over a decade.

Check out the new video from the lead single "Close To You".

"Christian" leader, Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church, called for the death of President Obama in a sermon he gave on August 16. Pastor Steven Anderson’s hateful sermon was in reaction to the President’s position on abortion and in it he suggests that “Obama ought to be aborted.”

The very next day a black man (of all people) from Pastor Anderson’s church, shows up to an Obama event with an AR 15 assault rifle.  Later the man said that he’s proud to be a member of Pastor Anderson’s church.  Watch the video clip below, and listen to Pastors statements about 3 minutes into it.

During the highly anticipated Whitney Houston comeback concert that aired today on Good Morning America (GMA), reporter Robin Roberts shouted "she’s back and better than ever!" Whitney credited her return to her faith in God and her mother.

Many fans kept saying the pop star "never left."

One fan described Houston’s singing as "manna from heaven."

Based on Whitney’s performance today, those statements are debatable.

In the free, standing-room-only concert held in Central Park to promote her new CD, "I Look To You" Whitney was like a soldier returning from battle.  Loved ones and fans greeted her with open arms, ignoring the most obvious scars because they were just happy to see her.

Played out in front of the country in the reality show "Being Bobby Brown," Whitney’s personal war was a battle with drugs and a dysfunctional marriage to ex-husband, R&B singer Bobby Brown that was intimately explored in an exclusive Diane Sawyer interview  in which Whitney talked about drug use and  declared the often joked about phrase "crack is whack."

"I was worried for you," Sawyer who co-hosted the concert with Roberts, told Whitney about their time together seven years ago when the multi-Grammy award winning singer appeared to be at rock bottom.

"Don’t be worried anymore. If you know God then don’t be worried," promptly replied Houston.

When Sawyer asked how she got through the difficult days since the interview, Whitney responded, "My faith, the love of my family, friends, people who care about you."

She said "I Look to You," the title ballad is about her fans and God.

Her voice was strongest, with hints of the young Whitney shining through her vibrato as she belted the song in tribute to her mom Cicey Houston.

"I owe all this to my mom," Houston said of the woman who instilled a strong spiritual foundation in her.

Winded and hoarse for most of the set, in sing-along fashion, she presented a combination of classics and new cuts and her fans appeared to love every less-than-optimal minute of it even though she did not attempt the vocal ascent the she once mastered in hit songs like "Dance with Somebody" or "I Will Always Love You."

An attractive, high-energy, healthy looking 46-year-old, Whitney was present in mind, body, heart and soul, but her vocal range has all but vanished.  Traces of a voice that once belted powerfully spine tingling high notes are gone.

Houston owes her return in part to her fans’ undying loyalty.

"I’m overwhelmed.  Your love, support and prayers meant so much to me," Houston told the adoring crowd about their excitement.

In an impromptu performance of "My Love is your Love" her 16-year-old daughter Bobby Christina came on stage and demonstrated her singing potential.

Before she left the stage, Sawyer and Roberts sang and danced with Houston on "I’m Every Woman."

Whitney is back. Maybe not "better than ever," but certainly better than she has been in recent years.

Today was a preview of Whitney, the artist. On September 14 and 15 in an exclusive unrestricted interview Oprah gets up close with Whitney, the person.  The show is being billed as too big for one hour.

     "I Look to You" is available in stores and online.

When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April’s basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith … and even true love.

A heart lifting piece mixed with Perry’s signature formula of feistiness, love and heart. I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF stars Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Brian White, Hope Olaide Wilson, Adam Rodriguez, Kwesi Nii-Lante Boakye and Frederick Siglar, and features dramatic and musical performances by Gladys Knight, Marvin Winans and Mary J. Blige, who performs an original song penned by chart-topping R&B writer/performer/producer, Ne-Yo.  Due out later this year from Tyler is Why Did I Get Married Part 2.

Copy & Paste Link to View Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHJTHAbTKkw

Gospel legend Albertina Walker will be celebrating her 80th birthday with a two-day gala. A scholarship foundation named in Walker’s honor is hosting the event on August 29th in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Special guests will include Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, The Caravans, Joe Ligon, Amy Rush and Joshua’s Troop.

A second celebration concert is slated to honor the gospel legend at the Apostolic Church of God, also in Chicago, hosted by Dr. Bobby Jones and Pam Morris. That event will feature gospel icons Revs. Shirley Caesar and Donnie McClurkin with the Clark sisters, to name a few.

“Making His Band” is Sean “Puff Daddy” “Diddy” Combs latest reality show. In this spin-off of Making the Band, Diddy is looking for musicians and singers for his new album. The album is set to be different as Puff Daddy attempts to sing using talk boxes.

I found it interesting that 3 of the final contestants are strongly rooted in the Gospel community. Beginning with Chris Kee who competes for the drummer position. Chris Kee is the Son of Gospel Star John P. Kee. Mike Moore who plays keys/drums, son of the late James Moore. Also making an appearance is Gospel Producer Gerald “Rick” Robinson, who competes for the keyboard position in the band. Rick along with Gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell recently produced Bishop Larry Trotter’s new CD project.

This report broke by Path MEGAzine comes on the heels of CNN’s interview with P.J. Morton, who argues there’s nothing wrong with Gospel artists singing about love. I wonder what Puff Daddy is going to be singing about?   Making His Band airs Mondays at 10est. on MTV.  

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins, has broken her silence about his assault case, and spoken for the first time since her son left Rihanna battered and bruised in February. She speaks openly about the goodness of God, and the promises she made to God concerning her son.  Chris Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation, 6 months community service, anger management classes, and ordered to stay away from singer Rihanna for 5 years.

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins Statement:

         I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you for your continued support. I’m sorry I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone as this case was on going. I can now say this has been the most painful moment in my entire life, but knowing that you were still standing by Chris’ side in his time of need made this a little easier for us. Because of all your prayers God brought him through. I just want to say God has never failed me and never will. All moms and dads please stand by your children and pray for their goodness each and everyday. Chris and I love you so much, as the tears fall from my eyes and the pain lingers in my heart I still say thank you God, thank you thank you almighty God. If any of you wonder why I continue to speak of God it’s because I know no other way. I made a promise to him I would never be ashamed of him no matter where I am or who I talk to. You see this whole thing isn’t about Chris it’s about God. He wants to show all of you the goodness of him through Chris. Chris will be addressing all of his fans very soon. We love you so much and so does God. "

Thank you.

L.A. County coroner’s officials found lethal levels of the powerful anesthetic propofol after examining Michael Jackson’s body, according to a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The search warrant states that Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, told Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to the court records.

But Murray told detectives he felt Jackson was becoming addicted to the substance and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson’s death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol.

 On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn’t work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam.

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adams at Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

Grammy, Dove, and Stellar award winning writer P.J. Morton promoted his new book on CNN last Sunday. P.J. Morton is the son of Mega-Church Pastor’s Paul S. Morton and Debra Morton. The debate is centered on P.J. Morton’s new book, "Why Can’t I Sing About Love?" with the sub-topic being "The Truth about the Church against Secular Music."

P.J. explains on CNN that there is a place for love songs and a place for Gospel music. None of which are against the word of God. Former R & B artist and now Gospel artist Tye Tribbett was also on CNN opposing P.J. Morton saying, "No man can serve to masters." "At some point you’re not going to be comfortable doing both, and I couldn’t."

In The Gospel View’s interview found on The Path MEGAzine, Tye expanded on his CNN statements saying, "There’s a purpose for love songs, but I don’t believe they should be sung in the church." Now both camps are hitting the Internet blogs, and social networking sites claiming to be in the right. Who do you think is right? Visit www.thegospelview.com episode 10 for the Tye Tribbett interview.

 UPDATE: P.J. Morton’s Response to Tye’s Comments and Critics