Nominations for the 40th annual Grammy Awards were announced Jan. 6 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. The awards will be presented Feb. 25 during a live telecast over the CBS network, to an international viewing audience of over 1.5 billion in 190 countries.
Some 460 nominations in 92 categories were announced, including a number involving the Christian music industry. Gospel artist and producer Kirk Franklin received four Grammy nominations.
Ballots for the final round of voting, which will determine this year’s winners, will be mailed January 14th to the Recording Academy’s 9000-plus voting members, consisting of vocalists, musicians, producers, composers, engineers and others who have contributed creatively or technically to recordings.
The nominees include:
Rock Gospel Album: All Star United by All Star United; Welcome to the Freak Show: dc Talk Live in Concert by dc Talk; Threads by Geoff Moore & the Distance; Smalltown Poets by Smalltown Poets; and Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day.
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Under the Influence by Anointed; This Gift by Gary Chapman; Much Afraid by Jars of Clay; Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus by Petra; and Star Bright by Vanessa Williams.
Southern Gospel, Country Gospel Or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Keep Lookin’ Up: The Texas Swing Sessions by James Blackwood & the Light Crust Doughboys; Back Home In Indiana by the Gaither Vocal Band; Light of the World by The Martins; and Amazing Grace 2: A Country Salute to Gospel by various artists.
Traditional Soul Gospel Album: A Miracle in Harlem by Shirley Caesar; I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray by Fairfield Four; Woman, Thou Art Loosed! Songs Of Healing And Restoration by T.D. Jakes; Live in Charleston by Mighty Clouds of Joy; and Live in Detroit by Vickie Winans.
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Come Walk With Me by Oleta Adams; Pray by Andrae Crouch; Donnie McClurkin by Donnie McClurkin; Grace and Mercy by Marvin Sapp; and Brothers by Take 6.
Gospel Album By A Choir Or Chorus: Favorite Song of All by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir; God’s Property From Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation by God’s Property; He’s Still Good! by the Rev. Milton Brunson’s Thompson Community Singers; Live in London at Wembley by Love Fellowship Crusade Choir; and Time For Healing by Sounds of Blackness.
Some recordings with religious significance were nominated in other categories as well. Bob Carlisle’s surprise hit “Butterfly Kisses” was nominated as “Best Country Song.” Former President Jimmy Carter’s Living Faith was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Spoken Word Album” category. Kirk Franklin was nominated for producer of the year for producing God’s Property From Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation. And Keith Thomas received a producer of the year nod for his work in a number of albums, including Amy Grant’s Behind the Eyes.
– E.P. News
