Casting Crowns sets record with latest debut, Until The Whole World Hears
Casting Crowns rocked the music charts this week with with the blockbuster debut of the band's fourth studio album, Until The Whole World Hears. The album scanned 167,432 copies its first week, making it No. 1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Current Contemporary Christian Album Chart and No. 4 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. That makes Casting Crowns the third strongest album debut in the nation on Billboard's Top 200 Chart, behind John Mayer and Norah Jones. How awesome is t

Mary Mary nominated for three 2009 Soul Train Awards; show airs November 29
Gospel duo Mary Mary follow up their American Music Award win with three 2009 Soul Train Award nominations. The hottest sister act in gospel music are nominated for Best Gospel Performance (Male, Female or Group), along with BeBe and CeCe Winans, Fred Hammon/John P Kee, Marvin Sapp, and Smokie Norful. Mary Mary is also nominated for Best Collaboration, with Kierra (KiKi) Sheard, as well as Song of the Year, both for the song "God in Me." The 2009 Soul Train Awards air on BE

American Idol's Scott MacIntyre joins Alice Cooper for Christmas Pudding
American Idol's Scott MacIntyre will join Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, December 18. Also appearing will be Dee Snider, Warrant, Lita Ford, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Gary Mule Deer, Runaway Phoenix, River of Life Choir, ventriliquist Ronn Lucas and world champion magician Murry Sawchuk. Brad Perry will be the MC for evening and will perform with his band, Acoustic Fingerprints. The event is an annual fundraiser

American Music Awards: Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson sweep awards
Country cutie Taylor Swift and pop legend Michael Jackson swept last night's 2009 American Music Awards. Jackson received posthumous awards for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album in both the Pop/Rock and Sou/Rhythm & Blues categories. Swift took home honors as Favorite Female Artist in the Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, and Country categories, as well as Favorite Album in the Country category. Swift also took home the night's highest honor, Artist of the Yea

Adam Lambert's American Music Awards performance: not ready for prime time?
Adam Lambert closed out last night's American Music Awards show with a performance that may have left viewers wondering if they were watching ABC or the S&M network. (If there is such a thing.) His performance of his song "For Your Entertainment" included feeling up one of the dancers in the ... er ... crotch, overt S&M references, and a full on male/male kiss. Generally not unusual for today's rock performers, but ... Seriously? On prime time television? As regular readers know I can't stand watching awards shows. I'd rather clean the litter box. But if this is an example of what I missed last night, I'm glad Murphy has clean litter and I went to bed ear