Nominations for the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards were recently announced in Hollywood with Casting Crowns receiving three nods. The band’s song “East to West” was recognized for Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song, and the group’s album, The Altar and The Door (Beach Street Records, Provident-Integrity), was nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. The Clark Sisters also garnered three GRAMMY nominations.
In the Best Gospel Performance category, nominees—besides “East to West”—were “Blessed & Highly Favored” by The Clark Sisters, “Never Gonna Break My Faith” by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, “With Long Life” by Israel and New Breed and “He Set My Life to Music” by CeCe Winans.
For Best Gospel Song songwriters, nominees—in addition to Mark Hall and Bernie Herms for “East to West”—were “Blessed & Highly Favored” by Karen Clark-Sheard, “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence, “Made to Love” by Cary Barlowe, Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore and Aaron Rice, and “Praise on the Inside” by James Moss.
In the Rock or Rap Gospel Album category, nominees were Before the Daylight’s Shot (204 Records) by Ashley Cleveland, HIStory: Our Place in His Story (Cross Movement Records) by The Cross Movement, Open Book (Cross Movement Records) by Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Reckoning (Flicker Records) by Pillar and Comatose (Atlantic/Lava/Ardent/INO) by Skillet.
For Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, nominees—besides The Altar and The Door—were A Deeper Level (Integrity Music) by Israel and New Breed, True Beauty (Sparrow Records) by Mandisa, Stand (Reunion Records) by Michael W. Smith and Portable Sounds (ForeFront Records) by Toby Mac.
Nominees for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album were Amazing Grace (Gaither Music Group) by Bill & Gloria Gaither and The Homecoming Friends,
Journey of Joy (Daywind Records) by Karen Peck and New River, Everybody’s Brother (Compadre Records) by Billy Joe Shaver, Salt of the Earth (Skaggs Family Records) by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites, Tell Someone (Rebel Records) by Kenny & Amanda Smith Band and I’ll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs of Faith (Sparrow Records) by various artists.
Nominees for the Best Traditional Gospel Album were Live: One Last Time (EMI Gospel) by The Clark Sisters, The Grand Finale: Encourage Yourself (EMI Gospel) by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, Life Changing (EMI Gospel) by Smokie Norful, Thirsty (Verity) by Marvin Sapp and Cherch (Koch Records) by Bebe Winans.
In the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category, nominees were
Grateful (Light Records) by Coko, Free to Worship (Verity) by Fred Hammond, V2 (Gospo Centric/Zomba Gospel) by James Moss, T57 (Spirit Rising Music/Music World Entertainment) by Trin-I-Tee 5:7 and Alone But Not Alone (Pure Springs Gospel) by Marvin Winans.
The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. The full list of nominees is online at http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_show/list.aspx.
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
Charisma Staff 
