GRAMMY WATCH – Gospel and Christian Contemporary Music Categories: My Picks and Predictions

Here are my picks and predictions for the Gospel and Christian Contemporary Music categories for The 58^th Annual Grammy Awards.

Best Gospel Performance/Song
• Worth [Live]
      Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
      Anthony Brown & Group Therapy; Anthony Brown, songwriter
      Track from: Everyday Jesus [Live]
      [Tyscot Records; Publisher(s): Key Of A Music/Tyscot Music]

• Wanna Be Happy?
      Kirk Franklin
      Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
      [RCA Records/Fo Yo Soul Recordings; Publisher(s): Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing admin. by Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs and Irving Music, Inc. admin. by Universal Music Publishing]

• Intentional
      Travis Greene
      Travis Greene; Travis Greene, songwriter
      [RCA Inspiration; Publisher(s): Greenlight InternationalVNavidavi Music]

• How Awesome Is Our God [Live]
      Israel & Newbreed Featuring Yolanda Adams
      Israel & Newbreed Featuring Yolanda Adams; Neville Diedericks, Israel Houghton & Meleasa Houghton, songwriters
      Track from: Covered: Alive In Asia [Live] (Deluxe)
      [RGM Newbreed/RCA Inspiration; Publisher(s): Integrity’s Praise! Music, RGM-Newbreed Publishing, Sound Of The New Breed, Aaron Lindsey Publishing, CCMG Publishing, Neville D. Publishing]

• Worth Fighting For [Live]
      Brian Courtney Wilson
      Brian Courtney Wilson; Aaron Lindsey & Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriters
      Track from: Worth Fighting For [Live]
      [Motown Gospel; Publisher(s): ACER/Aaron Lindsey Music/Capitol Christian Music Publishing admin. by Capitol CMG]

My Pick and Prediction: HOW AWESOME IS OUR GOD? [LIVE] – Awesome pretty much sums it up, though Kirk Franklin should not be counted out entirely.

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Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
• Holy Spirit
      Francesca Battistelli
      Francesca Battistelli
      Track from: If We're Honest (Deluxe Edition)
      [Fervent/Curb/Word]

• Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)
      Crowder
      Crowder; Ed Cash, David Crowder & Seth Philpott, songwriters
      Track from: Neon Steeple (Deluxe Edition)
      [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publisher(s): sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music admin. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com/Alletrop Music]

• Because He Lives (Amen)
      Matt Maher
      Matt Maher
      Track from: Saints And Sinners
      [Essential Records/Provident Label Group]

• Soul On Fire
      Third Day Featuring All Sons & Daughters
      Third Day Featuring All Sons & Daughters; Tai Anderson, Brenton Brown, David Carr, Mark Lee, Matt Maher & Mac Powell, songwriters
      Track from: Lead Us Back: Songs Of Worship (Deluxe)
      [Essential Records/Provident Label Group; Publisher(s): DATAMAMA MUSIC, Thankyou Music, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, I Am A Pilgrim Songs]

• Feel It
      Tobymac Featuring Mr. Talkbox
      Tobymac Featuring Mr. Talkbox; Cary Barlowe, David Arthur Garcia & Toby McKeehan, songwriters
      [ForeFront Records; Publisher(s): Achtober Songs/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music admin. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com/Castle Bound Music, Inc./We Be Pawtying]

My Pick and Prediction: SOUL ON FIRE

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Best Gospel Album
• Destined To Win [Live]
      Karen Clark Sheard
      [Karew Records/Entertainment One]

• Living It
      Dorinda Clark-Cole
      [Entertainment One/Light Records]

• One Place Live
      Tasha Cobbs
      [Motown Gospel]

• Covered: Alive In Asia [Live] (Deluxe)
      Israel & Newbreed
      [RGM Newbreed/RCA Inspiration]

• Life Music: Stage Two
      Jonathan McReynolds
      [Entertainment One/Tehillah Music]

My Pick and Prediction: COVERED: ALIVE IN ASIA [LIVE] {(Deluxe) – Career turn, totally brought Gospel music to a whole new audience and that spirit of evangelization should be rewarded.  Though, this is a very tight category in my eyes. I think Israel & Newbreed’s broadening their scope AND audience will rise to the top for the win.

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Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
• Whatever The Road
      Jason Crabb
      [Reunion Records/Provident Label Group]

• How Can It Be
      Lauren Daigle
      [Centricity Music]

• Saints And Sinners
      Matt Maher
      [Essential Records/Provident Label Group]

• This Is Not A Test
      Tobymac
      [ForeFront Records]

• Love Ran Red
      Chris Tomlin
      [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]

My Pick: LOVE RAN RED

My Prediction: THIS IS NOT A TEST

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Best Roots Gospel Album
• Still Rockin' My Soul
      The Fairfield Four
      The Fairfield Four
      [Fairfield Four Records]

• Pray Now
      Karen Peck & New River
      Karen Peck & New River
      [Daywind Records]

• Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know)
      Point Of Grace
      Point Of Grace
      [Word/Curb]

My Pick and Prediction: DIRECTIONS HOME (SONGS WE LOVE, SONGS YOU KNOW)

THE 58^TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS will be telecast live on CBS, Monday February 15, 2016 at 8PM/EST – PM/PST.  For everything GRAMMY, including a Full List of this year’s Nominees visit their website at http://www.grammy.com/

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