Browders Earn First Dove Award Nomination

Nashville, TN (August 18, 2014) Excited probably doesn't say it best, but that's the word to use for how the Browders reacted to the news of gaining their first Dove Award nomination at the GMA Press Conference in Nashville at Lipscomb University on August 13th.

Their hit song, “Lift Up His Name” penned by Matthew Browder received a nomination for Inspirational Song of the Year.

Matthew Browder stated “In our journey of making music, I find The Lord periodically places signs in our path to remind us that our labor is not in vain and that He sees us. It often comes from a person who shares that they have been encouraged or introduced to Christ through our music and ministry. Today it comes through our first Dove Award nomination. We are thankful beyond words for this great honor and praise God for His goodness to us.”

The Browders have attained number one status on most of the Southern Gospel charts with two songs from their most current CD 'Time Machine' and they achieved five number one songs on their previous project 'The Message.'

Daywind President Ed Leonard commented “The nominated song 'Lift Up His Name' is an amazing song that sounds different from anything else. I am so glad the Browders received recognition for this groundbreaking song.”

The Browders sing a wonderful mixture of styles and songs, many of them written themselves. This first Dove Award nomination puts them another rung higher on the ladder they are climbing to reach their ultimate goal of reaching more people with the Good News of the Gospel of Christ.

You can find out more about the Browders by going to http://www.thebrowders.com .

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Browders-Friends, or by E-mailing sonya@thebrowders.com .

To find out more about the Absolutely Gospel Awards you can go to www.absolutelygospel.com .

Amber Nelon Thompson Receives Favorite Female Singer Award From AGM

Atlanta, GA (May 21,2014) Phenomenal young talent Amber Nelon Thompson of the Nelons has won her first award and it is a big one. On April 15th at the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards held in Smyrna, TN, Amber won the coveted Favorite Female Singer Award.

Born into a singing family, it seemed Amber's fate to join her family group, but her success was not guaranteed. Through hard work and a great dream she has lived up to the Nelon name of giving the genre great singers. At the Award Celebration Amber brought the crowd to their feet with her feature on the Nelons rendition of “More Than Wonderful”.

Deon Unthank, President of AGM said “I believe the screams when Amber won this award were the loudest of the evening. The crowd certainly approved of her choice as Favorite Female Singer. This was the first award that has ever acknowledged her talent and I believe there will be many more to follow.”

Amber was clearly moved by her accomplishment and dedicated the award to her late Grandfather, Rex Nelon, the gifted Bass singer for whom the group was named. At this point both Amber and her Mother, Kelly Nelon Clark who was co-hosting for the evening, were both shedding tears and the crowd bursting in thunderous applause.

Amy Unthank, VP of AGM stated “With so many people talking about the demographic of Southern Gospel Music it is wonderful to see young people like Amber being recognized for their talent and the fans accepting them as the great artist they are. Amber is truly one of those artists. Congratulations to Amber.”

Amber is in the process of recording a brand new solo project with Daywind Records, so be watching for it.

You can learn more about Amber and the Nelons at http://kellynelon.com or https://www.facebook.com/amber.n.thompson

The Nelons are book through the Beckie Simmons Agency at www.bsaworld.com .

Amber and the Nelons record with Daywind Records

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About The Nelons
For (original group member) Kelly Nelon Clark, singing alongside her husband (song-writer and group arranger) Jason Clark, and daughter (vocal power-house), Amber Nelon Thompson this is a full-circle moment as she reflects on the countless nights she shared the stage with her Hall of Fame Father, Rex Nelon. Today, the Nelons’ take all the elements you’ve come to expect from the group—unparalleled vocal excellence, a sound built on the interplay between a soaring soprano and Kelly’s emotional smooth alto with an intertwining tenor, and add impeccable tight family harmony with an uncanny gift of communicating God’s love and you have a worship experience that you’ll not soon
forget!

Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Gets New Look

Nashville, TN (March 28, 2014) When the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards were started 13 years ago a plaque was handed out, a few years later a contest was held to name the official award and the name Ovation was adopted. With that decision we wanted to keep things fresh, so the star shaped award was chosen. It was well received by most, although in some circles it was called a “doorstop”, nevertheless, the Ovation Award can be found in some prestigious curios and bookshelves, and who knows, maybe even behind a few doors.

Deon Unthank, President of AbsolutelyGospel.com stated “I really loved the look of the star shaped Ovation, however it was time to upgrade the award, but I couldn't find anything of the quality I was looking for and keep the star shape. I decided that if I was going to change the award now was the time to make it a complete change. My late wife, Susan, was always about change, so I am confident that she is smiling down from Heaven liking the new awards.”

The new AGM Awards are made of hand-blown glass and each one is unique so no two awards are alike, just as no two singers, songwriters, producers, engineers or songs are alike. Each person puts their own signature on any project they are involved in just as each of these awards are uniquely different. This feature makes the new awards more distinct than any other award given in Southern Gospel Music. The new award was shown to a few select artists and the reaction was all the same. The common phrase was 'Oh, that is beautiful, I love it.”

Editor in Chief of Absolutely Gospel, Chris Unthank stated “Keeping our high standards as the 'state of the art' in Gospel Music E-zines, change is inevitable and I like what we have done. The name of the award is still the Ovation.”

The new awards will be handed out at the 13th Annual Absolutely Gospel Music Awards on April 15th in Smryna, TN, at the River of Life Church at 7PM. Known as the “classiest” awards program in the Southern Gospel Music genre, you can still get your reserved seating tickets at seats@absolutelygospel.com.

For more information about the AGM Awards go to www.absolutelygospel.com .



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About AbsolutelyGospel.com
AbsolutelyGospel.com has grown from relative obscurity to the industry's leading internet publication for Southern Gospel news and information in only a few short years. The site includes a wide variety of features, consisting of artist interviews, a weekly chart, late-breaking news, and much more. It's the place where the Fans Have A Voice.

2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration Rounds Out List of Performers By Featuring Prominent Songwriters

Nashville, TN (March 27, 2014) The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the final performers for the upcoming Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration. In keeping with the tradition of thinking outside of the box, this year’s AGM Awards will play host to performances from celebrated songwriters.

The Awards Celebration will feature reigning Songwriter of the Year (Artist) Jim Brady along with his wife, AGM Award winning songwriter Melissa Brady. Also, 2013’s Songwriter of the Year (Professional) Sue C. Smith, AGM Award winner Kenna West, and multiple nominee Jason Cox will perform their Song of the Year nominated hit “Calvary’s Cry” (originally recorded by Brian Free & Assurance) during the program.

“We are so excited about recognizing some of the best songwriters in the business in this capacity,” mentioned Deon Unthank, President of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “We were the first awards program in all of Gospel music to split up our Songwriter and Producer of the Year categories to make sure that those songwriters and producers who don’t normally promote themselves to the industry get the recognition they deserve. This was just a natural step in the progression of our awards program.”

Chris Unthank, Editor in Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com stated, “This has been an idea that has been ruminating in my mind for many years, and I’m so excited that we finally get to see it come to pass. We have always championed the behind the scenes people in this industry, and we can’t wait to showcase them to the general Southern Gospel audience in this manner.”

The performances of Jim & Melissa Brady, and Smith, West and Cox join the already impressive list of performers which include The Isaacs, Tribute Quartet, the Bowling Family, Beyond the Ashes, The Freemans, the Gaither Vocal Band’s Adam Crabb, the Sneed Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Browders, Karen Peck & New River and The Nelons.

The hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration are two of the industry’s most respected and beloved women. Hosting the awards together this year are Karen Peck Gooch and Kelly Nelon Clark.

In addition, the program is returning the multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music community. This year, the AGM Awards will be honoring the Easter Brothers. The tribute will be hosted by Jeff Easter and feature a bevy of special guests including Bluegrass icons Dailey & Vincent, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Isaacs, Kelly Nelon Clark, and The Freemans.

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards will be held at River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee on Tuesday evening, April 15, 2014. The event is free to the public, however the only way to guarantee seating is to reserve seats by making a $10 donation to AbsolutelyGospel.com. For more information on that, visit http://absolutelygospel.com/index.php/content/articles/2014-absolutely-gospel-music-awards-information

The Awards Celebration will stream live again this year. More information will be forthcoming.

For more information, visit www.absolutelygospel.com or email seats@absolutelygospel.com.

Absolutely Gospel Music Awards To Pay Tribute To The Easter Brothers

Nashville, TN (March 14, 2014) The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards is happening on April 15th at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN. It will be a great night for many in Southern Gospel Music, but a special honor will be given to the ever popular Easter Brothers.

For over sixty years this trio of brothers have helped to forge a new frontier in Gospel music with their unique style. Some would call their style of singing 'Bluegrass Gospel', while others have termed it 'Traditional Country Gospel', but whatever you call it, call it good Gospel Music. Many of their songs were recorded by other groups and have become standards. Among them are “Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me,” “The Darkest Hour,” “They’re Holding Up The Ladder,” “He’s The Rock I’m Leaning On,” “Help Me Stand Lord,” “Jesus, You’ve Just Made My Day,” “Heart That Will Never Break Again,” “Please Don’t Tell My Daddy,” “Hand Me Downs” – all just a few of the hundreds of songs penned by the three brothers. Their songs will live on in the hearts and minds of Gospel Music lovers for many generations to come.

Deon Unthank, President of AbsolutlelyGospel.com stated “What an honor to recognize the Easter Brothers for over sixty years of success not just singing, but writing many songs that have become classics in the Gospel Music genre. What better way to forget about the IRS and your taxes than celebrating with the Easter Brothers.”

Many artists are contributing to this special tribute including Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Isaacs, Kelly Nelon, The Freemans, and special guests, bluegrass icons, Daily and Vincent.

For more information about the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration and reserved seating go to http://absolutelygospel.com or https://www.facebook.com/absolutelygospel .

More information on the Easter Brothers can be found at http://www.easterbrothers.com .

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About AbsolutelyGospel.com


AbsolutelyGospel.com has grown from relative obscurity to the industry's leading internet publication for Southern Gospel news and information in only a few short years. The site includes a wide variety of features, consisting of artist interviews, a weekly chart, late-breaking news, and much more. It's the place where the Fans Have A Voice.

Marcelly's Dream Sponsors Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Streaming

Cleveland, TN (February 18, 2014) Marcelly's Dream, a special missionary project of the Church of God is pleased to support the streaming of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards to be held on April 15, 2014 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN.

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards are among the most prestigious awards presented in Southern Gospel Music. This is the 19th year for the awards and will be streamed reaching thousands of people in addition to the approximately 600 people in attendance.

The cream of the crop in Southern Gospel Music will be performing including the likes of The Isaacs, Karen Peck and New River, The Bowling Family, The Freemans, Tribute Quartet, The Nelons, Sisters, Adam Crabb, Jeff and Sheri Easter and more. The awards are presented based on the previous years accomplishments and not just the popularity of the fans.

In addition, the program is returning the multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music community this year. The tribute will be hosted by Jeff & Sheri Easter and feature a bevy of special guests.

Dr. Tim Hill, Director of Marcelly's Dream stated “I couldn't be more pleased than for Church of God World Missions to share in such a wonderful event. In one sense, Gospel singers are missionaries and the awards program will be an unforgettable night celebrating the 'mission of music' as well as the 'music of missions'.”

CEO and Publisher of Absolutely Gospel, Deon Unthank commented “We are thrilled to have a partner like Marcelly's Dream involved in this awards celebration. While we want to give credit where credit is due for the greatest artists in the world performing the greatest music in the world, we also want to remind those attending and watching by streaming that there are people in this world who are not as fortunate as those of us enjoying the big night. Marcelly's Dream is a great example of an organization reaching out in more ways than just sending money. They are working to provide water and medical care to the villages in the area in addition to presenting the Gospel. Thank you Marcelly's Dream for allowing us to share in getting the word out about what you are doing.”

You can learn more about AbsolutelyGospel.com and the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards at www.absolutelygospel.com or https://www.facebook.com/absolutelygospel .

You can learn more about Marcelly's Dream at http://marcellysdream.org/about or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marcellys-Dream .

Hosts and Performers Announced for 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

Awards Program Set for Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Nashville, TN (February 12, 2014) The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce this year’s hosts and first list of performers for the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration.

The hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration are two of the industry’s most respected and beloved women. Hosting the awards together this year are Karen Peck Gooch and Kelly Nelon Clark.

Karen Peck Gooch is no stranger to the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards program having performed on the live show many times and serving as co-host of the 2012 AGM Awards program. She, along with her group Karen Peck & New River, has won an impressive 22 Ovations over the years, including last year’s Album of the Year title for her solo recording How You Walk the Miles. This year, the group is nominated for an impressive nine awards, including Song of the Year (for “Revival)” and Album of the Year (for Revival).

Kelly Nelon Clark is one third of the Grammy nominated and Dove award winning trio The Nelons. Just last year, The Nelons were awarded the 2013 People’s Choice Silver Telly Award for their short-form video of “Excuse Me, Are You Jesus?” – a song that is nominated for Song of the Year in this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. The Nelons are also nominated for three additional awards this year, including Mixed Group of the Year and Fan Favorite Artist of the Year.

“We are so excited about utilizing these two talented ladies for our awards program this year,” mentioned Chris Unthank, editor-in-chief of AbsoluletyGospel.com. “These ladies are naturals on the stage and real fan favorites. We know they will do an amazing job as our hosts.”

In addition, the first list of performers is now available. Performing on this year’s Awards Celebration are The Isaacs, Tribute Quartet, Sisters, the Bowling Family, Beyond the Ashes, The Browders, The Freemans, Adam Crabb, the Sneed Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, and the aforementioned Karen Peck & New River and The Nelons.

In addition, the program is returning the multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music community this year. The tribute will be hosted by Jeff & Sheri Easter and feature a bevy of special guests.

Voting is now open in the 2014 AGM Awards in 12 of the 24 fan voted categories. Fans can vote from now until February 22, 2014 for their favorite songs, albums, and artists. For more information, visit www.absolutelygospel.com.

More information on the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including additional performers and sponsors. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 15, 2014. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public.

Isaacs Capture Twelve Nominations At Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

Nashville, TN (January 30, 2014) The ever talented, multi-award winning Isaacs have again earned an astounding number of nominations in the prestigious 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards to be held on Tuesday, April 15th at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN.

The Isaacs are not only gifted as a group but they also excel as individual artists. When you total all the nominations for the Isaacs, plus the songwriting nominations of Sonya Isaacs Yeary, Becky Isaacs Bowman and Sonya's husband, Jimmy Yeary who occasionally performs with the group, the number quickly adds up.

Ben Isaacs also adds a couple of nominations for his skill as a producer and Becky garners two for her singing and playing. The nominations quickly total 12 Awards.

Lily Isaacs commented “We are so honored and blessed to have all these nominations. Thank you to AGM and all our friends. I hope you can join us on April 15 for a beautiful night of worshiping God ".

The breakdown of their award nominations is as follows:

SONGWRITER (ARTIST) Becky & Sonya Isaacs (The Isaacs)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR The Living Years - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)

FEMALE VOCALIST Becky Isaacs Bowman

MIXED GROUP The Isaacs

SONGWRITER (PROFESSIONAL) Jimmy Yeary

PRODUCER (ARTIST) Ben Isaacs

MUSICIAN Becky Isaacs Bowman (The Isaacs)

PROGRESSIVE RECORDING Here Comes Sunday - Wilburn & Wilburn (B.Isaacs)

COUNTRY RECORDING The Living Years - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)

COUNTRY SONG "Walk Together Children" - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, S.Jennings)

BEST LIVE PERFORMER The Isaacs

FAN FAVORITE The Isaacs

Voting for the Awards begins Saturday, February 15th and will continue through Saturday February 22nd.

Simply go to www.absolutleygospel.com and look for the large banner at the top of the front page and you can click to vote for the Isaacs.

You can learn more about the Isaacs at http://www.theisaacs.com and https://www.facebook.com/TheIsaacs .

The Isaacs booked by the Harper Agency - info@harperagency.com - 615-851-4500 .

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, often called the “classiest” awards in the industry have been presented since 2002 by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com. The award nominations are chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and other select industry professionals, and most of the winners are then chosen by the fans of the genre and readers of the site. In 2005, AbsolutelyGospel.com held its first AGM Music Awards Celebration which brought in all the artists, industry professionals, and fans for an official awards ceremony. In 2006, AbsolutelyGospel.com held a contest for the readers to name the statue that is presented to the winners at the Awards Celebration, in which "Ovation" was chosen as the winner. The Ovations are handed out on the third Tuesday in April every year.

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About The Isaacs
The Isaacs, a multi-award winning family group who began singing 30 years ago, are based out of Nashville, TN . The vocalists are Lily Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. Playing their own acoustic instruments and joined by other band members, The Isaacs have a unique style that blends tight, family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation that appeals to a variety of audiences. Their musical influences emerge from all genres of music including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, and country, contemporary acoustic and southern gospel. Zak Shumate is on percussion and is the only non family member in the group.

Family also just recently sang anthem at Indiana Pacers game and got a standing ovation. They perform frequently at the Grand Ole Opry, are active members on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concert Series and travel throughout the year performing internationally. Concert venues include civic centers, auditoriums, arenas, fair grounds, parks, churches and other locations. They have performed the National Anthem for many sporting events, including a Cincinnati Bengal's football game, several Nashville Predators Hockey games, an Astros/ Braves pre-season baseball game as well as various political gatherings. They also received a standing ovation for their patriotic performance at Carnegie Hall.

Daryl Williams Garners Absolutely Gospel Music Award Nomination

Prattville, AL (January 28, 2014) Renowned songwriter Daryl K. Williams has been nominated for Songwriter of the Year (Artist) in the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards to be held April 15, 2014 at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN.

Daryl Williams is known for such great hits as “Singin' With The Saints”, “Promises One by One”, “I've Got Joy”, “Glory To God In The Highest”. “Jesus Saves”, and “Mountain Get Get Out Of My Way” just to name a few, placing him in the “Who's Who” bracket of songwriters. Daryl has sang with such groups as the Speer Family and the Daryl Williams Trio writing hits for every group he has been with.

Daryl stated “I am humbled to be considered for this award among the great songwriters who were also nominated. I am very thankful to my peers in the industry who nominated me.”

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the Southern Gospel Music genre. The Awards were founded in 2002 by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com. The award nominations are chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and most of the winners are then chosen by the fans of the genre and readers of the site. In 2005 AGM started the Absolutely Gospel Music Award Celebration in which the top artists in the genre gather to literally celebrate each others accomplishments of the previous year.

You can learn more about Daryl Williams at https://www.facebook.com/darylkwilliams .

Daryl is not only a great songwriter, but also sings with the Daryl Williams Trio as well as taking select solo dates.

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About Daryl Williams
Daryl was born in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Burlingame, and grew up in San Jose California. His mother was active in Gospel Concert Promotions, and Daryl fell in love with Gospel Music at an early age. He remembers vividly spending time as a child with such Gospel legends as Doris Akers, Jake Hess and Vestal Goodman. It was at the age of 7 that Daryl decided he wanted to write his first song. There are now over 1,100 songs in his catalog. Daryl went on to study music at California State University, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music.

From 1994 to 2008 Daryl traveled full time with his own ministry team, the Daryl Williams Trio. They recorded 10 CD’s and appeared on many Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concerts. They also appeared as regulars for 7 years on TBN’s Unfolding Majesty program with hosts Dean and Mary Brown.

The Williamsons Perform At AGM Awards

Nashville, TN (April 17, 2013) The multi-nominated award quartet, The Williamsons were one of 13 selected performers for the prestigious Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration held April 9th in Smyrna, TN, just outside Nashville.
Singing to a capacity crowd Donnie Williamson, manager and Baritone for the group said, “What an honor it is for the Williamsons to to be considered to sing on stage with the best talent in Gospel music.
It was our first time to be a part of this Awards program, and we can say that it is one of the classiest programs we have ever seen.” Donnie continued saying "The response we received from our peers was very exciting. Most of them had not heard us before. Even the response after the program was overwhelming. Everyone was extremely encouraging".
The Williamsons were nominated for two Awards, the Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and the Fan Favorite Artist of the Year. Performing their song “Hosanna”, penned by group member Lisa Williamson, the Williamsons shared the stage with such greats as Michael English, the Booth Brothers, Karen Peck and New River, Sisters, Brian Free and Assurance, and six other illustrious groups.

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About The Williamsons

The Williamsons began sharing the Gospel through music in 1998 as The Homesteaders Quartet. The dream of Donnie Williamson was to form a group to sing classic Gospel music on a limited basis. What he wanted to do never occurred. From the group's onset their demand was overwhelming. Soon they were performing more than 100 dates a year. For the past several years The Williamsons have been in full time Christian ministry and entertainment and have traveled across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their music has been in national charts and were they honored to be nominated to the Gospel Music Association for a Dove Award.

Sharron Kay King In Studio Recording First New Album in Five Years

BYRON, Ga. – (August 10, 2012) – 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Award nominee Sharron Kay King is in the studio this week recording vocals for her first studio-recording in over five years. The new recording, titled This Story of My Life, is the follow-up to her latest project Don’t Stop Believing.

This Story of My Life is being produced by Mike Pillow (Ricky Atkinson & Compassion, Naomi Sego, Ann Downing) and has a tentative release date of this fall.

“This record has definitely been a labor of love for me,” mentioned Sharron Kay. “God has brought me through so much over the last few years, and this recording is a testimony to the things that He has done in my life. I am so excited for everyone to hear the songs that were birthed from this time of my life.”

Sharron wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 tracks including the title cut. Other writers and co-writers included award-winning writers Steve & Annie Chapman, John Robinson, Becky Wright, Chris Binion, and Sharron’s son-in-law Sean Anderson.

“So many of these songs mean so much to me,” replied Sharron. “I got to collaborate on ‘Alabaster Box’ with my daughter Liz who used to travel and sing with me many years ago. Also, ‘She’d Rather Be Here With Me’ was given to me by Steve & Annie Chapman and reflects the story of my mother and her recent passing.”

More information on the new recording including a definitive release date, the first single, and some other surprise appearances will be announced at a later date.

Sharron has been singing and speaking at ladies retreats and recovery groups more frequently this year due to her amazing testimony of God’s redeeming power and grace. For information on how you can book Sharron at your church or event, visit http://www.sharronkayking.com.

Sharron recently released her latest single to radio. The new song, titled “Look Up,” is the fifth single released from King’s Don’t Stop Believing. “Look Up” was written by Eric Horner and was just released to Southern Gospel radio through Eddie King & Crown Communications.

All four of Sharron’s previous singles from Don’t Stop Believing landed in the Top 20 on the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weeky Chart – the industry’s most watched weekly radio report in Southern Gospel music.

Sharron was honored earlier this year to see their name among the 10 nominees for Fan Favorite Artist of the Year in the highly-respected Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards. This is the second time in her career that Sharron has been nominated for an Absolutely Gospel Music Award. She was previously nominated in 2007 in the Country Album of the Year category for her The Road I Know project.

More information as well as booking information on Sharron Kay King can be found at http://sharronkayking.com. Fans can visit Sharron on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharron-Kay-King-Official-Fan-Page/102290253148210 .

About Sharron Kay King
Sharron Kay King is a talented singer/songwriter based out of Byron, Georgia. Sharron’s last release, Don’t Stop Believing, spawned off the #1 fan favorite “God’s Been Good.” King was a 2008 Top 5 finalist in the Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Horizon Individual and a 2009 Top 10 finalist for Favorite Soloist.

Sharron Kay King In Studio Recording First New Album in Five Years

BYRON, Ga. – (August 10, 2012) – 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Award nominee Sharron Kay King is in the studio this week recording vocals for her first studio-recording in over five years. The new recording, titled This Story of My Life, is the follow-up to her latest project Don’t Stop Believing.

This Story of My Life is being produced by Mike Pillow (Ricky Atkinson & Compassion, Naomi Sego, Ann Downing) and has a tentative release date of this fall.

“This record has definitely been a labor of love for me,” mentioned Sharron Kay. “God has brought me through so much over the last few years, and this recording is a testimony to the things that He has done in my life. I am so excited for everyone to hear the songs that were birthed from this time of my life.”

Sharron wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 tracks including the title cut. Other writers and co-writers included award-winning writers Steve & Annie Chapman, John Robinson, Becky Wright, Chris Binion, and Sharron’s son-in-law Sean Anderson.

“So many of these songs mean so much to me,” replied Sharron. “I got to collaborate on ‘Alabaster Box’ with my daughter Liz who used to travel and sing with me many years ago. Also, ‘She’d Rather Be Here With Me’ was given to me by Steve & Annie Chapman and reflects the story of my mother and her recent passing.”

More information on the new recording including a definitive release date, the first single, and some other surprise appearances will be announced at a later date.

Sharron has been singing and speaking at ladies retreats and recovery groups more frequently this year due to her amazing testimony of God’s redeeming power and grace. For information on how you can book Sharron at your church or event, visit http://www.sharronkayking.com.

Sharron recently released her latest single to radio. The new song, titled “Look Up,” is the fifth single released from King’s Don’t Stop Believing. “Look Up” was written by Eric Horner and was just released to Southern Gospel radio through Eddie King & Crown Communications.

All four of Sharron’s previous singles from Don’t Stop Believing landed in the Top 20 on the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weeky Chart – the industry’s most watched weekly radio report in Southern Gospel music.

Sharron was honored earlier this year to see their name among the 10 nominees for Fan Favorite Artist of the Year in the highly-respected Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards. This is the second time in her career that Sharron has been nominated for an Absolutely Gospel Music Award. She was previously nominated in 2007 in the Country Album of the Year category for her The Road I Know project.

More information as well as booking information on Sharron Kay King can be found at http://sharronkayking.com. Fans can visit Sharron on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharron-Kay-King-Official-Fan-Page/102290253148210 .

About Sharron Kay King
Sharron Kay King is a talented singer/songwriter based out of Byron, Georgia. Sharron’s last release, Don’t Stop Believing, spawned off the #1 fan favorite “God’s Been Good.” King was a 2008 Top 5 finalist in the Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Horizon Individual and a 2009 Top 10 finalist for Favorite Soloist.

Sisters, Tribute Quartet, and Three Bridges Complete List of Performers for 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (March 12, 2012) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the final list of performers for the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

Sisters, Tribute Quartet, and Three Bridges were recently added to the already strong life of performers for the upcoming event. It was announced last this that this year’s performers also included The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, Gold City, The Perrys, The Bowling Family, Wilburn & Wilburn, Beyond the Ashes, Southern Sound, and Mark209. In addition, Jeff & Sheri Easter are spearheading a multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music industry (like the 2010 tribute to The Singing Cookes).

Karen Peck Gooch will also be performing “Mighty High” from the Joyful Noise soundtrack with an all-star choir made up of multiple nominees in this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

The hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration of two of the industry’s most respected female voices and personalities. This year’s hosts are Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River) and Sonya Isaacs Yeary (The Isaacs).

More information on the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including live streaming information and sponsors. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public. The event is scheduled to be streamed live on the internet this year.

The awards program sees two records broken this year. The Isaacs broke the record for the most nominations by an artist in a single year – this year earning 12 nominations. In addition, producer/songwriter/Ernie Haase & Signature Sound pianist Wayne Haun earned a staggering 15 nominations – also breaking a record for the most nominations in a single year by an individual.

In addition, for the first time in the 10 years of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards – a song that wasn’t released to radio (also known as an album cut) earned a nomination for Song of the Year – the Booth Brothers’ critically acclaimed song “What About Now.” In addition, last year’s Songwriter of the Year (Professional) winner Kenna West earned a nomination for the 2012 Pacesetter Award – the first time a professional songwriter has earned a nomination in that specific category.

Social networking paid off in a big way for artists in the Fan Favorite Artist of the Year category – the only category chosen strictly by the fans and readers of AbsolutelyGospel.com. Surprise nominations from acts like Sharron Kay King, The Ladd Family, and Mark209 saw a huge surge of votes due to their support from fans on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

About AbsolutelyGospel.com
AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) has grown from relative obscurity to the industry's leading internet publication for Southern Gospel news and information in only a few short years. The site includes a wide variety of features, consisting of artist interviews, a weekly chart, late-breaking news, and much more.

Additional Performers Announced for 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

Gold City, The Bowling Family, and Southern Sound Added to Growing List of Performers

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (January 30, 2012) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are pleased to announce additional performers for the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

Gold City, The Bowling Family, and Southern Sound were recently added to the already strong list of performers for the upcoming event. It was announced last month that this year’s performers also included The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, The Perrys, Wilburn & Wilburn, Beyond the Ashes, Eighth Day, and Mark209. In addition, Jeff & Sheri Easter are spearheading a multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music industry (like the 2010 tribute to The Singing Cookes). More information will be announced at a later date about the specifics of that tribute. Additional performers are still being confirmed as well.

Karen Peck Gooch will also be performing “Mighty High” from the Joyful Noise soundtrack with an all-star choir made up of multiple nominees in this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

“We are absolutely thrilled with how the event is shaping up so far,” mentioned Deon Unthank, President of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “We’ve got so many other really cool things planned that we are currently working out the details for. We can’t wait to announce what all we have in store for this year’s awards program!”

The hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration of two of the industry’s most respected female voices and personalities. This year’s hosts are Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River) and Sonya Isaacs Yeary (The Isaacs).

More information on the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including additional performers and sponsors. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public. The event is scheduled to be streamed live on the internet this year.

The awards program sees two records broken this year. The Isaacs broke the record for the most nominations by an artist in a single year – this year earning 12 nominations. In addition, producer/songwriter/Ernie Haase & Signature Sound pianist Wayne Haun earned a staggering 15 nominations – also breaking a record for the most nominations in a single year by an individual.

In addition, for the first time in the 10 years of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards – a song that wasn’t released to radio (also known as an album cut) earned a nomination for Song of the Year – the Booth Brothers’ critically acclaimed song “What About Now.” In addition, last year’s Songwriter of the Year (Professional) winner Kenna West earned a nomination for the 2012 Pacesetter Award – the first time a professional songwriter has earned a nomination in that specific category.

Social networking paid off in a big way for artists in the Fan Favorite Artist of the Year category – the only category chosen strictly by the fans and readers of AbsolutelyGospel.com. Surprise nominations from acts like Sharron Kay King, The Ladd Family, and Mark209 saw a huge surge of votes due to their support from fans on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the Awards, visit www.absolutelygospel.com.

About AbsolutelyGospel.com
AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) has grown from relative obscurity to the industry's leading internet publication for Southern Gospel news and information in only a few short years. The site includes a wide variety of features, consisting of artist interviews, a weekly chart, late-breaking news, and much more.

Sharron Kay King Nominated For “Fan Favorite Artist of the Year”

BYRON, Ga. – (February 7, 2012) – Singing News Fan Award nominee Sharron Kay King was honored last month to see their name among the 10 nominees for Fan Favorite Artist of the Year in the highly-respected Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards.

“I am so humbled to have been nominated for this award,” mentioned Sharron. “I am honored that so many of my friends would place their vote for me in this category. Words can’t describe how blessed I feel to be nominated for such a big award!”

This is the second time in her career that Sharron has been nominated for an Absolutely Gospel Music Award. She was previously nominated in 2007 in the Country Album of the Year category for her The Road I Know project.

Chris Unthank, Editor-in-Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com said, “We as a staff have grown to really love and appreciate the ministry of Sharron, so we were thrilled for her when the votes were tallied, and she landed in the Top 10 for this category. Sharron is the real deal, and I think this nomination is a testament to that fact.”

The Fan Favorite Artist of the Year category is the only one where the nominees are strictly chosen by the fans. The nominees in the other 23 award categories are chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives.

Fans are getting a chance to vote for their favorites in several categories now through February 14, 2012. The Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards will be handed out at a live ceremony on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN. The event is tentatively scheduled to be streamed live like in 2010. More details on the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards will be announced at a later date.

Sharron just released her latest single to radio. The new song, titled “Look Up,” is the fifth single released from King’s SGN Music Award-nominated project Don’t Stop Believing. “Look Up” was written by Eric Horner and was just released to Southern Gospel radio through Eddie King & Crown Communications.

All four of Sharron’s previous singles from Don’t Stop Believing landed in the Top 20 on the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weeky Chart – the industry’s most watched weekly radio report in Southern Gospel music.

More information as well as booking information on Sharron Kay King can be found at http://sharronkayking.com. Fans can visit Sharron on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharron-Kay-King-Official-Fan-Page/102290253148210 .

About Sharron Kay King
Sharron Kay King is a talented singer/songwriter based out of Byron, Georgia. Sharron’s last release, Don’t Stop Believing, spawned off the #1 fan favorite “God’s Been Good.” King was a 2008 Top 5 finalist in the Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Horizon Individual and a 2009 Top 10 finalist for Favorite Soloist.

Three Bridges Receives Absolutely Gospel Music Award Nomination for Christmas Must Be Tonight

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (February 2, 2012) – Christian music trio Three Bridges is honored to have earned its 14th career nomination in the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. The group received a nod in the Special Event Project of the Year category for its highly-acclaimed Christmas recording Christmas Must Be Tonight.

The Special Event Project of the Year category honors releases that are not consistent with an artist’s yearly body of work – such as holiday recordings, best-of collections, DVD releases, solo recordings, and much more.

“We are honored to be mentioned alongside so many great artists and projects in this category,” mentioned Elliott McCoy of Three Bridges. “We firmly believe that Christmas Must Be Tonight is one of the strongest recordings we’ve ever released, and this nomination confirms that for us!”

Christmas Must Be Tonight released last fall on Mansion Records. The recording was produced by long-time Three Bridges collaborator Rick Sandidge.

Elliott continued,”This recording did so well for us. Our sales for this project were just astounding, especially with only a six-week time frame to really sell it. It opened so many doors for us this past holiday season, including 11 Christmas concerts. We had a dynamite December because of this recording! Our record label couldn’t have been happier!”

The Absolutely Gospel Music Award nominees are chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. The fans get a chance to vote in 12 of the 24 categories from February 1st through February 14th, 2012, including the Special Event Project of the Year category.

Three Bridges encourages all Southern Gospel fans to go vote for their favorites in each category. To vote, head over to www.absolutelygospel.com.

More information on the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including hosts, performers, and sponsors. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public. The event is scheduled to be streamed live on the internet this year.

For more information on Three Bridges, visit them on the web at http://www.threebridges.net.

About Three Bridges
The music of Three Bridges is rooted in traditional Southern Gospel and Black Gospel music. This blended style has made Three Bridges one of the prominent internationally-acclaimed Gospel groups in Christian music today — a group known for tight harmony, a unique vocal style, an exciting, energy-packed stage presentation, and, most importantly, spreading the joy of being a Christian.

Hosts and First Performers Announced for 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

10th Anniversary of Awards Program Set For April 10, 2012

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (January 30, 2012) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce this year’s hosts and first list of performers for the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration.

The hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration of two of the industry’s most respected female voices and personalities. This year’s hosts are Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River) and Sonya Isaacs Yeary (The Isaacs).

Karen Peck Gooch has been lauded as one of the greatest voices to ever take the stage in Southern Gospel music. She has been awarded the Favorite Soprano award in the Singing News Fan Awards 11 times. A veteran of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, Karen has won Female Vocalist of the Year twice (including last year), and with her group New River, has won an impressive 15 additional Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. Karen Peck & New River has scored over 10 #1 singles over the course of its 20-year history. Gooch recently made her big screen debut in the hit movie Joyful Noise with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.

No stranger to the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards hosting stage, Sonya Isaacs Yeary co-hosted the 2010 Awards Celebration. Sonya is known widely across multiple genres of music including Country, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, and more. Sonya has been awarded two Female Vocalist of the Year, two Songwriter of the Year, and two Musician of the Year awards in this particular awards program. Most recently, the song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” (which she co-wrote with her sister Becky and husband Jimmy) was recorded by country music giant Martina McBride and nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance.

“I am very honored to be co-hosting the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards along with my friend, Sonya Isaacs Yeary,” said Karen Peck Gooch. “I’m looking forward to a special night of honoring the finest artists in Southern Gospel music and hearing the top current songs in the industry. It’s going to be a night to remember!”

Sonya Isaacs Yeary said, “I am so excited to be co-hosting the incredible AGM Awards with Karen Peck this year! She’s a hot tamale, what with bein’ in that new big movie and all! I hope she doesn’t try to hog the show! Only kidding, ‘friend’! We are going to have a blast! But seriously, two blondes? This could be dangerous! See y’all there!”

“We couldn’t be more elated with our hosts for this year’s Awards Celebration,” mentioned Deon Unthank, President of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “Sonya and Karen are two of the most respected names in this industry. We know that they are going to do a great job hosting this year.”

In addition, the first list of performers is now available. Performing on this year’s Awards Celebration are The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, The Perrys, Wilburn & Wilburn, Beyond the Ashes, Eighth Day, and Mark209. In addition, Jeff & Sheri Easter are spearheading a multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music industry (like the 2010 tribute to The Singing Cookes). More information will be announced at a later date about the specifics of that tribute. Additional performers are still being confirmed as well.

Karen Peck Gooch will also be performing “Mighty High” from the Joyful Noise soundtrack with an all-star choir made up of multiple nominees in this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

More information on the 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including additional performers and sponsors. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public. The event is scheduled to be streamed live on the internet this year.

The awards program sees two records broken this year. The Isaacs broke the record for the most nominations by an artist in a single year – this year earning 12 nominations. In addition, producer/songwriter/Ernie Haase & Signature Sound pianist Wayne Haun earned a staggering 15 nominations – also breaking a record for the most nominations in a single year by an individual.

In addition, for the first time in the 10 years of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards – a song that wasn’t released to radio (also known as an album cut) earned a nomination for Song of the Year – the Booth Brothers’ critically acclaimed song “What About Now.” In addition, last year’s Songwriter of the Year (Professional) winner Kenna West earned a nomination for the 2012 Pacesetter Award – the first time a professional songwriter has earned a nomination in that specific category.

Social networking paid off in a big way for artists in the Fan Favorite Artist of the Year category – the only category chosen strictly by the fans and readers of AbsolutelyGospel.com. Surprise nominations from acts like Sharron Kay King, The Ladd Family, and Mark209 saw a huge surge of votes due to their support from fans on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

About AbsolutelyGospel.com
AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) has grown from relative obscurity to the industry's leading internet publication for Southern Gospel news and information in only a few short years. The site includes a wide variety of features, consisting of artist interviews, a weekly chart, late-breaking news, and much more.

The Ladd Family Nominated for “Fan Favorite Artist of the Year” in 2012 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. – (January 30, 2012) – Emerging Southern Gospel duo The Ladd Family were surprised this month to see their name among the 10 nominees for “Fan Favorite Artist of the Year” in the highly-respected Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards.

“To say we were shocked is an understatement,” mentioned Paul Ladd of the Ladd Family. “We are so humbled by this nomination. To think that our fans would place us in the same category as artists like the Gaither Vocal Band, The Perrys, Booth Brothers, and Triumphant Quartet is very inspiring. We appreciate and love everyone that placed a vote for us this year.”

Due to a surge in social networking sites like Facebook.com and Twitter.com – The Ladd Family joined a diverse group of artists in the category.

Chris Unthank, Editor-in-Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com said, “What we really appreciate about this year’s Fan Favorite category is just how spread out the nominees are. You have fantastic up-and-coming artists like The Ladd Family who did their part and got their fan base involved along long-time favorites. It really shows just how unique our industry is and how impressive the Southern Gospel fans can be.”

The Fan Favorite Artist of the Year category is the only one where the nominees are strictly chosen by the fans. The nominees in the other 23 award categories are chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives.

Fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in several categories beginning on February 1, 2012. The Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards will be handed out at a live ceremony on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN. The event is tentatively scheduled to be streamed live like in 2010. Performers, hosts, and event sponsors are still being confirmed. More details on the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards will be announced at a later date.

The Ladd Family was recently named as one of 10 new artists to watch this year by the editorial staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com. The article, called “Ones-to-Watch 2012: New Faces. Fresh Sounds.”, was a part of the December 1, 2011 update for the popular e-zine and mentioned new artists that the staff of AGM felt would make the biggest impact in 2012.

For more information about The Ladd Family, visit the group’s website: www.laddfamilyministries.com . You can also keep up with the group on social network sites like Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ladd-Family/127922370615314) and MySpace (www.myspace.com/theladdfamily).

About The Ladd Family
The Ladd Family is an anointed family ministry with strong Christian roots. They began more than 35 years ago when John and Violet Ladd felt the call of God on their lives and began to travel singing and preaching the gospel with their children. Today the family tradition carries on with Paul and his wife Melissa. God has brought this dynamic husband and wife team through the fire and back in order to truly minister from the heart. They have earned three Diamond Award nominations and scored a #1 hit on the SouthernGospelTimes.com Top 40 Fan Chart with their single “Let Go.”