55th Annual Grammy® Award Nomination Show Live and Direct From Nashville!

Casting Crowns and Marvin Sapp Top Gospel Lead With 3 Nominations Each

By Naomi Richard

The road to music’s biggest night, the 55^th Annual Grammy® Awards in February, kicked off in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena in grand style and what a show it was. We were right there for the live telecast and private post show concert to discover that Casting Crowns and Marvin Sapp led the Christian and Gospel Grammy® nominations list!

TobyMac, nominated for Best Contemporary Music Album for “Eye On It,” took to Facebook today, “So grateful for a Grammy nomination for Eye On It! It was definitely a labor of love with some people I love!!! To God be the glory and thanks to all!”

James Fortune was also found on Social Media, “I am totally at a lost for words! One nomination would have been amazing but God gave us two! Gospel Album of the Year for Identity!”

While nominated herself for Best Contemporary Music Album, Kari Jobe took time to celebrate others, “Congrats friends! @castingcrowns @matt_redman @christomlin @lecrae @itsbrittnicole @therealtobymac @matthew_west @jonasmyrin #GrammyNods.”

Grammy® Award winners LL Cool J and Taylor Swift were the evening’s co-hosts, and performers included Maroon 5 (featuring PJ Morton on keyboards), fun. featuring Janelle Monae, Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan and Ne-Yo.

“I drove in from West Virginia to attend this concert because I love Maroon 5,” said one member of the audience. “I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift, so I drove down from Saint Louis to attend,” said another supporter. Three fans and industry members flew in from Washington, DC to support PJ Morton and had this to say, “We have followed him for years and just love his music. It was worth the trip.“

This was the moment we’ve all been waiting for, “Who in Christian and Gospel Music will get a 2013 Grammy nod?” Well the wait is over and as you can imagine, Social Media went completely viral last night with well wishes from fans across the world proving that this genre is alive and well!

2013 Christian and Gospel Grammy® Nominees

36. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Casting Crowns

Track from: Come To The Well

[Beach Street/Reunion Records]

Take Me To The King

Tamela Mann

[Tillymann Music Group]

Go Get It

Mary Mary

[Columbia Records]

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Matt Redman

Track from: 10,000 Reasons

[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]

My Testimony

Marvin Sapp

Track from: I Win

[Verity Gospel Music Group]

37. Best Gospel Song

Go Get It

Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary)

[Columbia; Publishers: EMI April Music, It’s Tea Tyme, That’s Plum Song, Wet Ink Red Music]

Hold On

Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune & Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune &

FIYA, Monica & Fred Hammond)

Track from: Identity

[Light Records/eOne Music]

I Feel Good

Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller & Calvin Rodgers, songwriters

(Fred Hammond)

Track from: God, Love & Romance

[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: fHammond Music/Bridge Bldg Music/CJMS Music/Music Feast Productions/Jonathan Miller Publishing]

My Testimony

Aaron Lindsey & Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvin Sapp)

Track from: I Win

[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs/Marvin L. Sapp Music/Ardent Media]

Released

Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Bill Winston & Living Word Featuring Donald

Lawrence)

[Source Media; Publisher: Quiet Water Ent.]

38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Mark Hall & Matthew West, songwriters (Casting Crowns)

Track from: Come To The Well

[Beach Street/Reunion Records]

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)

Track from: 10,000 Reasons

[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Thankyou Music/sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Said And Done Music/Shout! Publishing]

When Mercy Found Me

Jeff Pardo & Rhett Walker, songwriters (Rhett Walker Band)

Track from: Come To The River

[Essential Records; Publishers: Sony ATV Music, Ships In A Bottle/Simple Tense Songs]

White Flag

Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Passion &

Chris Tomlin)

Track from: White Flag

[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Said And Done Music/Valley of the Songs Music/Sony ATV Timber Publishing/West Main Music/Windsor Hill Music/Thankyou Music]

Your Presence Is Heaven

Israel Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)

Track from: Jesus At The Center Live

[Integrity Music; Publishers: Integrity’s Praise! Music/Sound of the New Breed, Regenerate Music]

39. Best Gospel Album

Identity

James Fortune & FIYA

[Light Records/eOne Music]

Jesus At The Center Live

Israel & New Breed

[Integrity Music]

Gravity