Now that the home team, the Atlanta Falcons of the 5th Congressional District (Shout out to Congressman & Civil Rights Hero John Lewis), is headed to the Super Bowl in Houston on Sunday, Feb. 5, of course, I had to let y’all know about some of the Gospel-themed activities during the celebration!
19- year-old GRAMMY® nominated teen sensation Jekalyn Carr has been added to the performance line-up for the 19th Annual NFL Sanctioned SuperBowl Gospel Celebration. Carr will join top Gospel and Christian artists Yolanda Adams, Lecrae, Natalie Grant and CeCe Winans and R&B superstars Lalah Hathaway, Anthony Hamilton and BJ The Chicago Kid to name a few for a star-studded event that will be hosted by David and Tamela Mann. The event will take place on Friday, February 3rd at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX at 7:30pm and will be taped in front of 16,800 attendees. The show will air on Sunday, February 5th at 10a/9a CST on BET/CENTRIC.
Carr earned 5 Stellar Award nominations including top honors for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “You’re Bigger.” Additionally, Carr also recieved nominations in the categories of Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Praise & Worship CD of the Year (“The Life Project”). Carr is also slated to perform her chart topping single “You’re Bigger” on the award show which takes place on March 25th in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena.
“I want to thank my team, radio, media and my supporters for their love over these last couple of months and to eOne for being a vehicle for my latest project,” says Jekalyn. “None of this would be possible without you and I’m forever grateful.”
Last month, THE RECORDING ACADEMY® announced that Carr, who is an independent artist, received a GRAMMY® nomination in the category of Best Gospel Performance/Song for “You’re Bigger.” This is Carr’s first GRAMMY® nomination, and it definitely caps off a remarkable year of firsts for the 19 year old prophetic powerhouse singer. The 59th Annual GRAMMY AWARDS® will take place on Sunday, February 12th in Los Angeles and will air live on CBS.
Houston-based recording artist CherylFortune is set to embark on her solo recording career with the release of her Lucius B. Hoskins-produced debut single “Fighters” set to impact gospel radio January 2017. “With this single I created an anthem for women that would offer a sense of hope, strength and boldness,” Cheryl.
CherylFortune is widely known throughout the gospel music industry as a former member of her husband’s GRAMMY-nominated and Stellar Award winning recording group James Fortune & FIYA. As the sound of the ensemble Cheryl lended backing vocal, co-writing and vocal production on projects such as, LIVE THROUGH IT (2014), GRACE GIFT (2012), IDENTITY (2012), ENCORE (2010) and TRANSFORMATION (2008). Cheryl contributed backing vocals on other artists projects including Kirk Franklin (Hello Fear), Shirley Caesar (Good God), Zacardi Cortez (The Introduction, Reloaded), Bishop T.D. Jakes (Sacred Love Songs, Vol 2) and Isaac Carree (Uncommon Me). She recorded a song “Running To You” (composed by Terence Vaughn) for the 2013 released compilation project KINGDOM MUSIC, VOL 1 (FIYA World/Light) among many other compilation projects as well. Most recently she toured with Kirk Franklin on the 20 Years In One Night World Tour.
As a songwriter Cheryl is most notable for co-writing the Billboard #1 smash hit single “I Trust You” which maintained that position for 28 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart. She also co-wrote the song “Hold On” which features Fred Hammond and R&B singer Monica. Additionally, Cheryl wrote the current single “God Held Me” (Lucius B. Hoskins) recorded by Zacardi Cortez.
A vocal prowess full of grace, style and poise, Cheryl is ready for her next chapter in life through song with the ability to speak and help battered and broken women about overcoming and surviving all types of abuse, form of cancer, or any challenge life has thrown ones way. Her estranged husband James Fortune admitted to CBN News in the June 2016 story Gospel Artist James Fortune Opens Up: ‘I Was an Abuser’ by Efrem Graham that he was an abuser as he pleaded guilty to a October 2014 assault of his wife in court earlier this year, resulting in “five years probation, five days in jail, and 175 hours of community service” for his domestic violence. He also told CBN News that he has been in therapy since the incident of domestic violence, allowing the news outlet in a meeting. Finally, Fortune revealed that “he and Cheryl are legally separated and moving forward with a divorce. Legally, they can have no contact with each other for the next five years. He spent six months separated from his four children.”
As of today, we’re one week into December so before any more of the month gets away from me, below is my Top 10 monthly roundup of blog posts and or articles for black Christian women ( but you don’t have be a black Christian woman to to check them out:) ! ) As usual, let me know if you like my list! Enjoy and share!
1. “In the Wake of Trump’s Election, A Meeting in the Ladies’ Room” by Amy Butler and Leslie Copeland-Tune
Excerpt: Four percent of black women voted for Donald Trump to be president of the United States. While others didn’t like Hillary Clinton or didn’t trust her, we understood that there was really no other choice for us. We have lived the tension between racism and sexism our whole lives. We know that as a black woman you have to be even more than 10 times better, more educated, more prepared than a man to just be considered minimally qualified. We knew that we could not give the office of president of the United States to someone who used racism and misogyny to win, someone who belittled women and sexualized his own daughter. No, not on our watch. Amy, what we don’t understand is why our white sisters, who as women share at least a part of our struggle, came out and voted to support him? How can this be? What in the world happened? See more at: baptistnews.com.
2. “U Name It: Viral Star Shirley Caesar”
3. “Keepin’ It Locked ‘Til She Gets A Rock: What We Can Learn From Insecure’s Yvonne Orji” by Stephanie Caudle
Excerpt: Yvonne, despite her character Molly’s sex life, is a 32-year-old virgin. Charlamagne jokingly told her that she played her character a little too well to be a virgin but Yvonne persisted that this was in fact her truth. “Personally, I had plans to have sex when I turned 18,” she said. “I was dating [dude] and I had it figured out. But, I got to college at 17 in D.C and then I got saved.” See more at: xonecole.com.
4. “Pastors Tell Black Women to be Passive and Wait for Love. I Don’t Believe in That” by Janelle Harris
Excerpt: Because the statistical odds are not in our favor, many of us are so desperate to understand why we’re not married and what we need to do to get married that we will listen to whoever seems as though they have the answers. Most often that boils down to two categories of folks: men and ministers, because as far as we know, they have an inside connection. It’s a situation ripe for exploitation: best-selling books, sold-out conferences, some of them birthed from a genuine desire to help, some of them preying on the vulnerabilities of good, Christian women trying to figure out why, despite faith and diligent prayer, their spouse’s arrival has been indefinitely postponed. See more at: washingtonpost.com.
5. “7 Women Besides Susan B. Anthony Whose Graves Deserve ‘I Voted’ Stickers” by Maddy Foley
Excerpt: Every election, a pilgrimage to Rochester, New York takes place. People from all over the United States, a large number of them women, place their “I Voted” stickers on suffragette Susan B. Anthony’s grave, an homage to her fight for the 19th Amendment. But there are a number of women besides Susan B. Anthony whose graves deserve “I Voted” stickers — and today, let’s honor them…Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth escaped with her baby daughter in 1826. In 1828, she sued her former owner for custody of her son and won, becoming the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. Truth is perhaps most famous for her extemporaneous speech “Ain’t I A Woman?” delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech argued for the equal rights of women as well as African-Americans. Truth is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan. See more at: bustle.com.
6. “Off-Duty Buffalo Officer Saves a Life on Plane to Las Vegas” by Lou Michel
Excerpt: Buffalo Police Officer Jennifer D. Whitaker arrived at a 911 call for a woman who had collapsed last year. She panicked and froze. Other first responders soon arrived and revived the woman. “I made a vow to God that I would act immediately if given the opportunity again,” Whitaker said. She kept her vow on a recent flight to a friend’s wedding in Las Vegas. “I was listening to Gospel music on my headphones when I heard somebody saying, ‘Help this lady, help this lady.’ It must have been loud. I could hear it over my music.” Whitaker jumped up and looked behind her. A woman was lying unconscious in the aisle. See more at: buffalonews.com.
7. “Sasha and Chuck Fenda Collaborate”
Excerpt: Born Karen Chin, Sasha is no newcomer to the music industry. In 2004, while still a secular artiste, she enjoyed international success with “I’m Still In Love With You,” a duet which she recorded with Sean Paul for his Dutty Rock album on Atlantic Records. The song topped reggae charts globally and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although she has walked away from the secular stage since she became a Christian, she is not afraid of being judged on this project as it is reminiscent of her earlier recordings. See more at: jamaica-star.com.
8. “‘The Girls’ Gatherings are Great Assets for Black Women” by Alonzo Kittrels
Excerpt: A few Sundays ago, I overheard several female members at church discussing plans to attend a gathering at the home of a church member. I must admit that I did not pay much attention to the conversation until I learned that the gathering, only involving females, was a luncheon for “the girls” to come together as a way to show appreciation for those that provided kindnesses and support to this member during a recent medical challenge. The get-together was also an opportunity for friends and family to bond. See more at: phillytrib.com.
9. “New Music Center at Evanston Seminary to Focus on Black Church Experience” by Genevieve Bookwalter
Excerpt: The Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience will begin educating students Jan. 22 with four-day classes of intense study, designed for church musicians who want to advance their skills but don’t always have the time or finances to enroll for a full semester, officials said. The Rev. Cynthia Wilson, assistant vice president of student life and dean of students at Garrett-Evangelical, said she expects the inaugural class to come from the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest. Students can choose from a variety of disciplines, including dance, choral development, liturgy and “worship and holy hip-hop,” among other courses. See more at: chicagotribune.com.
10. “BET’s ‘Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration’ Brought Us Some Much-Needed Joy” by Shamika Sanders
Excerpt: As the last days of the Obama administration fade into yesterday, we are reminded of their love story with programs like BET’s ‘Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration’ special that aired last night. Hosted by Terrence J. and Regina Hall, the celebratory event featured star-studded performances by Jill Scott, Janelle Monaé, Common, Usher, Bell Biv DeVoe, The Roots, De La Soul, Yolanda Adams, Michelle Williams, Kierra Sheard, and former Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr. See more at: elev8.hellobeautiful.com.
If you know of any black Christian women bloggers and or writers, please e-mail me at jacqueline@afterthealtarcall.com as I’m always interested in expanding my community of black Christian women blogs and websites. As I noted before, while this is a roundup of interesting blog posts and or articles for black Christian women, you don’t have to be one to appreciate these pieces 🙂
Carr earned 5 Stellar Award nominations including top honors for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “You’re Bigger.” Additionally, Carr also recieved nominations in the categories of Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Praise & Worship CD of the Year (“The Life Project”). Carr is also slated to perform her chart topping single “You’re Bigger” on the award show which takes place on March 25th in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena.
A vocal prowess full of grace, style and poise, 