Naomi Raine, Breakout Star from GRAMMY Award-Winning supergroup Maverick City Music, Tackles Mental Health On Her New Solo Album THE JOURNEY..

Hello World,

Naomi Raine is best known as one of the breakout stars from GRAMMY® Award-Winning supergroup, Maverick City Music. Whether songwriting, singing or playing the guitar, she has always found it easiest to communicate to people through lyrics and melodies. Raine’s signature vocals have been heard on the Maverick City Music #1 singles, “Jireh,” and “Promises,” plus the holiday classic, “Revelation 19:1.” Today, Raine embarks on a solo journey, while still maintaining her position with Maverick City Music. Raine’s solo album, The Journey, is available now wherever music is sold and streamed.

Naomi Raine’s TRIBL Records debut full-length album, The Journey, is a collection of transparent and vulnerable deep cuts that detail Raine’s mental health battle in beautifully crafted lyrics. The 22-track album features interludes of Naomi discussing her journey of self-discovery interwoven between musical layers. Her debut solo single, “Not Ready,” showcases the Urban Inspirational sound of Naomi Raine over transparent and vulnerable lyrics – Raine sings of a yearning for the love of God and touches on her silent battle with mental health and struggle in longing for personal change. Raine’s, “Not Ready” is a nod to 90’s feel-good music and will easily become a fan favorite. An undeniable bop – “World on Fire,” the second single lifted, showcases Raine’s lower register and features Ryan Avery.

Currently, Naomi Raine is on the sold-out KINGDOM Tour with Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin. Naomi Raine has performed with Maverick City Music on the 2022 GRAMMY’s, The Today Show, BET Awards 2022, NPR’s Tiny Desk, Kelly Clarkson Show, and The View; she has also accumulated multiple Stellar Awards, DOVE Awards and a GRAMMY and Billboard Music Award.

Follow Naomi Raine on social media by using the handle @NaomiRaine.

The Journey track listing

1. The Journey (Overture)

2. Pending Emotions

3. Paper Plates

4. Let Go (Car Chat)

5. Not Ready

6. Where The Heart Is (Car Chat)

7. Safe

8. To The End (Car Chat)

9. Hold On (feat. Brik.Liam)

10. Good Story

11. Goodbye (Car Chat)

12. Won One

13. World on Fire (feat. Ryan Avery)

14. The Real Me (Car Chat)

15. Choosing Myself

16. Still Alone

17. Exactly Where I Need To Be (Car Chat)

18. Okay

19. Sacrifice (Car Chat)

20. Like You ($u!€!d£) [feat. Mali Music]

21. Merrily

22. Brand New

Watch the video for “Not Ready” below…

Any thoughts?

DeVon Franklin & Meagan Good Divorce is Final, Should DeVon Be a ‘Married at First Sight’ Expert?

Hello World,

Sadly, it’s a done deal. DeVon Franklin & Meagan Good are officially divorced according to US Weekly…See an excerpt of the story below…

Officially over. Meagan Good‘s divorce from ex-husband DeVon Franklin has been finalized, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm.

The Harlem star, 40, tied the knot with the producer, 44, in June 2012 before they separated in August 2021. According to court documents obtained by Us, Franklin filed for divorce in December of that year. Their split was finalized on Thursday, June 2, with the couple settling privately. Neither Good nor Franklin will be required to pay spousal support.

Read the rest of the story HERE. 

Remember I wrote about their December 2021 divorce announcement in Seven Lessons We Can Learn From the Divorce of DeVon Franklin & Meagan Good Without Actually Knowing What Happened to Break Them Up…Below is an excerpt…

1. Thou shalt not covet…celebrity marriages…One of the Ten Commandments is “thou shalt not covet.” When I was younger, I didn’t get the importance of this commandment but now as I get older, I understand more and more “by and by.” To covet means to “to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably.” When it comes to being a celebrity, it seems all glitz and glam but no one knows what goes on behind the scenes of any individual’s personal life. How many times have we heard of a celebrity being a secret drug addict or being unhappy despite all of the trappings of a celebrity life. I recently read the memoir Will, which is a very good read by the way, and he wrote about having everything you want materially but still feeling dissatisfied.

In the case of DeVon and Meagan, they were truly a beautiful couple from the outside looking in but clearly we weren’t seeing the entire picture. And although I’m not an OG of marriage as I’m only eight years in my doggone self, but I do know this: If Robert and I had to have our marriage dissected in the public eye, we would have likely divorced by now. Although I’m not holding up the marriage of Jay-Z and Beyoncé as a standard, I do appreciate how, for the most part, they have kept their marriage off limits to the public. A marriage is precious and in general should not be open to public scrutiny. I appreciate when long-time married couples write relationship books and share the secrets of their years-long marriage, but I do think they have to be careful about what they share.

2. Regular, degular marriages should be highlighted…While I love my celebrities and celebrity culture, I have learned to look up to regular people when it comes to marriage. Like anyone, I fawn over celebrity weddings and I imagine all of the trappings that come up with a celebrity marriage like having a fabulous home or homes, household help, exotic vacations, etc. I’m not saying that any of these material accomplishments should not be aspired to, but what about the man who brings coffee to his wife every morning before going to work at some small business in Anywhere, US of A? Or what about the young couple who had to scrimp and save for several years before buying their first home together as a married couple and have lived in that one modest home for all of their married life? And consider the couple who raised many children together and finally have enough money to go on a proper vacation abroad and alone after many years of sacrifice. I’m bougie and I want ALL OF THE THINGS, but I’ve learned to treasure the daily acts of service and sacrifice that define a couple instead of what the media (of which I’m a member) has deemed worthy of accolades.

Read the rest of this post HERE.

However, in the wake of the divorce, DeVon announced that he will be featured as an expert in the upcoming season of Married at First Sight, which is surprising for obvious reasons…Below is what he had to say about it on his social media accounts…

When I first read this statement, I was like whatever DeVon, don’t nobody want to hear about how to get divorced…But I watched a YouTube video yesterday and the person who made the video (sorry, I cannot remember the name of the video creator) mentioned that generally the best NBA couches never made it into the NBA…I never knew that, but I found an article in which the writer asserted the same thing…See an excerpt below…

The argument for having experience has always been that coaches need that credibility. Players won’t listen to someone who has never been in their shoes.

Well, in 2013, it seems they will—at least enough to make the conference finals. And when you’re talking about Popovich, you’re probably talking about one of the five best coaches in league history. Going back even further, Red Auerbach never had a problem winning despite being a 5’10” stocky kid from Brooklyn who never laced ’em up professionally. It was never an issue for Chuck Daly either.

Read the rest of“Must NBA Coaches Be Former Players to Succeed?” by Jared Wade here…

So maybe DeVon has something of value to offer to couples who want to be married although he is now divorced after all…I never watched the show, but I may tune in just to see what he has to say…The new season of Married at First Sight starts on July 6….

Would you be willing to receive marriage advice from DeVon Franklin?

Any thoughts?

The Top 10 Blog Posts and or Magazine Articles for Black Christian Women in May 2022…

Hello World,

And Hello June…I’m back with my monthly roundup of blog posts and or magazine articles for black Christian women! Below is my Top 10 monthly roundup of blog posts and or magazine/newspaper articles for black Christian women for May, 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. “What does it mean to trust Black women?” by Sharon Blount

Excerpt: A recent scientific study found that Black newborn babies in the United States are three times more likely to die when looked after by White doctors. In her essay, “Dying to be Competent,” African American sociologist, writer and professor, Tressie McMillan Cottom shares how her daughter became one of those statistics. Four months into her pregnancy, Cottom began bleeding. She reported the symptoms to her doctor and went immediately to his office but sat in the waiting room for half an hour before being seen. After the doctor examined her, he sent her home explaining that the bleeding was normal and that Cottom “was probably just too fat.” See more at: pres-outlook.org. 

2. “Tabitha Brown Is Launching a Clothing Line for Target” by Elizabeth Logan

Excerpt: Tabitha Brown, social media star and vegan influencer, has teamed up with Target to create Tabitha Brown for Target, a line of clothes and products her fans are sure to love. Tabitha Brown for Target is a limited-time-only line of, per a press release, “apparel, swim and accessories items, home and office, food and kitchenware, entertaining and more.” The line will be composed of more than 75 items, with most available for under $30. See more at: glamour.com.

3. “Macy’s Wins Over Underserved Market: Black Sororities” by Jordyn Holman

Excerpt: Inside a Macy’s a few months ago, Cenetta Baker-Woods discovered something that made her immediately call her sorority sisters. Holding up her phone’s video camera in the Charlotte, North Carolina, store, the 32-year-old showed fellow members of Zeta Phi Beta, a historically Black organization, racks of $90 dresses in unmistakable color combos that she knew were designed specifically for them. Baker-Woods was right, having stumbled across a new strategy by Macy’s to win over Black sororities in a partnership with clothing maker Kasper Group. Members of these organizations maintain strong ties well after college through conventions and chapter events and have a consistent need for dressier attire in their group’s colors. But finding a frock in a pattern like royal blue and white (Zeta Phi Beta’s colors) can be difficult. See more at: bloomberg.com. 

4. “Dianna Hobbs’s touching online tribute to Buffalo supermarket massacre victim, Pearl Young” by Rebecca Johnson

Pearl Young was a long-time member of the Good Samaritan Church in Buffalo, N.Y.

Excerpt: Hobbs, who said she “used to attend the same church with Mother Young,” wrote that she was “such a positive, warm, loving spirit. You had to experience her smile to understand how it would light up a room.” Hobbs continued, “I will forever remember that beautiful smile, how much she loved to praise the Lord, and how encouraging she was to me and my husband. She loved hearing me sing at church and admonished me, always, to go forth in the work of the Lord. She helped instruct me in the word of God to prepare me to obtain my Evangelist Missionary license. It is people like her who, along my life’s journey, helped mold and shape me into the woman I am today. See more at: eewmagazineonline.com.

5. “In ‘Truth’s Table’ book, women podcasters cast vision for future of Black church” by Adelle M. Banks

Excerpt: The three Black women — a public theologian, a senior pastor, an educator and psychologist — first got to know each other through a group chat. After having wide-ranging discussion on religion, race and gender, they met at a conference, where they were encouraged to start a joint podcast. Now, their book, Truth’s Table: Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation, was released April 26. Ekemini Uwan, Michelle Higgins and Christina Edmondson have said their work — in audio and in print — is designed expressly for Black women but they welcome others into their audience, to what they call their “standing-room section.” See more at: ncronline.org.

6. “Short story writer Deesha Philyaw: ‘I wanted to challenge the church’s obsession with sex’” by Lucy Knight

Excerpt: When asked to choose their favourite story in The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, Deesha Philyaw’s acclaimed debut collection, most people, the author tells me, say Peach Cobbler. This simultaneously funny and punch-in-the-guts-devastating tale focuses on Olivia, a young girl in the American south who believes the local pastor to be God, because when he visits she overhears her mother screaming “Oh, God!” from the bedroom. See more at: theguardian.com. 

7. “AFRO Exclusive: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie named Interim President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ” 

Excerpt: Bishop McKenzie has been appointed to a two-year term as Interim President and General Secretary. In this role, she will provide executive leadership to a diverse covenant community of 37-member communions with 30 million Christians and 100,000 congregations from Protestant, Anglican, historic African American, Orthodox, Evangelical and Living Peace traditions which have a common commitment to advocate and represent God’s love and unity in the public square. Since 1950, the National Council of Churches has worked in a common expression of God’s love and promise of unity. She is the third woman and the first African American woman to serve as General Secretary and the first woman to serve in the combined role of President and General Secretary. See more at: afro.com.

8. “Karine Jean-Pierre starts job as first Black White House press secretary” by Associated Press

Excerpt: “Representation matters, and not just for girls, but also for boys,” Jean-Pierre told reporters during the first of what probably will be hundreds of daily news briefings she will hold. “And so what I hope is that young people get to dream big and dream bigger than they have before by seeing me stand here and answer all of your questions.” See more at: washingtonpost.com.

9. “19-Year-Old Texas Student Becomes Nation’s Youngest Black Law School Graduate: ‘It Feels Really Good'” by Maria Pasquini

Excerpt: Haley Taylor Schlitz is making history! Over the weekend, the 19-year-old student graduated from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law. In the process, not only did she become the school’s youngest law school graduate, but she also became the youngest Black law school graduate in the country, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. See more at: people.com.

10. “Here’s the Real Takeaway From Black Lives Matter’s Sketchy Finances” by Ernest Owens

Excerpt: One of the more concerning situations revealed by the financial disclosures is the fact that co-founder Patrisse Cullors was the foundation board’s sole voting director, and held no board meetings, before stepping down last year. Under her leadership, Cullors authorized a six-figure payout to be given to her child’s father for various services, paid $1.8 million to companies owned by her relatives, and ensured that her brother, Paul Cullors, was one of the highest-paid employees of BLM. See more at: thedailybeast.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 blog, magazines and websites. As I noted before, while this is a roundup of interesting blog posts and or magazine and newspaper articles for black Christian women, you don’t have to be one to appreciate these pieces  🙂.

Any thoughts?