The gospel medley performance by Aretha Franklin, Israel & New Breed, BeBe Winans, the Clark Sisters, the Madison Bumblebees and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 was a real highlight of the night.
The nominees/winners in the Christian / Gospel music categories are ...
Best Gospel Performance
As much as I love Casting Crowns, Aretha and Mary J. Blige are a hard pair to beat. I agree with this win 100%.- Blessed & Highly Favored - The Clark Sisters **Winner - tie
Track from: Live - One Last Time
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Purchase/Download - Never Gonna Break My Faith - Aretha Franklin & Mary J. Blige (Featuring The Harlem Boys Choir) **Winner - tie
Track from: Bobby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Buy Direct - East To West - Casting Crowns
Track from: The Altar And The Door
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(Buy Direct) - Digital Sheet Music
Purchase/Download - With Long Life - Israel And New Breed Featuring T-Bone
Track from: A Deeper Level
Purchase/Download - He Set My Life To Music - CeCe Winans
Track from: She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool - A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell
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Purchase/Download
Best Gospel Song
I was surprised here because "East To West" is such a huge song.- Blessed & Highly Favored - Karen Clark-Sheard, songwriter (The Clark Sisters) **Winner
Track from: Live - One Last Time
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Purchase/Download - East To West - Mark Hall & Bernie Herms, songwriters (Casting Crowns)
Track from: The Altar And The Door
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(Buy Direct) - Digital Sheet Music
Purchase/Download - Encourage Yourself - Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers)
Track from: The Grand Finale: Encourage Yourself
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Purchase/Download - Made To Love - Cary Barlowe, Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Aaron Rice, songwriters (TobyMac)
Track from: Portable Sounds
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Purchase/Download - Praise On The Inside - James L. Moss, songwriter (J. Moss)
Track from: V2
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Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album
Don't get me wrong here ... I like Ashely Cleveland and I think that she has a wonderful voice but in my opinion, Skillet should have gotten this one. Comatose was one of the best albums of the year.- Before The Daylight's Shot - Ashley Cleveland **Winner
- HIStory: Our Place In His Story - The Cross Movement
Compare Prices - Open Book - Da' T.R.U.T.H.
Compare Prices - The Reckoning - Pillar
Compare Prices - Comatose - Skillet
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Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
This was a hard category to pick because all of the nominees were so huge and Mandisa, while a newcomer, already has quite a following. Hats of to Israel And New Breed for the win.- A Deeper Level - Israel And New Breed **Winner
Compare Prices - The Altar And The Door - Casting Crowns
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(Buy Direct) - Music Book - True Beauty - Mandisa
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(Buy Direct) Music Book - Stand - Michael W. Smith
Purchase/Download - Portable Sounds - TobyMac
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Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
Ricky Skaggs & The Whites are a surprise winner here. I thought I'll Fly Away was going to get this one because so many huge names are on the release.- Salt Of The Earth - Ricky Skaggs & The Whites **Winner
Compare Prices - Amazing Grace - Bill & Gloria Gaither And The Homecoming Friends
Compare Prices - Journey Of Joy - Karen Peck And New River
- Everybody's Brother - Billy Joe Shaver
Compare Prices - Tell Someone - Kenny & Amanda Smith Band
- I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs Of Faith - Various Artists
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Best Traditional Gospel Album
Traditional Gospel = The Clark Sisters in my book, and apparently in the GRAMMY folks book too!- Live - One Last Time - The Clark Sisters **Winner
Compare Prices - The Grand Finale': Encourage Yourself - Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers
Compare Prices - Life Changing - Smokie Norful
Compare Prices - Thirsty - Marvin Sapp
Compare Prices - Cherch - Bebe Winans
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Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
I love the richness of Fred Hammond's voice, but secretly I was rooting for Trin-I-Tee 5:7. Those ladies can flat sing!- Free To Worship - Fred Hammond **Winner
Compare Prices - Grateful - Coko
Compare Prices - V2… - J. Moss
Compare Prices - T57 - Trin-I-Tee 5:7
Compare Prices - Alone But Not Alone - Marvin Winans
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