Jars of Clay Premiere at #29

Jars of Clay's new CD, The Long Fall Back To Earth, premieres at #29 on the Billboard 200.

Carrie Prejean Says 'God Was Testing My Faith'

Carrie Prejean is now perhaps the most famous runner-up in Miss USA history. When a Miss USA judge, the gossip blogger and openly-gay Perez Hilton, asked about her stance on same-sex marriage, she replied:

"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." The answer likely cost her the Miss USA crown.

In an interview with Fox News, Prejean talks about being "tested" by God, the outpouring of support, and the first thing she and her family did after the show.

"Hollywood isn’t just liberal, it is fearfully liberal. It is easier in Hollywood to say you’re a drug addict or to pretty much anything than to admit to being a committed Christian," media expert and longtime Hollywood publicist, Michael Levine of Levine Communications, told FOXnews.com.

Another NFL Player Releases Christian CD

NFL Super Bowl winning player Ben Utecht is the starting tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals, but this year’s off-season introduces Utecht as a singer and musician to the world. His self-titled debut album launches today.

“Ben Utecht is a talented football player. He started at Tight End for my team, the Indianapolis Colts, in Super Bowl XLI and helped us beat the Chicago Bears. However, I always thought his real impact would be in Christian music. Ben has a tremendous voice and a passion for music, but more than that, he believes in the gospel message and that comes through when he sings. I believe God is going to use his musical gift in a special way.” says former NFL head coach, Tony Dungy, who was Utecht’s coach for four years.

It'll be interesting to see if he meets the same level of success as his former teammate, Hunter Smith (Connersvine).

Miley Subjected to Foxx Rant

On his weekly radio show Jamie Foxx encouraged Miley Cyrus to "make a sex tape and grow up!" Other guests in the background can be heard saying "Be like Britney Spears and do some heroin. Be like Lindsay Lohan and start seeing a lesbian...get some crack in your pipe. Now that's what I want." Fox News is reporting.

In response, Billy Ray Cyrus told talk show host Bonnie Hunt: “It was hurtful, there wasn’t nothing funny about it, and quite frankly, I think if I said those things about his daughter he might not find it so comedic.”

Foxx issued an apology on Tuesday's episode of "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, claiming he meant no harm.

"I have a radio show. We're really the black Howard Stern. We go at everybody. There was a situation with Miley Cyrus, and I just want to say, I apologize for what I said. I didn't mean it maliciously. You know I'm a comedian. You know my heart."

Ted Dekker Lands at #10 with Latest Novel

Ted Dekker's latest novel, BoneMan's Daughters, premieres at #10 on NY Times Bestsellers list.

Country Star to Release Christian CD

With 17 #1s, more than 30 charted singles on the Billboard Hot Country Chart and more than eight million albums sold, platinum-selling country star Tracy Lawrence is releasing an inspirational country music compilation entitled The Rock.

Glenn Beck Shares Easter Story on National Radio

Glenn Beck shared an essay in the first hour of his nationally syndicated talk radio program. Glenn Beck played his previously recorded narration of the Story of Easter set to Pink Floyd music. I found it remarkable that a non-Christian radio show would be this blatant with the story of salvation.

Stryper's 25th Anniversary Tour

Stryper will begin touring in September, hitting approximately 50 cities across America. This will be followed by International tour dates in January and February of 2010.

25 years ago Stryper broke on to the scene with their debut EP Yellow and Black Attack and have since gone on to sell 8 million records worldwide.

The 25th Anniversary Tour will be a 2 set show. The first set will be new Stryper material and include bassist Tracy Ferrie, along with original members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox. The second set will be classic Stryper hits and will be all 4 original members, including original bassist Tim Gaines. Michael Sweet Jr's band will be the opening band on the tour.

Jonas Brothers' first series to debut May 2

JONAS, the new series starring brothers Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas debuts May 2 on the Disney Channel. The three brothers play the fictional Lucas brothers, musicians who attend Horace Mantis Academy when they are not on tour as the group JONAS (in the series, the brothers live on Jonas Street, the inspiration for their band name).

Francesca Battistelli #1 on Four Christian Radio Charts

On the heels of recent music features on AOL Music's homepage, ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," NBC's "Biggest Loser," and The Style Network's new reality show "Running In Heels," Francesca Battistelli is #1 on four Christian radio charts.

"Free to be Me" reached #1 this week on all three R&R Christian radio charts: AC-Monitored, AC-Indicator, and CHR, as well as on the Mediabase chart (as printed in USA Today).

"Free to be Me" is the first #1 single from a female at AC since 2005. This is the 5th week in the top spot at CHR, and the second week as #1 at AC-Indicator.

Perhaps Battistelli is a trend buster for Christian music radio.

Shows Feature New Phillip LaRue Songs

"Ghost Whisperer" on CBS and One Tree Hill on The CW feature new single "Found" from Phillip LaRue. The upcoming limited series Harper's Island will feature "Erase and Rewind."

LaRue is not new to the music scene, he has recently filled the role of producer (Krystal Meyers, Tenth Avenue North) and songwriter (Brandon Heath, Tenth Avenue North) since his duo LaRue (with his sister Natalie) called it quits in 2003.