Josh Turner's 'I Serve A Savior' Debuts at No. 1 Atop Nielsen's Country Albums Chart

Josh Turner's I Serve A Savior earned debut placements across multiple charts, including No. 1 on Nielsen's Country Albums Chart and No. 2 on both Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart and Top Christian Albums Chart. The complementing live performance DVD also secured the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Music Video Chart and Christian Music Video Chart. Praise for the faith-filled project continues to pour in, with Worship Musician calling the album "musically brilliant, yet refreshingly restive" and Music Row applauding the singer's "earthen baritone." 

"This project was truly a dream come true," commented Turner. "It's something I have wanted to do for a long time.  God opened the door and I walked through it.  When I look back, this will be one of my favorite projects of my career."

I Serve A Savior marks Turner's first appearance on Billboard's Christian charts, but is the eighth top ten appearance on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart for the multi-platinum-selling singer.

Adding a new dimension to the GRAMMY® nominee's already acclaimed career, the faith-based collection produced by Kenny Greenburg includes hand-picked hymns, alongside brand-new originals and live recordings of some of Turner's most memorable hits including "Me and God" and "Long Black Train." A portion of the 90-minute live performance DVD released in addition to the project will continue to air this fall on numerous networks throughout the U.S. and Canada. Click here for more information on networks and air times.

On the heels of his release, Turner will be returning to Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium for back-to-back Opry performances tomorrow, Nov. 06 at 7:00PM CT, and again at 9:30PM CT. As one of the youngest members inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Turner will be performing songs off his latest project. For tickets and more information, go to www.opry.com.

Reba McEntire: Faith Guides Me

Country music super star Reba McEntire has sold more than 56 million albums, starred in her own television show and has just released her first studio album in the past five years to rave reviews. The secret to her success? The singer's faith.

"[Faith] guides me on everything I do," Reba told Fox News. "I ask for guidance, I ask the Lord to give me wisdom when I speak, when I think and I always try to be positive and say nice things and it gives me strength throughout every minute and every day."

Reba's faith is front and center on her latest album Love Somebody. She penned the song "Pray for Peace" after receiving a message from God.

"It's a song that was started 2-3 years ago when I was out walking," she said. "My front yard is my church and that's where I go out and I talk to God...so 'Pray for Peace' came to my mind and I started praying for peace."

Reba continued, "A month or two later I'm like, 'Lord, what have you got in mind for me? What's my next project?' And He said, 'I want you to pray for peace.'"

It didn't take long for Reba to march into the studio to record the song.

The singer recalled asking God what she should do with the song and said He told her to "give it away" so she put it on YouTube. She later decided to include it on the album because "fans need to hear it because it is a gift from God."

Reba's faith is one reason why she's teamed up with Outnumber Hunger's campaign to help secure meals for those struggling with hunger in America. Reba explained it was comedian Bob Hope who helped her understand the importance of using her celebrity to give back.

"We were doing benefits for the widows of veterans and he told me, he said, 'It's really important for you to give back. You can receive all day long, but the most important thing for you to do in your life...is to give back."

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Carrie Underwood Finds Something in the Water

Country superstar Carrie Underwood is currently enjoying another hit with the single "Something In The Water." She has gone full circle in capping a decade of hits with another faith-inspired song. It's been a decade since the country star exploded onto the music scene with her winning appearance on American Idol in 2005 and her first big hit, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel'."

After winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005 she has enjoyed staggering success, selling more than 64 million records globally, winning six Grammy Awards and had 14 number one country music hits. Now, with the release of "Something In The Water", she sings a song which speaks boldly about conversion, baptism and keeping the faith with lyrics which include the lines, "I followed that preacher man down to the river/And now I'm changed/And I'm stronger/There must've been something in the water." The song ends with an interpolation of "Amazing Grace" before Underwood powerfully sings out a portion of the hymn.

In an interview with the Today TV, she described "Something In The Water" as a "joyous, uplifting song about changing your life for the better and waking up and having that a-ha moment and your life being different from that moment forward." Talking to Esquire magazine she said, "After I released 'Jesus Take The Wheel' people started saying, 'Oh, it's kind of risky. You're coming out with a religious song.' I was thinking, 'Really?' I grew up in Oklahoma, I always had a close relationship with God. I never thought it was risky in the least. If anything, I thought it was the safest thing I could do."

"Something In The Water" is the first track on Carrie's latest double CD 'Greatest Hits: Decade #1' which also includes "Jesus, Take The Wheel" and her duet with Vince Gill, "How Great Thou Art".

Lee Brice to Record Gospel CD

According to Christian Post, country music artist Lee Brice is planning to record a Gospel album with his mother as a way to pay homage to his original musical influences.

Brice, having earned Grammy nominations and other notable accolades despite his short time in the country music scene, grew up playing Gospel tunes on his aunt's piano and now wants to make the new project a family affair.

"My mom and all her sisters sang gospel music my whole life, and they're amazing. They made a record in Nashville," said Brice, reports Rolling Stone. "I'm going to send a tour bus to pick them all up in South Carolina in July and bring them here to my house, and I'm going to make a new record on them. We're going to sing classic gospel songs and have them sing in the background."

Although his third studio album I Don't Dance, which is set to release in early September, is a priority for the country singer, he says he "cannot wait" to begin the faith-inspired project. However, Brice did not reveal whether the album will be released to the masses.

Despite delving into secular music once his career took off, Brice still acknowledges his Christian upbringing and Gospel influence that led him to pursue his artistic dream.

Despite his fame and success, Brice strives to uphold his faith-based roots and morals.

"I try to be a good man and try to be a Christian man. I want to be remembered as a writer and a singer. That's what I've been doing my whole life – writing songs," Brice said in a statement on his website. "I want people to hopefully one day say, 'he gave his all to it.' Hopefully, that's how they will remember me."

Brad Paisley Tackles Religion in 'Those Crazy Christians'

Brad Paisley is dealing with the backlash from his highly-debated tune “Accidental Racist,” but there’s another song on his new album, Wheelhouse, that could raise a few eyebrows of fans who prefer their country music without controversy.

Paisley tackles religion in “Those Crazy Christians,” written from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever. Born and raised a Southern Baptist in West Virginia, Paisley is still a churchgoer (and an appreciator of traditions like Lent, for which he gave up bread this year), but he likes looking at topics from different angles.

“This is what I would consider a gospel song, the most important one I’ve ever done—a lot more important to me than ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus,’ ” he told PARADE’s March 24 cover story.

With lyrics like “A famous TV preacher has a big affair and then…One tearful confession and he’s born again” and “Every untimely passing, every dear departed soul/Is just another good excuse to bake a casserole,” this isn’t your mom’s gospel song.

As Paisley told PARADE, “I wrote it shortly after my cousin-in-law passed away in 2011,” he said. “He was young, and he fought against a debilitating disease. There weren’t five minutes of intensive care that there weren’t at least two church members at the hospital, around the clock, and I remember thinking, what makes people take shifts for somebody they haven’t known very long? Well, it’s belief.

“To play the part of the skeptic in that song is a much more powerful argument to me—in favor of [belief] as well as looking at some of the things that are baffling. My most devout friends love it and so do my agnostic ones, but for very different reasons. I [chose] the tittle because I remember thinking, ‘Those crazy Christians. Look at them go. Look at them swoop in to save the day.’”

As with “Accidental Racist,” Paisley isn’t one to preach, he’s only asking the questions.

“They look to heaven their whole life,” he sings in “Those Crazy Christians.” “And I think what if they’re wrong but what if they’re right…You know it’s funny, much as I’m baffled by it all…If I ever really needed help, well you know who I’d call…Those crazy Christians.”

Paisley says he isn’t too worried if the edgier material on Wheelhouse doesn’t click with all his fans. “Maybe I’m naive, but I give them a lot of credit for having been with me a long time and knowing me really well. So it’s not like with one album I’m a whole new guy. I’ve had a great career, and if I don’t have one after this …”—he chuckles—“… then so be it.”

What are your thoughts on the singer’s hot-button tunes? Tell us in the comments. To find out more about Brad Paisley’s new album, Wheelhouse, read the full PARADE interview.

Did Brandon Heath Pen the Next Country Hit?

Two years ago, Dave Barnes had a smash hit on the country charts courtesy of Blake Shelton.  More recently Dave covered his friend Brandon Heath's song "Love Will Be Enough For Us" which also appears on Heath's new release Blue Mountain.

I don't know much about country music, but it seems an obvious choice for Blake Shelton or some other artist who wants a hit.

Mac Powell Puts His Faith in Country Music

For two decades, Mac Powell has delighted audiences as a member of the popular Christian rock band Third Day. However, there is another side to the soulful singer, as he explores on his new self-titled debut country disc.

"It's something I have listened to since I was a little kid," he tells Billboard.

Country music was something he heard around the house growing up on a daily basis, and his parents helped spread the love of the format. "They loved playing acoustic guitar, and would sing around the house."

However, his musical journey would take him in a different direction, but he never forgot his love of the music.

Powell says that about two years ago, he began being approached by people asking whether he'd ever thought about making a country record

"When you have random people saying that, you start to think, 'Maybe I should be doing this,'" he says. "I knew I loved it, but I had been in this other genre for so long. So, I had a little time off at the end of last year, and got together with some friends of mine, and started working on some songs. I liked what I had come up with, and played it for some other people who did, and thought 'Maybe I need to get this out there."

Though the music on his solo disc is a much different sound, that doesn't mean that Third Day is calling it a day. "We've been together for twenty years, and it's one of things I still love doing. I have a great time playing with those guys. We actually have a new record coming out soon. It's fun to be able to do this. As a songwriter and musician, doing a country record gives me another outlet. I've had these other song ideas, and things I've wanted to do, but couldn't within Third Day, so this gives me a chance to do it."

Two of the highlights on the album are the first single, "June Bug," and "Sweet Georgia Girls," of which Powell says "It was one of the first songs we wrote for the record. There are several semi-autobiographical cuts on it, and it's not totally true. Like many writers, I tried to take some things that have happened in life, and tried to make a song out of it. I grew up in Alabama, and moved to Georgia, met my sweetheart, and now I have a house full of Georgia girls like the song talks about."

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Mac Powell Releases Self-Titled Country Project

Mac Powell, front man of the multi-platinum selling, four time GRAMMY and American Music Award winning rock band Third Day, releases his self-titled debut country music album on August 21, 2012. The CD features twelve songs by the #1 hit songwriter including his first single, “June Bug” which he released last month through his Twitter account (@macpowell) to his more than 80,000 followers.
 
His recent solo country performance debut at the 2012 CMA Music Festival in Nashville resulted
in a host of media and fan accolades. Of his song, “One Mississippi,” USA Today’s Lucas Hendrickson writes, “Note to country radio programmers: keep an ear out for ‘One Mississippi.’ And keep a spoon handy, for you will be eating this song up with it.”

“There have been so many times in the past that I had song ideas that didn’t really fit lyrically or musically with Third Day,” Powell wrote on his personal Tumblr site, announcing the project. “I filed those songs away to the ‘maybe sometime’ category. Well, that time is now.”

Powell also stresses that his work with Third Day continues, with the band putting the finishing touches on a new album – helmed by veteran rock producer Brendan O’Brien – that’s due
for release this fall with a Spring 2013 tour to follow.

Barnes Tops the Country Charts

Dave Barnes celebrates a career first with his song “God Gave Me You” performed by country superstar Blake Shelton as it jumps to the #1 spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart. Barnes wrote the song for his last studio album, "What We Want, What We Get" released in 2010. “God Gave Me You” is on Blake Shelton’s eighth studio album, "Red River Blue," and is his fastest rising single to date.

Barnes’ version of “God Gave Me You” had a great run at Adult Contemporary radio in 2010, peaking at #21. The song also peaked at #3 at Christian CHR. Barnes’ and Shelton’s versions of “God Gave Me You” have sold close to 600,000 individual tracks combined. Dave Barnes' “God Gave Me You” video here: http://bit.ly/cFA8Hb

Blake Shelton selected the song after hearing it one day on the radio, he tells AOL’s The Boot: "It's no secret, Miranda and I have had our ups and downs over the years and this was definitely at a low point at our relationship. I was flipping through stations and landed on a contemporary Christian station, and that song came on and I almost had to pull the truck over. I felt like I was hearing that song at that moment for a reason."

Dave told AOL’s The Boot: “When I heard that it was making [Blake's] record, I was so excited! Especially in how it got there: it wasn't pitched, it was found. That's the best because the artist has such a different attachment that way. The fact that he heard it on the radio and wanted to record it because it meant something to him and Miranda blows my mind. It's still hard to believe it's on the radio. Writing so much on Music Row and knowing the process of how songs get cut and picked for radio, it's amazing to me that “God Gave Me You” made it through the whole process.”

Barnes is no stranger to having his music plucked by country singers as Billy Currington re-recorded Barnes’ radio hit “Until You” for Currington’s 2010 release. Barnes has been recognized by the industry as a rising songwriter. Billboard Magazine touted “Many of the best pop songwriters come out of Nashville, and Dave Barnes is one such singer/scribe now building momentum."

Barnes adds, “I have been writing a lot on Music Row in the last couple of years. I'm trying to get more songs recorded by country artists, both songs from my previous albums and songs that I'm writing with other Nashville writers. It's a really fun challenge and new discipline.”

Dave Barnes last album "What We Want, What We Get" debuted at #59 on the Billboard top 200 album chart in 2010 and #15 on the digital albums chart. Barnes has sold over 150,000 albums to date and over 510,000 individual song downloads. He is currently on tour and will tour in 2012 as well. Barnes has previously toured with notable acts including John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Bonnie Raitt, and One Republic.

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.