UP Launches New Acoustic Performance Series with Top Christian Artists

UP recently launched a new acoustic performance series, Revealed, which promises to showcase unique performances by top Christian acts including MercyMe, Kutless, and Scott Stapp of Creed fame.

Colton Dixon on The Importance of Christian Music

Colton Dixon explains the importance of Christian music and reveals the ultimate goal of his profession in this Dove Awards side-stage interview with UP.

Recognizing the Best in Christian Music: Dove Awards Airs on UP Tonight

Hosted by Amy Grant & Kirk Franklin, the Dove Awards airs tonight at 8 PM ET on UP and features performances by NEEDTOBREATHE, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, Gaither Vocal Band, Jason Crabb, Tamela Mann and more.

Presenters include Candace Cameron Bure, Rusty & Julie Bulloch, Pastor Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Brandon Heath, Chonda Pierce, David Mann, Isaac Carree, Jaci Velasquez, Lecrae, Bart Millard (MercyMe), Mandisa and Montell Jordan.

Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin To Host The Dove Awards

The GMA announces Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin as hosts for the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The awards show will take place on October 15 in Nashville, Tennessee. The show will be broadcast on Monday, October 21st at 8:00pm ET exclusively on UP.

In addition to the awards show host, past Dove Award winners and nominees, Gaither Vocal Band, Michael W. Smith, Tamela Mann and TobyMac are the first announced performers.

The first round of presenters confirmed includes Jaci Velasquez, Lecrae and Pastor Rick Warren.

Montell Jordan to Star in Duck Dynasty Commercial

Montell Jordan is the guest star in a promotional video for the upcoming season of Duck Dynasty on the A&E Network. The video shows Jase Robertson playing Jordan's classic hit single, "This Is How We Do It," on his duck call, with the rest of the Robertson brothers joining in vocally on the song. The camera angle widens to show Jordan sitting in a chair and not very enthused with the impromptu performance to deliver a fun, humorous promo video.

Jordan's current single with Chris August, "You Are," is gaining momentum at Christian Contemporary radio and is from Jordan's debut project in the Christian market, Shake Heaven. The album received a Dove nomination for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year. The 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards show is October 15, and will broadcast exclusively on UP on Monday, October 21, at 8:00 pm ET.

44th Annual GMA Dove Awards' Nominations Announced

Top Nominees Include Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, Matt Redman, Tamela Mann and Wayne Haun

Artist of the Year Nominees are Chris Tomlin, Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae, Tamela Mann and TobyMac

New Artist of the Year Nominees are Capital Kings, Colton Dixon, for King & Country, Rhett Walker Band and Tasha Cobbs

Awards to broadcast on UP 

Top Nominees Include Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, Matt Redman, Tamela Mann and Wayne Haun

Artist of the Year Nominees are Chris Tomlin, Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae, Tamela Mann and TobyMac

New Artist of the Year Nominees are Capital Kings, Colton Dixon, for King & Country, Rhett Walker Band and Tasha Cobbs

Awards to broadcast on the UP television network

- See more at: http://www.uptv.com/news/2013/44th-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominations-announced#sthash.EqoobqNr.dpuf

Valerie Harper, Lauren Holly Cast in 'The Town That Came A-Courtin' for Up

Former "Rhoda" star Valerie Harper has joined the cast of "The Town That Came A-Courtin'" which will premiere on UP in January.

Lauren Holly, Cameron Bancroft and Lucie Guest have also been cast in the film, which is based on author and columnist Ronda Rich's bestselling novel of the same name.

In the film, Holly stars as as successful author and fiercely independent Southern woman Abby Houston, who finds herself being held captive in a remote cabin by an obsessed fan.

Harper -- who shocked fans earlier this year when she announced that she has terminal brain cancer -- will play Charlotte, the owner of a bed-and-breakfast in the fictional town of Bliss. The townspeople of Bliss plot to set Houston up with their widowed mayor, Spencer Alexander (Bancroft), a single father of two.


UP's Barbara Fisher said "This uplifting, sometimes bumpy romance showcases how a community’s spirit and good will can help people connect and find each other."

Bulloch Family Ranch a Hit for UP

UP scored the Network's best-ever series premiere rating with the July 17 debut of Bulloch Family Ranch. The reality series, about a Christian family's ranch that serves as home to troubled teens, nabbed a .46 total household rating, per Nielsen. The uplifting series represents "an alternative to most other scripted drama and reality," vice chairman, UP Brad Siegel tells Cynopsis.