Monday, September 10, 2012
Fox News on Top CD Being Christian: What Took So Long?
One of Foxnews.com top articles has the headline: TobyMac first Christian album to top Billboard charts in 15 years: What took so long?
Friday, September 7, 2012
Lecrae Conquers the Charts
An evangelical Christian rapper has taken over the iTunes hip-hop/rap chart. Three of the top 10 spots, including slots one and two, have belonged to Lecrae ever since his new album, Gravity, dropped on Sept. 4. The deluxe version is also the #2 selling album on the Top Albums chart and Lecrae is expected to sell 60,000 copies in his first week, easily a first for a Christian rapper.
He has also has some high profile fans. Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin have all praised him for his straightforward Gospel-inspired message. Lin said, “An artist you have to check out is Lecrae … he raps a lot about the Gospel and I really enjoy his lyrics.”
Just last week, TobyMac premiered at #1 on the Billboard charts - the first time for a Christian artist since 1997.
He has also has some high profile fans. Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin have all praised him for his straightforward Gospel-inspired message. Lin said, “An artist you have to check out is Lecrae … he raps a lot about the Gospel and I really enjoy his lyrics.”
Just last week, TobyMac premiered at #1 on the Billboard charts - the first time for a Christian artist since 1997.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Chuck Norris endorses 'Last Ounce of Courage,' powerful new film about patriots, religious freedom
For the first time ever, acting legend Chuck Norris has extended his official “Seal of Approval” to a film that he doesn’t even star in, the independent war drama “Last Ounce of Courage,” which follows the life of a father, son and grandfather who each take a stand for the rights of religious freedom and public expression.
"It was an easy choice to endorse this film because it’s message is consistent with my life principles and core values," Norris, a devout Christian and champion of American values and those who serve our nation, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column.
Read more
"It was an easy choice to endorse this film because it’s message is consistent with my life principles and core values," Norris, a devout Christian and champion of American values and those who serve our nation, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column.
Read more
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
TobyMac First Christian Artist to Reach Number 1 on Billboard 200 Since 1997
For the first time since 1997 -- and only the third time ever -- a Christian album is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart premiering higher than hip-hop super group Slaughterhouse and Alanis Morissett.
TobyMac gets his first chart-topper with "Eye On It," as it bows with 69,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The last time a Christian CD led the Billboard 200 was on the Nov. 1, 1997 chart, when country star LeAnn Rimes' "You Light Up My Life - Inspirational Songs" spent its third and final week at No. 1. (It debuted in the top slot on Sept. 27.) That effort included a fair amount of inspirational tunes (hence its title).
Before that, the only other Christian effort to crown the Billboard 200 was Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)." It notched a pair of weeks at No. 1 earlier in 1997 (June 28-July 5), fueled by its hit title track, Father's Day gift-giving and an appearance by Carlisle on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
"Eye On It" also bows at No. 1 on the Digital Albums chart, with 35,000 downloads sold -- or, 50% of its overall debut. Also, a significant chunk of the set's sales (27%) were driven by Christian retailers and bookstores.
Previous to TobyMac's achievement this week, we've had some recent close calls at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In 2011, Casting Crowns' "Come to the Well" and Red's "Until We Have Faces" both debuted and peaked at No. 2, while this year, David Crowder Band's "Give Us Rest" also topped out in the runner-up slot.
As for TobyMac himself, he's no stranger to hits on the Billboard 200. "Eye On It" becomes his ninth entry and third top 10. As part of the trio DC Talk, he claimed five more hit albums on the tally, including the No. 4 set "Supernatural" in 1998.
Read more
TobyMac gets his first chart-topper with "Eye On It," as it bows with 69,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The last time a Christian CD led the Billboard 200 was on the Nov. 1, 1997 chart, when country star LeAnn Rimes' "You Light Up My Life - Inspirational Songs" spent its third and final week at No. 1. (It debuted in the top slot on Sept. 27.) That effort included a fair amount of inspirational tunes (hence its title).
Before that, the only other Christian effort to crown the Billboard 200 was Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)." It notched a pair of weeks at No. 1 earlier in 1997 (June 28-July 5), fueled by its hit title track, Father's Day gift-giving and an appearance by Carlisle on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
"Eye On It" also bows at No. 1 on the Digital Albums chart, with 35,000 downloads sold -- or, 50% of its overall debut. Also, a significant chunk of the set's sales (27%) were driven by Christian retailers and bookstores.
Previous to TobyMac's achievement this week, we've had some recent close calls at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In 2011, Casting Crowns' "Come to the Well" and Red's "Until We Have Faces" both debuted and peaked at No. 2, while this year, David Crowder Band's "Give Us Rest" also topped out in the runner-up slot.
As for TobyMac himself, he's no stranger to hits on the Billboard 200. "Eye On It" becomes his ninth entry and third top 10. As part of the trio DC Talk, he claimed five more hit albums on the tally, including the No. 4 set "Supernatural" in 1998.
Read more
Saturday, September 1, 2012
'The American Bible Challenge': Jeff Foxworthy Introduces New Game 'The Eye Of The Tebow'
"The American Bible Challenge" was back for a second week, and it brought a new challenge with it, dubbed "The Eye of the Tebow." The premise was simple enough, if certainly difficult for anyone who's not either a hardcore fan of NFL player Tim Tebow, or really knows their Scripture.
Contestants had to fill in the blanks of Bible verses Tebow wore under his eyes during his college football days. They even had a picture to look at to draw inspiration from.
Only, it wasn't a picture of Tim Tebow. It was host Jeff Foxworthy's face instead.
"You know, I never realized Tim Tebow was so good looking. He’s always got that helmet on," Foxworthy said. "That is a handsome man right there."
The audience was loving the show in the studio, as were viewers at home. Broadcasting & Cable reported that 2 million viewers tuned in for last week's series premiere, setting a record for GSN.
Contestants had to fill in the blanks of Bible verses Tebow wore under his eyes during his college football days. They even had a picture to look at to draw inspiration from.
Only, it wasn't a picture of Tim Tebow. It was host Jeff Foxworthy's face instead.
"You know, I never realized Tim Tebow was so good looking. He’s always got that helmet on," Foxworthy said. "That is a handsome man right there."
The audience was loving the show in the studio, as were viewers at home. Broadcasting & Cable reported that 2 million viewers tuned in for last week's series premiere, setting a record for GSN.
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