Music

Spoiler Alert: The following review may contain crucial elements to the movie.

"Joyful Noise" is a new musical that sings God's praises loud and proud.

At first glance, it's a film about the titanic catfight between two competing choir directors at a small Georgia church. Vi Rose Hill (played by Queen Latifah) has recently taken the reins of her congregation's singers, a move that displeases G.G. Sparrow (played by Dolly Parton). The whole congregation is caught between a rock and a hard place when Sparrow, the former director's widow, challenges Hill's rule. The pair couldn't wage war at a worse time – after all, the annual "Joyful Noise" choir competition is only months away. more >>

For Andrew Greer, Scripture is most alive in song.

The singer-songwriter burst onto the Christian contemporary music scene with 2009's Open Book, a collection of achingly vulnerable songs about faith. His next release – this month's Angel Band: The Hymn Sessions – sees Greer going in a completely different direction. It's a sophomore album heavily slanted toward covering classic hymns, a move he says reminds him of home.

"Hymns take me back to my roots," said Greer. "They're where I learned music so it's a very honest place for me. There's a purity being able to connect with that again as an adult. I think hymns are very personal, and very much my story." more >>

The parents of recently divorced American pop star Katy Perry are looking to help their daughter move on from her recent heartbreak by setting her up with Christian NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.

Perry’s evangelical pastor parents Mary and Keith Hudson feel that Tebow is a great catch for their daughter due to his strong Christian faith.

They told OK! Magazine that they want to set up a meeting between the two at their church in Huntington Beach, California. more >>

Jamie Grace records hit singles when she isn't completing a full course load in college.

The 20-year-old singer songwriter, who goes by the stage name of Jamie Grace – short for her full real name Jamie Grace Harper – starts her final semester at East Point, Georgia’s Point University this week. It will be hard concentrating, she said, as there's a possible Grammy award to worry about besides senioritis. The child and youth development major is competing next month in the category of 2011's "best contemporary Christian music song," for "Hold Me," a single she recorded with tobyMac of DC Talk and solo artist fame.

"I have always wanted to share God's joy and love with young kids in the hopes it will inspire them," said Jamie Grace. "I feel blessed to do something like this at my age. It's rare." more >>

"American Idol" champion Scotty McCreery has officially reached platinum status with his album Clear As Day.

Released three months ago, McCreery's debut album reached the coveted platinum status after he became the second highest selling "American Idol" artist of all time.

Clear As Day has sold over one million copies as of this week 2012. Billboard magazine named McCreery at the top of their list of 2011's Top New Country Artists. more >>

A new YouTube video has taken hip hop artist Nicki Minaj's hit single "Super Bass" and parodied it with uplifting praise music.

Titled "Super Grace," University of Florida college students created the cover song for their school’s annual "Skit Night," a homecoming event where the campus' Christian Greek organizations perform for one another. The clip won first place in the event, and has subsequently experienced similar success since appearing online before Christmas. So far, it's a video over 147,380 viewers have seen.

Taking center stage in the clip is University of Florida student Raychel Manko, who wrote and performed the song. Writing in her blog "A Work in Progress" yesterday, the singer said it was parody with a purpose. While Minaj's version describes the power of a romantic crush, Manko wrote that hers deals with having faith in God for finding love instead. more >>