Top artist nominees include Chris Tomlin, who is nominated in seven categories; Natalie Grant, newcomer Francesca Battistelli and Casting Crowns, each receiving five nominations; and Brandon Heath, Mary Mary, Laura Story and Michael W. Smith, who each garnered four nominations a piece.

To see the complete list of nominees or to find out details on the upcoming televised broadcast, please visit GMA's Web site.

Casting Crowns, drummer Andy Williams has announced that he is leaving the group to start a new band, Soul Sister Sally, with his wife, Kelly, who will serve as lead singer. In a Feb. 18 statement at the band's Web site, Andy expressed appreciation to Casting Crowns and its fans:

In December of 2007, my mom suffered a massive stroke. She hung out with us for a few months but then she was ready to go. In June of 2008, she went home to see Jesus. The ministry of Casting Crowns reached out to one of its own during that time. They showed me what we have hopefully shown to you over the past 6 years and that is, the love of Jesus. I am truly thankful and beyond blessed to have been a small part of the Casting Crowns family.

To read the entire entry, go here - http://castingcrowns3.typepad.com/casting_crowns_guys_blog/2009/02/a-word-from-andy.html

The Christian Retailing (CR) team had the privilege of welcoming Mandisa, a season five American Idol finalist and GRAMMY nominee, to our office in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 12. Here she is pictured with two of the CR team, Assistant Editor (Books) DeWayne Hamby and Managing Editor Christine Johnson.

Mandisa is slated to release her new CD, Freedom (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution), on March 24^th. For more information on how to order, visit EMI CMG's Web site.

In light of the current economic climate looks like the Gospel Music Association (GMA) is making some positive additions to this year's Gospel Music Week.

Being a fan of music in general, I was familiar with the band The Fray. I had heard their songs on mainstream radio stations in the last several years. And you might have even heard their songs before too and didn't know it like "How to Save a Life" and "Over My Head (Cable Car)" that were featured on such shows as Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs and were catalysts for thrusting this band into the national limelight.

Who says you can't go home again? The trend of groups revisiting classic lineups continues with Michael English, Mark Lowry and David Phelps rejoining the Gaither Vocal Band. The move changes the face of the band to a five-member group, also including creator Bill Gaither and Wes Hampton. English, Lowry and Phelps were popular fixtures during their tenures before leaving to pursue their solo careers.

With the growing popularity of Hillsong United you'll understand why news that the band will be touching on American soil in 2009 is so exciting.

So, that's why when I heard about the Hillsong United Encounter event April 17-18 at the Bank United Center, at the University of Miami, another Encounter conference in Anaheim, Calif., Aug. 28-29 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and several tour dates in North America in August and September, I was thrilled!

Produced by Integrity Live Events, Encounter is chuck full of breakout sessions, speakers, teaching and concerts. The conference, geared toward pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, musicians and students will "focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young people to bring both to their local communities," Integrity Music announced.

Registration for the Miami Encounter has already begun online at www.integritylive.com, with early bird registration before Feb. 20 at $89 a person. Pre-registration for the Anaheim Encounter has also begun and runs through April 31st at a discounted rate of $69 per person. Details about other United North America appearances in '09 are also listed now on the Hillsong United Web site.

For more information on the mates from Down Under, check out their Web site, www.hillsongunited.com, or their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/hillsongunited.

Veteran Christian music groups NewSong and Newsboys have recently announced the return of band members from their lineups in the 1990s. Russ Lee, lead vocalist for NewSong on the albums and tours for People Get Ready (1994) and Love Revolution (1997), is rejoining as lead singer and guitarist Jody Davis, a member of the Newsboys from 1992-2003 and was replaced by Paul Colman, has rejoined that group as guitarist. Colman has left to resume his solo career.

Get ready to set your DVRs for the upcoming 2008 Billy Graham Christmas Special With Franklin Graham. The 60-minute special starts airing on seven national networks and in 150 markets in the U.S. and Canada Dec. 6 and will be airing through Dec. 14th.

A host of musical guests will be debuting world premieres of their Christmas music videos, including Steven Curtis Chapman ("Miracle of Christmas"), Ricky Skaggs ("Go Thee Down"), Nicole C. Mullen ("Lamb of God") and Erin O'Donnell ("Mary, Did You Know?"). And in a blast from 1977 Billy Graham Christmas Special past, June and Johnny Cash perform "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

Also featured are inspirational messages and testimonies from Franklin Graham, evangelist RV Brown and Steven Curtis Chapman, as well as footage from vintage Billy Graham Christmas TV specials.

For more information on TV stations and air times, or to order a copy of the Jan. 5 DVD release of the Christmas special, visit www.billygraham.org/TV.