Josh Turner Releases ‘King Size Manger,’ a Celebration of Jesus and the Christmas Season

October 9, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

Country singer Josh Turner, who first arrived on the scene with the chart-topping gospel-flavored hit “Long Black Train,” recently released his first Christmas album, “King Size Manger,” a collection of sacred and traditional holiday songs. The South Carolina native, who has sold more than 5 million records since the release of his album”Your Man” fifteen years ago, felt the daunting task of creating something original where so many others have already gone. “You’ve got Santa Claus, and you got Jesus,... Read more

In ‘Our World,’ Justin Bieber Counts His Blessings, Plans Comeback Concert

October 7, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

Pop superstar Justin Bieber chronicles his return to live performance in the new Amazon Prime documentary ‘One World,’ releasing this weekend. The GRAMMY Award-winning singer, with career sales of more than 150 million records worldwide, uses his own camera to vlog between musical performances from his New Year’s Eve 2020 show at the Beverly Hilton. Putting protocols in place, the crew builds their stage on the roof of the famous hotel, visible to 240 hotel patrons on their balconies, as... Read more

Trailer: Andrew Garfield Stars in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘tick, tick . . . BOOM!’ Musical

October 4, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

Andrew Garfield stars in the true story of Jonathan Larson in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” arriving in theaters November 12 and on Netflix November 19. Today, Netflix unveiled a new poster and trailer, which features more of the story of Larson, the creator of the hit Broadway musical “Rent” as he’s pushing forward to make his production happen. “tick, tick…BOOM!” also stars Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Mj Rodriguez, Bradley Whitford, Tariq Trotter aka Black Thought... Read more

Where Are the Missing Artists and Bands From ‘the Jesus Music’? Andy Erwin Explains

October 1, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

The new documentary “The Jesus Music,” directed by Jon and Andy Erwin and featuring a who’s-who of music artists, is the first big-screen project to address the 50-year history of contemporary Christian music since it began. Since the project was announced, devout fans wondered how and if their favorite artists would be acknowledged or included. With 100 artists interviewed and more than 300 hours of footage—which may make its way into a longer series at some point—some artists and bands... Read more

Amy Grant, TobyMac, Kirk Franklin Bare Their Souls in New Doc ‘The Jesus Music’

October 1, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

“I’ve never shared this with anybody,” singer TobyMac admits in one of the most engaging segments of the new documentary ‘The Jesus Music.” The GRAMMY Award-winning artist is one of several notable figures, including Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Michael Sweet, and Michael W. Smith, offering a “behind-the-scenes” look at their lives and inner thoughts in the cinematic project. The film, covering the history of contemporary Christian music, highlights the movement’s humble beginnings in Costa Mesa, California, before moving across the... Read more

Even Through Loss, Newsboys Want Listeners to Know God Is Still Alive and He’s Still Good

September 30, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

After a year of worldwide disappointment and loss, Platinum-selling Christian rock group has returned to the stage with “Stand,” a collection of hope-fueled tunes reminding listeners of the goodness of God. Having been sidelined by the Covid pandemic, band members Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jody Davis, and Jeff Frankenstein turned to music and faith to deliver a bold declaration of trust. “We thought coming out of COVID, coming out of this long period, we wanted something special, something fresh, something... Read more

The Gospel Roots of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Greatest Showman’ Songwriter Justin Paul

September 25, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

As “Dear Evan Hansen” opens in theaters, the songs of award-winning songwriter duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will once again hit a wide stage. The team, responsible for the soundtracks of big-screen hits “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman,” penned dynamic songs such as “You Will Be Found” and “Waving Through a Window” for its 2015 Broadway debut, giving a voice to the story of adolescent trauma, grief, and friendship. The two are uniquely qualified to craft a... Read more

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Director Stephen Chbosky Talks Releasing “Hope, Comfort, Inspiration” to the World

September 23, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

As the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” releases, audiences will be treated to a rousing and emotional hurricane of adolescence, hope, and grief starring the original Evan Hansen (Ben Platt), and directed by Stephen Chbosky. Chbosky, who first gained prominence with his novel and film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” seems uniquely qualified to helm the adaptation, having written screenplays for the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” and the musical “Rent.” “Dear Evan Hansen,”... Read more

Ringo Starr Still Still Spreading Peace and Love with “Change the World” EP, New Beatles Documentary

September 22, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

Nearly sixty years after making history as a member of the legendary rock group The Beatles, acclaimed songwriter and artist Sir Ringo Starr is still dedicated to his mission to spread “peace and love.” His newest EP, “Let’s Change the World,” releasing Friday, fits that purpose, with four songs aimed to stir the hearts of its listeners and make a difference for the next generation. During a media junket supporting the EP, Starr explained what he hopes will resonate with... Read more

First Look: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand Headline Joel Cohen’s ‘Macbeth’ Adaptation

September 21, 2021 By DeWayne Hamby

A first look trailer has dropped for A21 and Apple TV+’s forthcoming release, “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” written and directed by Academy Award®-winning director Joel Cohen and starring Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. The adaptation of the classic play by William Shakespeare will also include Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Kathryn Hunter, Harry Melling, and Brendan Gleeson. In a recent Instagram interview reported on Indiewire, McDormand made an important distinction about what will set the adaption... Read more