Adams, Franklin Reign Over Gospel Grammys

The Christian Post -- The 49th Annual Grammy Awards aired Sunday night, honoring music’s premier performers from throughout 2006.

Among the winners of the valued awards, Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin went away with the top Gospel honors, claiming the Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song (A Songwriter’s Award), respectively. Adams received the prize for “Victory” while Franklin took home his Grammy with “Imagine Me.”

The Grammys are treated as the most prominent award that an artist can receive in their careers. Singers and groups that have gained the award in the past have gone onto long and successful careers.

The only people who are allowed to vote for the Grammy Awards are those who are members of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Members must have worked on six albums (in terms of production, engineering, mixing, or being the recording artist) to ensure that the winners are selected accurately.

Young rising country star Carrie Underwood also topped the mainstream country awards, winning the Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Best Country Song (A Songwriter’s Award) for her hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Other gospel winners are as follows:

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album – Turn Around by Jonny Lang

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album – Wherever You Are by Third Day

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album – Glory Train by Randy Travis

Best Traditional Gospel Album – Alive In South Africa by Israel & New Breed

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album - Hero by Kirk Franklin

Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts also performed while at the ceremony with a Country Rock tribute.

The awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and are one of the only awards showcases to not have a host.

Source: The Christian Post.