PRAYZEHYMN Online | where gospel music lives [Idol Moments: Top 10 Gospel Highlights ]

By J. MATTHEW COBB
Editor-At-Large, PRAYZEHYMNOnline.com
Posted: March 23, 2009

IT IS A TRUTH that no television show has endured the kind of legacy, the lasting appeal and star-quality of FOX’s reality-TV hit American Idol. Since it premiered so many many years ago (actually it was 2002), Idol has become a super ratings franchise that other networks are doing their best to come up with the next best thing. And while American Idol is all about trying to find America’s next superstar pop singer, it has been fortunate to give gospel music lovers some of the very best gospel performances and projects in the last couple of years. That’s not to say that the show’s producers initially intended to do that, but remember God is still in control. We decided, with this year’s season overflowing with talented contestants, to highlight our top ten favorite gospel highlights from over the years. And no, we didn’t feature any of the countless jacked-up auditions from contestants messing up “Amazing Grace.” Let the church say 'Amen'' to that.

10
Mandisa
Shackles (Praise You)
from Season 5
Simon Cowell called the song choice “indulgent.” And it might have been, but Mandisa did what most Top 10 Idol finalists would have never done. She took a bold Mary Mary hit and blasted it with the same firecracker intensity of Tramaine Hawkins. She was placed in the bottom three the next night with Paris Bennett and Elliot Yamin (two finalists who also never been in the bottom to this point). The performance may not have wowed the immediate public, but it was still more interesting than her path into pop-oriented Contemporary Christian - especially when she was being compared to Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston.
In case you missed it: On Idol, Mandisa lived up to her spiritual expectations after Simon Cowell teased her about her image using fat comments. She told Cowell, “What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful...But I want you to know that I’ve forgiven you and that you don’t need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody.” Cowell apologized to her on the show and was deeply humbled by her comments.

9
George Huff
Miracles
(of Season 3)
With Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo and Latoya London - three powerhouse divas - holding down the bulk of America’s vote, George Huff just didn’t stand a chance to win in Season 3. But Huff, a likeable and very groomed singer, definitely was promised a future in the music biz. He delivered My Christmas EP in 2004 but followed up with the super productions of Miracles in 2005. It was his first big thrust into urban gospel; showcased on the club thumps of the album opener “Real Love (I Got It).” Still this is a gospel record - but with heavy R&B players including Reed Vertelney (Luther Vandross), Gregg Bieck (Destiny’s Child), Bruce Roberts (Patti LaBelle, Pointer Sisters) and renowned guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr. AllMusic.com critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said about Miracles: “The material is by and large generic — sometimes pleasingly so, sometimes just a little forgettable — but Huff delivers it with conviction and warmth.” The album managed to crack the top 10 on the gospel charts and land at a safe 30 on the Christian charts.
In case you missed it: In 2007, A Brighter Day, taken from Miracles, was briefly featured in Tyler Perry’s movie Why Did I Get Married

8
RJ Helton
Real Life
(from Season One)
The very first to take that leap of faith into gospel territory from the Idol franchise was RJ Helton from Season One. After wowing the AI crowds with his boyish charm and putting his youthful pizzaz on karaoke-styled renditions (remember this was season one) of “Under the Boardwalk” and “I Can’t Help Myself,” Helton was signed to GospoCentric and released the R&B/pop flavored Real Life in 2004. Even bigger from the fact that the album climbed the Christian Album charts (#14 CCM, #19 Heatseekers), he was teamed with a grandeur set of pros that included Tommy Sims, Larry Gold, Darwin Hobbs and Shaun Shakel (Jump5, Point of Grace) and was even managed by Mathew Knowles (father and manager of pop diva Beyonce’). For this to be an act from the first season, Helton surely raised the bars high for future gospel prospects. In 2006, Helton later broke away from inspirational music after he announced on SIRIUS radio that he was gay.
In case you missed it: Ironically, PAJAM even produced a secular urban R&B track called “Secrets.” The song, originally scheduled to be released on the unreleased and mainstream-focused Majic Man album, was canned but secretly leaked out on the internet and can even be heard on YouTube.

7
Fantasia Barrino
The Lord Is Blessing Me
(from Season 3)
Wowing audiences with her quick melismas and charming Tina Turner shouts, Fantasia Barrino walks through a slow-paced soulful reworking of “The Lord Is Blessing Me” on the 2005 airing of BET Celebration of Gospel. But the tempo changed at the end of the verse into the popular Larry Trotter version. Watching her do her trademark bo-bo dance set to traditional church music was enough to get the audience up on their foot.
In case you missed it: Fantasia also starred with an R&B leading diva troupe including Lil’ Mo and Faith Evans on a rendition of the Clark Sisters’ “Endow Me.” The song first appeared on Coko’s debut gospel project Grateful in 2007. But what a disaster it was for these ladies (excluding an absent Faith Evans, Kierra Sheard replaced her) to appear on BET’s Celebration of Gospel. Very unorganized and almost felt unrehearsed.

6
Jennifer Hudson
Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There
(from Season 3)
After Idol, Jennifer Hudson was on her way to fame with her Oscar-winning performance in the motion picture adaption of Dreamgirls and her self-titled debut album in 2008. The album went on to sale over 500,000 so far on the strength of the hit single “Spotlight.” But Hudson has never had a problem exposing her faith in God - a powerful truth revealed during the wake of the family tragedy that claimed the lives of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew also that year. On her debut, along with the inspiring Diane Warren ballad “You Pulled Me Through” is a touching gospel-drenched gospel song called “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There.” The song, penned by Warryn Campbell, is enough evidence to confirm that gospel music remains at the core of her musical foundation.
In case you missed it: At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Jennifer Hudson emerges from the shadows of a blue-lit stage to deliver one of the night’s breathtaking highlights. This would be her first live appearance since the deaths of her family members of late 2008. The performance, touched with a tearful Hudson and her soaring high notes, felt like the ultimate encore for Dreamgirls.

5
2008 AI Finalists Top 8
Shout to the Lord
(from Season 7)
During Idol Gives Back week, the top 8 from the 7th season, including Idol finalists David Cook, and David Archuleta, soared through a surprising rendition of the popular Christian worship anthem “Shout to the Lord.” The song, penned by Darlene Zschech, ran across a bit of scrutiny when the group first sung the song: failing to mention the word “Jesus” in the first stanza as the lyrics were originally penned. But the producers redeemed themselves by having the group sing it once again on the following night at the beginning of the program. This time, they didn’t censor the name Jesus...isn’t that good news. The song was later released as a single on iTunes and ended up climbing the Billboard Hot 100 to number 43.
In case you missed it: Sure Idol got some bad press from conservative Christian blogs when Jesus was omitted from the opening lyric of the Idol Gives Back’s premiere from Season 7, but the group redeemed themselves the night after. At the beginning of the show, Jesus was proclaimed and Idol made nice with their loyal Christian fanbase.

4
Carrie Underwood
Jesus, Take the Wheel
(from Season 4)
Winning on the fourth season of Idol, Carrie Underwood immediately became a pop country icon; selling multi-platinum records (including the seven times platinum Some Hearts) and winning several Grammy awards. The first single from that album was the Grammy-winning inspirational tune “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” The country/CCM/gospel song has proven to have a dynamic effect, not just in the gospel markets, but also with other Idol contestants. Since it premiered, the song has been sung by names like LaKisha Jones and the more recent, season 8 contestant Danny Gokey.
In case you missed it: During the Season 4 finale, Underwood sung an excellent inspirational love ballad “Angels Brought Me Here,” originally recorded by Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian. The song, another spiritual awakening in Idol’s history, has gone quadruple-platinum since its 2003 release.

3
Melinda Doolittle
Hold Up the Light
(from Season 6)
Before Idol, Melinda Doolittle sung back up for BeBe & CeCe Winans. On Idol, she was able to sing with them on the sixth season’s final episode on a moving rendition of “Hold Up the Light.” Originally recorded with Whitney Houston in 1988, this cover marked the first public appearance of the GRAMMY-award winning duo in over thirteen years. After the show’s performance, CeCe Winans confirmed that a reunion album was in the works for a late 2009 release.
In case you missed it: Melinda Doolittle delivered an awe-drenching performance of “Home” on Diana Ross week. Her reworking of the song took you back to the Stephanie Mills version of the Broadway hit The Wiz and literally connected her with her roots in gospel music. Prior to Idol, Doolittle has sung background work for Anointed, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

2
Ruben Studdard
I Need an Angel
(from Season 2)
For his sophomore project, the Velvet Teddy Bear from Birmingham, Ala. Focused on releasing a contemporary gospel project in 2004. May not have been the smartest move for a R&B/pop newcomer, but it was one that Studdard was no stranger to. With gospel roots and a voice deeply embedded in the Luther Vandross/Gerald Levert tradition, he sounded reasonably comfortable on soulful renditions of “Center of My Joy,” Marvin Winans’ “Restoration,” and “Running Back to You.” The hit single from the album focused on the R. Kelly-penned and produced “I Need an Angel.” The song was far from being preachy, but was definitely inspirational enough to take Studdard to the top of the gospel charts. His number one gospel album also landed at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 R&B; one of the very first albums to chart that high in the mainstream.
In case you missed it: One of the album’s closing tracks, “We Have Not Forgotten,” was recorded a year before for the Soulful project. The song features Studdard’s duet with urban gospel icon Fred Hammond.

1
Kelly Clarkson
Jesus, What a Wonderful Child
(from Season 1)
Call her a super hybrid that can almost sing anything. Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner, won audiences over to her southern charm and soaring country/R&B pipes when she squeezed in some Aretha Franklin (“You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman”), some Celine Dion (“I Surrender”) and some more Aretha (“Don’t Play that Song (You Lied)”). For American Idol’s first and only Christmas celebration Kelly, Ruben & Fantasia: Home for Christmas, Clarkson sung a duet with the percolating Fantasia on “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child.” The two broke out their best runs and high notes like it was a VH1 Divas special. While Fantasia was a divine blessing to the song, Clarkson proved to be the supreme powerhouse.
In case you missed it: The Christmas special shifted into church mode when Clarkson uttered “Where are we going?” The tempo suddenly picked up and it then became a sanctified Holy Ghost showdown.

OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
We perish because of the lack of knowledge. Get schooled.
American Idol - Official website
'American Idol' Keeps The Faith - Article written by Derrik J. Lang, The Associated Press
4 Reasons Why There Are So Many Christian Contestants on American Idol - Gospel Soundcheck at Belieftnet.com
Album Review of Freedom (Mandisa) - Album review of Freedom [PRAYZEHYMNOnline.com]