American Idol has a distinct church connection–Most of the show’s winning contestants have hailed from the “Bible belt,” and many of them having been trained by singing in evangelical or Pentecostal churches.

This season’s top contenders were the exception, as Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze are from the Midwest.  However Aaron Kelley, Michael Lynche and Tim Urban got their “singing legs” by performing in their churches, the LA Times said.

In season eight, half of the top 10 were worship leaders in their church.  Churches also became a big part of the contestants’ fan bases with congregations launching viewing parties and vote drives for their favorites, the LA Times reported.

Danny Gokey got serious about music when he was 19 after attending FaithBuilders, a nondenominational church in Milwaukee.  Mandisa of season 5 also has church roots and is currently recording under EMI Christian Music.  Jason Castro of season seven used to sing at Lake Pointe, a suburban Dallas mega-church that’s known for its sophisticated musical performances.

Jordin Sparks performs on American Idol in 2007. She got her start singing in church. Credit:Wikimedia Commons.

Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks and Taylor Hicks, all Idol winners, also got their training largely by singing in churches before they became famous through the show, the LA Times said.

The fact that many contestants honed their vocal skills at black churches and suburban megachurches is also one of the reasons why “Idol” has been embraced by Christian communities across the nation.

The show has projected to an audience of tens of millions an image of heartland youth driven by faith and strong family values, which has become an important source of appeal, according to the LA Times.

All of the winners from the previous eight seasons came from the Bible Belt states except for Arizona native Jordin Sparks of season six.  Of note, “Idol” ratings are highest in such southern cities as Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala. (which produced “Idol” winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks); and Winston-Salem, N.C., according to the Nielsen Co.

Music is a huge part of modern American church culture, particularly in its praise and worship services.  According to Mandisa, “There are always so many Christians that go on ‘American Idol’ and I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” the LA Times said.

Churches provide a natural training ground for prospective “Idol” contestants, and have gained even more importance as school boards have slashed budgets for arts programs in recent years.

During Season five, Mandisa made a gesture pointing to her heart, head and the sky that she took from the work of the evangelist Beth Moore. “A lot of people recognized that and were rooting for me,” she said.

She performed the gospel song “Shackles (Praise You)” for the Top 10 week. She even cited the example of Jesus’ life in telling judge Simon Cowell that she had forgiven him for making cruel on-camera remarks about her weight, the LA Times reported.

After 7 Year Absence, Jennifer Knapp Says She’s 'Gay Person of Faith'

Award-winning Christian artist Jennifer Knapp said that she is a gay person of faith, one month before the May 10 release of her new album, “Letting Go.”

Her new album comes after a seven year hiatus from music.  She spent those years living in Australia and touring Europe and the United States.

She said she’s announcing her sexuality because, she doesn’t “want to come off as somebody who is shirking the truth.”

She  denies, however, that she left music for her gay relationship.

“Around 2002, I was starting to contend with this new-found ‘issue’ in my life. But I’d already decided to leave music before I knew I was going to contend with that.  I don’t want anyone to think that I ran out of town with my tail between my legs because I had something to hide.”

Instead Knapp blamed her heavy work schedule.

“That decision came in mid-2001, but my schedule didn’t allow me to stop until September 2002, when I did my last show; I basically still had about a year and a half worth of contracted concerts and other things before I could stop,” she said.

Knapp, who has had her gay relationship for eight years, is not attending any church right now.

The 36 year old artist and Kansas native said, “I’m not capable of getting into the theological argument as to whether or not we should or shouldn’t allow homosexuals within our church. There’s a spirit that overrides that for me, and (that is) what I’ve been gravitating to in Christ and why I became a Christian in the first place.”

She also said, “The Bible has literally saved my life.  I find myself between a rock and a hard place — between the conservative evangelical who uses what most people refer to as the ‘clobber verses’ to refer to this loving relationship as an abomination, while they’re eating shellfish and wearing clothes of five different fabrics, and various other Scriptures we could argue about.”

While Knapp initially thought she would not sing her old Christian songs anymore, she said at some point she was able to go back to them and refers to it as a ‘helpful connect.’

“For a long time I thought it was old life vs. new life. But it’s not. It was a real comfort to me to realize I’m still the same person, that the baggage or new scenarios we pick up along the way are part of the long-term story,” she said.

In an interview with Christianity Today, Knapp said her album is targeting a secular market, not  Christian music stores or Christian radio programs.

Knapp has sold over one million Christian albums and won a Dove award and a Grammy.

Award-winning Christian gospel, hip hop and R&B singer Kirk Franklin is bringing together artists from around the world to support Haiti. Photo (c) kirkfranklin.com.

Multi-Dove Award and Grammy-winning Christian gospel, hip hop and R&B singer Kirk Franklin is heading up a project to provide relief and financial support to earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince Haiti, according to his official web site www.kirkfranklin.com.

Franklin’s latest single entitled “Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti” will feature the voices of over 150 well-known contemporary Christian and gospel singers including Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, BeBe, CeCe and Marvin Winans, Mary Mary, Nicole C. Mullen and dozens more. As has been the case with so many other music artists throughout the industry, all proceeds and donations to the project single will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti.

Franklin recently told the Gospel Music Channel, “We see these people as God’s children. We want to do our part and I just want people to know that the gospel community can respond to a powerful natural disaster.”

Haiti was struck two weeks ago by a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake, leaving over 150,000 dead and an estimated 1.5 million homeless, according to national news reports. Since that time, several countries have continued to extend national aid and support to the remaining citizens. Unfortunately, as one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti lacks the infrastructure to deal with such a large scale catastrophe.

“We hope this song will bring much needed support and awareness in an effort to raise funds in the near and long-term future,” says Franklin. “The people of Haiti are very spiritual people with an unwavering faith and belief in God and still count the Lord as the main source and provider. We will continue to pray and stand with them.”

According to Franklin’s web site, the official “Are You Listening” music video is slated to air worldwide during a special one hour Gospel Music Channel presentation on Friday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The GMC will also broadcast a special “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon at 8:00 p.m., immediately following. The single is already preparing to enter the world of iTunes and will be released at Wal-Mart and other major music retailers after January 30.

In a word: This album is refreshingly honest and transformative.

Though she’s been compared to India Arie, Kim Desir isn’t your typical neo-soul chanteuse unless neo-Soul is referring to spiritual rebirth. And while her most recent release, The Truth Speaks, doesn’t have any of the horns, bells or bass that one would equate with Soul music, the album is very much a message album. Kim’s jazzy, sultry vocals renew your mind with each listening. The piano and light synthwork on The Truth Speaks give Kim room to breathe and get her message out there. For instance, on her track, “Go Back,” there’s no musical distortion to keep you from what she’s singing about—Her spiritual journey, and how she’d be foolish to start it all over again.

Gem tracks:

Let It Go

This is God

Go Back

Buy the album here:http://cdbaby.com/cd/kimdesir

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