NASHVILLE, TN. (GAC) - This year's 11th Annual Inspirational Country
Music Awards Show (ICM's), airing Thursday, November 10 at 8 pm ET/PT on Great American Country network, is unprecedented in many ways.
For the first time, a wide selection of mainstream country artists will be performing on this formerly all-Christian awards program. Country music icon Wynonna Judd will make her first-ever performance on the awards show with Natalie Grant - one of the fastest-selling female solo artists in Christian music today. The two will play their soulful hit duet, "Bring It All Together," which is from Grant's latest CD, "Awaken," one of the highest-selling albums by a female Christian artist this year. The album peaked at No 2 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart a few weeks ago and her current hit "Held" is No 22 this week on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.
"I feel it will be one of the most memorable moments of my career. The only thing better than Wynonna in the studio, is Wynonna live," says Grant of the anticipated performance.
On the session, Grant says: "It was awesome and refreshing because Wynonna was so humble. Wynonna has achieved iconic status and at first I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous at first but Wynonna made it easy. It became very exhilarating because we were both singing at the same time and was very inspiring."
Judd is just as complimentary: "When I was approached to sing a duet with Natalie Grant I was certainly intrigued. I already knew she was gifted, had a really sweet spirit and that she only chose music from her heart. But when I heard the demo of 'Bring It All Together' and then heard Natalie sing it in the studio for the first time, I was really blown away. That girl can sing, and this song feels like church to me. I hope people are lifted by the spirit and message of these sweet words!"
Other secular country artists performing on the 11th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Show include Diamond Rio, Jamie O'Neal, and Josh Turner.
The awards show will air live on GAC from the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and will be co-hosted by Linda Davis and the 700 Club's Lisa Ryan. Other scheduled performers include Andy Griggs, Melanie Walker, GunnPoint Band, Jeff Bates, Clifton Jansky, Del Way and Twice Robin. GAC, which has played host to the ICM's for the past three years, is America's premier country music source, with a music-intensive format and offers the latest in country news and events.
