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EDIT: Now it’s official.

I’ve had a day to think it over, and I decided to go ahead and post the top-5 Singing News Fan Awards list circulating right now. Obviously, I’m not going to be 100% certain until Singing News actually prints their ballot, but whether or not anything will change this list sure makes for some interesting discussion points.

Female
Bean, Peg McKamey (McKameys)
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)
Whisnant, Susan (Whisnants)
Male
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Haase, Ernie (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Parker, Ivan (Soloist)
Rice, Arthur (Kingdom Heirs)
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)
Tenor
Free, Brian (Brian Free & Assurance)
Haase, Ernie (Signature Sound Qt)
Seamans, Frank (Legacy Five)
Sutton, David (Triumphant Quartet)
Waldroup, Jason (Greater Vision)
Lead
Dibler, Matt (Inspirations)
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Inman, Clayton (Triumphant Quartet)
Rice, Arthur (Kingdom Heirs)
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)
Baritone
Anderson, Doug (Signature Sound)
Griffin, Rodney (Greater Vision)
Howard, Scott (Legacy Five)
Inman, Scott (Triumphant Quartet)
Trammell, Mark (Mark Trammell Trio)
Bass
Bennett, Eric (Triumphant Quartet)
Duncan, Tim (Signature Sound Qt)
Dustin, Glenn (Legacy Five)
Holcomb, Mike (Inspirations)
Stuffle, Tracy (Perrys)
Alto
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Hopper, Connie (Hoppers)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)
Talley, Debra (Talley Trio)
Whisnant, Susan (Whisnants)
Soprano
Fortner, Connie (McKameys)
Gooch, Karen Peck (Karen Peck & New River)
Greene, TaRanda (Greenes)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)
Talley, Lauren (Talley Trio)

Young Artist
Fortner, Eli (McKameys)
Free, Ricky (Brian Free & Assurance)
Habedank, Joseph (Perrys)
Inman, Scott (Triumphant Qt)
Sweatman, Dustin (Mark Trammell Trio)
Horizon Individual
Barker, Grant (Kingsmen)
Lile, Jeremy (Brian Free & Assurance)
Singletary, Josh (Tribute Qt)
Sweatman, Dustin (Mark Trammell Trio)
Trammell, Nick (Perrys)
Horizon Group
Ball Brothers
Browns
Crystal River
Paid In Full
Young Harmony
Musician
Bennett, Roger (Legacy Five)
Collingsworth, Kim (Collingsworth Family)
Holt, Matthew (Perrys)
Stice, Jeff (Triumphant Qt)
Webb, Roy (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Songwriter
Bishop, Mark
Brady, Jim
Crabb, Gerald
Griffin, Rodney
Wilkinson, Dianne
Album
Get Away Jordan (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
I Know (Inspirations)
Live In Music City (Legacy Five)
Revival (Gold City)
Triumphant (Triumphant Qt)
Group of the Year
Booth Brothers
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Inspirations
Legacy Five
Triumphant Qt

Song
Give It Away Gaither Vocal Band
He Will Hide Me Perrys
Heaven’s Hero Greater Vision
Hey Jonah Triumphant Qt
I Have Not Forgotten Inspirations
I Will Trust You Lord McKameys
If It Takes A Valley Brian Free & Assurance
My Anchor of Hope Kingdom Heirs
Once Upon A Cross Mark Trammell Trio
Strike Up The Band Legacy Five

Clearly, the hottest groups in Southern Gospel right now are Signature Sound, the Inspirations, and the Triumphant Quartet, in roughly that order. Triumphant seems to have a strong enough fan base to be nominated for top 5 in virtually every category in which they are eligible, year after year. They must be nearing a record for most consecutive top-5 nominations without any win I can think of. If they can hold their current lineup together for the next few years, and if any of the select few groups more popular than they are have major lineup changes, I could easily see them starting to win awards right and left. But as it is, this steady track record of being nominated for just about everything and winning just about nothing leaves me wondering if it won’t happen again.

Legacy Five, of course, released what is probably their strongest record yet, Live in Music City, in this year’s eligibility period. Add that to a bit of sympathy vote with Roger Bennett’s passing and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them take home a few awards this year. I still plan to vote for Roger Bennett for one last time for favorite pianist this year.

As always, there are at least four strong albums in the top 5. The Inspirations’ album–no matter the song selection or production details–always stands a chance of winning, and Signature Sound’s could always win, too. But it wouldn’t shock me to see Legacy Five’s Live in Music City win, either. This is just my opinion, but they might be able to seal the deal by sending “I Have Been Changed” to radio.

Of course, after last year’s tie, all eyes are on the Inspirations and Signature Sound. Probably a big factor this year will be which way disappointed Perrys and Greater Vision fans go: To the Inspirations’ side of the aisle because of their clothing and presentation, or to Signature Sound’s big ballads and quartet songs. Of course, there is a third possibility: That Greater Vision and Perrys fans would tend to prefer Triumphant (most similar musically) or Legacy Five (popular personalities), and that this influence could propel one of the two into the top award.
Well, that’s enough commentary, except for one more detail. I haven’t made up my mind on some of the categories yet, but I am definitely planning on voting for Joseph Habedank as Young Artist. As I’ve said before, I think he’s a great singer and has taken the Perrys up a level.

It’s pretty much a given that I always vote for Libbi Stuffle for Alto and Female Vocalist, and I’ll add Young Artist this year. If Perrys bashing goes too much farther, I just might react by voting a straight ticket! I’m waiting until I hear their next album to decide whether or not I think they are the best they’ve ever been, but based on their NQC performace last year, I am strongly inclined to think that they are.

It’s been a while since I posted an update on lineup changes and the like. So to catch up on some news:

1. It’s now official; Harold Reed is the new Kingsmen tenor. According to Lane Rainwater, the Kingsmen gig is bringing out parts of his range we’ve never heard before. I still think this will be a change from the typical Kingsmen sound, but we’ll see.

2. Chuck Wagon Gang alto (and last remaining family member) Shaye Truax is taking a leave of absence from the road starting June 1. Her position will be filled by Penny Greene. Since she’s the last link to the original group, she will still make selected appearances with the group.

3. It looks like the Jody Brown Indian Family has disbanded, or is at least taking a leave of absence. I haven’t yet heard a breakout JBIF radio single , a song that’s grabbed my attention the same way a “Calvary Answers for Me,”  “My Name is Lazarus,” or “Once Upon a Cross” does. In other words, I think that they never did break into Southern Gospel’s top tier of most popular artists. But time will tell, and they could always return.