The nominations are in for the 2010 Annual Grammy Awards. In addition to the Gospel category, which is loaded with familiar names (complete list at the end of the post), some Christian artists make appearances in other categories – and amen for that!

• The Fray’s sophomore release, an album on which the band was very open about their faith, scored Grammy nominations for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for the song “Never Say Never” as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
• Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters scored a nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals with their song, “Higher Ground”.
• R&B artist Tonex, who caused a stir a few months ago with his very candid interview about his sexual orientation, was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the song “Blend.”
• And Jim Brickman, hardly hidden in the Christian music genre, was nominated for Best New Age Album for his latest release, Faith.

Here is the complete list of nominations in the Gospel categories:

Best Gospel Performance
(For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.)
•Free To Be Me
Francesca Battistelli
•Jesus Is Love
Heather Headley Featuring Smokie Norful
Track from: Audience Of One
•I Believe
Jonny Lang With Fisk Jubilee Singers
Track from: Oh Happy Day
•Wait On The Lord
Donnie McClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard
Track from: We All Are One (Live In Detroit)
•Born Again
Third Day
Track from: Revelation
Best Gospel Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
•Born Again
Tai Anderson, David Carr, Mark Lee & Mac Powell, songwriters (Third Day)
Track from: Revelation
•City On Our Knees
Cary Barlowe, Toby McKeehan & Jaime Moore, songwriters (TobyMac)
•Every Prayer
Dayna Caddell, Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey & Ricardo Sanchez, songwriters (Israel Houghton & Mary Mary)
Track from: The Power Of One
•God In Me
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary Featuring Kierra “KiKi” Sheard)
Track from: The Sound
[
•The Motions
Jason Houser, Sam Mizell & Matthew West, songwriters (Matthew West)
Track from: Something To Say
Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
•The Big Picture
Da’ T.R.U.T.H.
•Crash
Decyfer Down
•Innocence & Instinct
Red
•Live Revelations
Third Day
•The Dash
John Wells-The Tonic
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
•Speaking Louder Than Before
Jeremy Camp
•The Power Of One
Israel Houghton
•The Long Fall Back To Earth
Jars Of Clay
•Love Is On The Move
Leeland
•Freedom
Mandisa
Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
•Jason Crabb
Jason Crabb
•Dream On
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
•The Rock
Tracy Lawrence
•In God’s Time
Barry Scott & Second Wind
•Everyday
Triumphant Quartet
Best Traditional Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
•God Don’t Never Change
Ashley Cleveland
•The Law Of Confession, Part I
Donald Lawrence & Co.
•Oh Happy Day
(Various Artists)
Bill Hearn, Ken Levitan, Ken Pennell, Jack Rovner & Cedric Thompson, producers
•The Journey Continues
The Williams Brothers
•How I Got Over
Vickie Winans
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
•Audience Of One
Heather Headley
•Renewed
Sheri Jones-Moffett
•Just James
J Moss
•Smokie Norful: Live
Smokie Norful
•Bold Right Life
Kierra Sheard
For a complete list of the 2010 Grammy nominees, visit the Grammy website.
RELATED POSTS:Da’ T.R.U.T.H. taking sabbatical from ministry after “moral indescretion”
Gospel/R&B artist Tonex opens up about his sexuality in a revealing and personal video interview
The Fray releases sophomore album to Christian market
Israel Houghton answers the question, What is Christian music?
Got a gospel or Christian music news tip? Send me an email!
Click here to subscribe to Gospel Soundcheck by email and have the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!