In ceremonies held prior to the live telecast of the 50th Annual Grammy® Awards, the Gospel category winners were announced. The Clark Sisters won in all three categories that they were nominated in (one was a tie).

Karen Clark Sheard’s husband, John Drew Sheard, received the awards on the group’s behalf. While accepting the first award, he said, “Thank God, because we have been waiting on this for a long time.” Drew Sheard made a quick return to the stage when Clark Sheard’s name was announced as the winner for Best Gospel Song. Telling the audience that In 2001, Clark Sheard was only given a two percent chance to live. Now that she has recovered, they are “blessed and highly favoured.”

Ashley Cleveland picked up an award for Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album beating out favourites like Pillar and Skillet. She told the crowd that she was one year older than the awards. “I just turned 51 a few days ago and this is the nicest present that anyone can imagine,” remarked Cleveland.

Israel Houghton was extremely excited in receiving the award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. “Holy cow!!! I am am truly, truly tripping out now.” Not wanting to foget names, he brought along a list of people to thank including his wife, all the guest musicians on the album, the church that the album was recorded in.

Robert Randloph and Michael W. Smith appeard on the pre-telcast Awards as presenters.

Here is the list of the winners in the Gospel category:

Field 11 – Gospel

Category 51
Best Gospel Performance [Tie]
(For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.)

• Blessed & Highly Favored
  The Clark Sisters
  Track from: Live – One Last Time
  [EMI Gospel]

• Never Gonna Break My Faith
  Aretha Franklin & Mary J. Blige (Featuring The Harlem Boys Choir)
  Track from: Bobby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  [Island Def Jam]
  

Category 52
Best Gospel Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. Artist names appear in parentheses. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Blessed & Highly Favored
  Karen Clark-Sheard, songwriter (The Clark Sisters)
  Track from: Live – One Last Time
  [EMI Gospel; Publisher: K. Sheard’s Melody]
  

Category 53
Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Before The Daylight’s Shot
  Ashley Cleveland
  [204 Records]
  

Category 54
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• A Deeper Level
  Israel And New Breed
  [Integrity Music]
  

Category 55
Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Salt Of The Earth
  Ricky Skaggs & The Whites
  [Skaggs Family Records]
  

Category 56
Best Traditional Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Live – One Last Time
  The Clark Sisters
  [EMI Gospel]
  

Category 57
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Free To Worship
  Fred Hammond
  [Verity]
  

The 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will be held on February 10th, 2008, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS (Global Television Network in Canada) from 8:00-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Israel & New Breed, The Clark Sisters and Trin-i-tee 5:7 will be performing alongside the 2008 MusiCares® Person of the Year Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, and The Madison Bumblees as part of a special Gospel segment.

The list of Gospel nominees and other relevant categories can be found here.

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