Ever keen to broaden our musical scope, recent months have seen That Grape Juice venture into a number of new musical landscapes including, most recently, gospel.

Spearheaded by well-received interviews with gospel singers Joshua Rogers, Dorinda Clark Cole, Israel Houghton, and more, TGJ is now offering readers ‘The Overflow’ – a collection of the top gospel-themed news stories from the week.

Kicking off our inaugural post, tuck in below for the latest news on gospel legends Twinkie Clark and Kurt Carr as well as news on some of the genre’s newer movers and shakers Vashawn Mitchell, Alexis Spight, and word on BET’s ‘Sunday’s Best’ (Season 6) auditions:

Twinkie Clark Releases New Single “Speak Lord”

She’s touted the ‘Queen of the Hammond B3 Organ’, but Clark Sister graduate Twinkie Clark is looking to extend that reign to charts with her newest release ‘Live & Unplugged’.  Due Spring 2013, the release is preceded by this week’s debut of its first single ‘Speak Lord’ featuring sister Karen Clark Sheard – a remake of their 1980 hit from the classic album ‘Is My Living In Vain’.  Listen below:

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Rapper Lecrae Releases New Video “Fakin”

Gospel hip hop star Lecrae is still floating from the success of his sixth studio album ‘Gravity’, as evidenced by the release of his latest single ‘Fakin’.  This week saw the rapper unveil the  Isaac Deitz-visual to accompany the hard hitting rap cut.  We say this is a definite must listen:

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‘Sunday’s Best’ Season 5 Runner Up Alexis Spight Teases Video For Debut Single ‘Steady’

Alexis Spight may have finished second place on season 5 of BET’s hit gospel talent competition ‘Sunday’s Best’, but if her debut single ‘Steady’ is anything to judge by, she may be headed for the Billboard gospel chart’s first place.  And, to build buzz for the March 12th-due project (titled ‘L.O.L. – Living Out Loud’), Spight is teasing fans with a clip of its forthcoming accompanying visual.  See that below:

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Kurt Carr’s ‘Bless This House’ Debuts Atop Billboard Gospel Chart!

Kurt Carr has been filling gospel radios with hits like ‘In the Sanctuary’, ‘For Every Mountain’, and more for the past 20 years, but as his latest LP ‘Bless This House’ indicates, he has no plans on stopping soon.  For reports have indicated his 7th release has debuted atop Billboard gospel charts this week and #43 on Billboard 200.  And, while the album marks Carr’s second #1 trek on the Gospel charts, it signaled his highest debut ever on Billboard 200!  Congratulations are in order.

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Vashawn Mitchell Joins Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard & James Fortune For ‘2013 United As One’ Tour

‘Nobody Greater’ crooner Vashawn Mitchell is still in hot promotion of his well-received August 2012 release ‘Created 4 This’.  Featuring the hit ‘Turning Around For Me’, fans of the gospel hitmaker can find him making his rounds across the country in the James Fortune-headlined tour also featuring ‘You Don’t Know’ diva Kierra Sheard.  Click here to see the dates.

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BET Announces ‘Sunday’s Best’ Season 6 Auditions!

Think you’ve got what it takes to join the ranks of power vocalists Le’Andria Johnson, Amber Bullock, Jessica Reedy, and Joshua Rogers?  Well, here’s your shot to prove it.  BET announces its audition locations for Season 6 of its beloved gospel talent show ‘Sunday’s Best’.  With more dates to be announced in the coming days, fans can click here to see those dates or call call 1-888-287-7071.

Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston are the first stops on the search for the next ‘Sunday’s Best’ winner!

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