Category: Southern Gospel

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound welcomes new keyboardist

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound has welcomed a new member to its lineup. The group’s new keyboard player, Braden Neal, brings both youthful energy and a strong passion for Southern gospel music.

Braden is 23 years old. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but has spent most of his life in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. His love for gospel music began at the age of seven when he first heard the music of Anthony Burger.

“I was introduced to southern gospel music at the age of 7 when I first heard the music of Anthony Burger,” Braden said. “I grew in my love for gospel music and folks like Stan Whitmire, Gerald Wolfe and Kim Collingsworth have influenced my playing.”

Fans are encouraged to greet him as he joins the group on tour. “Be sure to say hi to Braden when you see him on the road!”

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound continues to share their message through songs such as “He Did It All For Me.”

Greater Vision’s Rodney Griffin has surgery, expects full return

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JEFF TURNER

Rodney Griffin of Greater Vision underwent surgery on Monday. Griffin opened up about what led to the procedure and what he expects in the weeks ahead.

The trouble began roughly a year ago. “I started having pain down my left leg when I was on the stage,” Griffin explained. “Very uncomfortable, but I just tried to grin and bear it.”

He did not ignore the problem. He sought help from a chiropractor and a pain specialist before doctors ordered an MRI. The scan revealed the root cause. “I’ve just got no disc there between two of the vertebrae,” he said, “so it kind of makes sense where the pain’s coming from.”

That finding led Griffin to the operating table. He underwent a lumbar fusion procedure on Monday. The timing of the surgery means Griffin will miss an upcoming cruise event with his bandmates. “I won’t be on the cruise this week with the guys,” he said. “I will miss that badly.” Veteran singer Jim Brady is stepping in to fill his spot. “The great Jim Brady is filling in for me,” Griffin noted. “He will do an incredible job.”

Despite the surgery, Griffin is hopeful that his absence from the stage will be brief. A scheduled break following the cruise works in his favour. “We had a planned break after the cruise, so I’ll have almost three weeks to recover before I get back on the bus,” he said, adding, “Won’t be missing any concerts, Lord willing.”

Tyler Vestal named band director at Lee Park Worship

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Tyler Vestal has a new role in gospel music. He has joined Lee Park Worship as Band Director, bringing more than a decade of professional experience to the position.

Vestal spent 11 years as a keyboardist with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, one of the most well-known groups in Southern Gospel music, before recently departing the ensemble.

Lee Park Worship is part of Lee Park Church in Monroe, North Carolina, a congregation led by Pastor Chris Justice. The group is currently in the studio working on new music.

Fans can get a feel for what the group has to offer through their contribution to We Shall Behold Him: A Tribute to Dottie Rambo, on which they perform the song “If That Isn’t Love.”

Singing News releases nominees for 2026 Singing News Fan Awards

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PRESS RELEASE FROM SINGING NEWS

The Singing News Fan Awards, established in 1970, allows Gospel music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite Southern Gospel artists, musicians, songwriters, songs, albums, radio DJs, and more. Here are the three phases of voting:

March issue – (Nominating ballot)

May issue – (Top 10 ballot)

July issue – (Top 5 ballot)

To be able to vote, you must be a subscriber to either Singing News magazine or SingingNewsTV. If you are not yet a subscriber, you still have time to vote in the next two phases of voting. Just go to www.singingnews.com/subscribe.

The winners in 21 categories will be announced at the Singing News Fan Awards presentation, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on the Main Stage of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Here are the Top 10 Nominees for 2026:

Favorite Quartet

  1. Anthem Edition
  2. Down East Boys
  3. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
  4. Gold City
  5. Guardians
  6. Inspirations
  7. LeFevre Qt
  8. Mark Trammell Qt
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt

Favorite Duet

  1. Austin and Ethan Whisnant
  2. Blake & Jenna Bolerjack
  3. Bryan & Yvonne Hutson
  4. Chronicle
  5. Duncans
  6. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  7. Jim & Melissa Brady
  8. Josh & Ashley Franks
  9. Reggie & Ladye Love Smith
  10. Zane & Donna King

Favorite Mixed Group

  1. Chuck Wagon Gang
  2. Collingsworth Family
  3. Craguns
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Erwins
  6. Isaacs
  7. Karen Peck & New River
  8. Mylon Hayes Family
  9. Perrys
  10. Whisnants

Favorite Soloist

  1. Adam Crabb
  2. Billy Walker
  3. Ivan Parker
  4. Jonathan Wilburn
  5. Joseph Habedank
  6. Lauren Talley
  7. Lynda Randle
  8. Michael Booth
  9. Scotty Inman
  10. Steve Ladd

Favorite Trio

  1. 11th Hour
  2. Booth Brothers
  3. Brian Free & Assurance
  4. Greater Vision
  5. Hoppers
  6. Hyssongs
  7. Peach Goldman
  8. Sound Street
  9. Southbound
  10. The Sound

Favorite Young Artist

  1. Brady Jones (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Christopher Taylor (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  4. Elena Dubbeld (Mark Dubbeld Family)
  5. Elisha Moore (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  6. Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
  7. Jaylie Vanderslice (Sound Street)
  8. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  9. Makayla Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Priscilla Franks (Josh & Ashley Franks)
  11. Tate Emmons

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Soprano

  1. Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
  2. Brooklyn Blair (Collingsworth Family)
  3. Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  5. Kim Hopper (Hoppers)
  6. Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
  7. Melissa Kemper (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  8. Rachel Kramer (Kramers)
  9. Rebekah Shields (Rogers Family)
  10. Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)

Favorite Tenor

  1. Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance)
  2. Cameron Edens (Anthem Edition)
  3. Chris Allman (Greater Vision)
  4. Chris Jenkins (Gold City)
  5. David Sutton (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)
  7. Ernie Haase (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  8. Gus Gaches (Tribute Qt)
  9. Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
  10. Paul Lancaster (Guardians)

Favorite Lead

  1. Aaron Hise (Whisnants)
  2. Bill Shivers (Brian Free & Assurance)
  3. Chris Bryant (Kingdom Heirs)
  4. Gary Casto (Tribute Qt)
  5. Josh Feemster (Gold City)
  6. Nick Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  7. Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)
  8. Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
  9. Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
  10. Sean Barber (Triumphant Qt)
  11. Tim Rackley (Anthem Edition)

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Band

  1. Carolina The Band
  2. Chosen Road
  3. Chuck Wagon Gang
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Gaither Vocal Band
  6. High Road
  7. Isaacs
  8. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  9. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  10. Joseph Habedank’s band
  11. Kingdom Heirs

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Baritone

  1. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Clayton Inman (Triumphant Qt)
  4. Daniel Riley (Gold City)
  5. Doug Roark (Anthem Edition)
  6. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Mark Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  9. Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Qt)
  10. Scott Mullins (Greater Vision)

Favorite Songwriter

  1. Dennis Murphy
  2. Jim Brady
  3. John Darin Rowsey
  4. Joseph Habedank
  5. Karen Peck Gooch
  6. Kenna Turner West
  7. Lee Black
  8. Rodney Griffin
  9. Ronny Hinson
  10. Scotty Inman

Favorite Bass

  1. Andrew Utech (Anthem Edition)
  2. Brad Smith (Kingdom Heirs)
  3. Brandon Barry (Down East Boys)
  4. Daniel Ashmore (LeFevre Qt)
  5. Eric Bennett (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Ian Owens (Tribute Qt)
  7. Jeff Chapman (Gold City)
  8. Pat Barker (Guardians)
  9. Will Lane (Mark Trammell Qt)
  10. Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)

Favorite Album

  1. 40th Anniversary (Kingdom Heirs)
  2. An Irish Christmas (Down East Boys)
  3. Forever (Tribute Qt)
  4. Go Out To The Program (Greater Vision)
  5. Good Answers (Karen Peck & New River)
  6. Here To Stay (LeFevre Qt)
  7. Jesus Can (Jonathan Wilburn)
  8. Made To Live Forever (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  9. Up Above The World So High (Inspirations)
  10. Where Healing Happens (Guardians)

Favorite Alto

  1. Courtney Metz (Collingsworth Family)
  2. Hannah Shields (Rogers Family)
  3. Kari Gooch Baucom (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Karlye Hopper (Hoppers)
  5. Libbi Perry Stuffle (Perrys)
  6. Shaye Smith (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  7. Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
  8. Susan Peck Jackson (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Susan Whisnant (Whisnants)
  10. Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Favorite Song

  1. “Every Promise Made Is A Promise Kept” Anthem Edition
  2. “I Just Stopped By On My Way Home” Kingsmen
  3. “I Speak Jesus” Karen Peck & New River
  4. “Mercy River” Down East Boys
  5. “Motel Bible” Scotty Inman
  6. “Pray” Mark Trammell Qt
  7. “That Somebody Was Me” Guardians
  8. “The Church” Joseph Habedank
  9. “Up Above The World So High” Inspirations
  10. “When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold” LeFevre Qt

Favorite Musician

  1. Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision)
  2. Gordon Mote
  3. Jeff Tolbert (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  4. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  5. Kevin Davis (Anthem Edition)
  6. Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Matthew Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Richard Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Trevor Conkle (Mark Trammell Qt)

The Paul Heil Award

  1. Bill Gaither’s Enlighten
  2. Danny Jones (The 4th Page Playlist)
  3. Greg Goodman
  4. Joseph Reed
  5. Les Butler
  6. REAL Southern Gospel Radio
  7. Rodney Baucom
  8. Singing News Radio
  9. The Gospel Greats
  10. Troy Peach

Favorite New Artist

  1. Craguns
  2. Divinity
  3. Joy Holden
  4. Lawsons
  5. Peach Goldman
  6. Phillips & Banks
  7. Right Road Qt
  8. Rogers Family
  9. Tate Emmons
  10. The Promise

Favorite Artist

  1. Down East Boys
  2. Gold City
  3. Greater Vision
  4. Guardians
  5. Inspirations
  6. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  7. Joseph Habedank
  8. Karen Peck & New River
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt

Favorite Radio DJ

  1. Dan Bell (WJBZ)
  2. Dave Compton (WPET)
  3. Dave Taylor (KWFC)
  4. Duane Garren (KKBL)
  5. John Wishon (WWWC)
  6. Ken Hicks (WUSY)
  7. Lottie Squires (WCKB)
  8. Randall Hamm (WFLQ)
  9. Scott Peek (KNMG)
  10. Tom Rusk (WGOG)

Rhonda Nelon on the mend after two surgeries

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

It has been nearly two weeks since gospel music favorite Rhonda Nelon first fell ill, and her family is now sharing an encouraging update with fans and supporters.

Rhonda underwent gallbladder surgery last week, followed by a second procedure shortly after. Both surgeries were successful, though the road to recovery has not been easy. Despite the positive outcomes, Rhonda faced a significant amount of pain in the days that followed.

Her husband, Todd Nelon, spoke on her behalf to let well-wishers know how she is doing. “For those asking, Rhonda is doing well after the surgeries and improving more and more each day,” he said. “It’s been a tough week, but God has been faithful, and she’s looking forward to seeing everyone soon. Thank you for all the prayers.”

The outpouring of support from fans clearly means a great deal to the family during this difficult time. By all accounts, Rhonda is moving in the right direction, and those who love her music and ministry can take comfort in knowing she is on the mend.