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.”
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
Anthem Edition
Down East Boys
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gold City
Guardians
Inspirations
LeFevre Qt
Mark Trammell Qt
Tribute Qt
Triumphant Qt
Favorite Duet
Austin and Ethan Whisnant
Blake & Jenna Bolerjack
Bryan & Yvonne Hutson
Chronicle
Duncans
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Jim & Melissa Brady
Josh & Ashley Franks
Reggie & Ladye Love Smith
Zane & Donna King
Favorite Mixed Group
Chuck Wagon Gang
Collingsworth Family
Craguns
Endless Highway
Erwins
Isaacs
Karen Peck & New River
Mylon Hayes Family
Perrys
Whisnants
Favorite Soloist
Adam Crabb
Billy Walker
Ivan Parker
Jonathan Wilburn
Joseph Habedank
Lauren Talley
Lynda Randle
Michael Booth
Scotty Inman
Steve Ladd
Favorite Trio
11th Hour
Booth Brothers
Brian Free & Assurance
Greater Vision
Hoppers
Hyssongs
Peach Goldman
Sound Street
Southbound
The Sound
Favorite Young Artist
Brady Jones (Kingsmen)
Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
Christopher Taylor (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Elena Dubbeld (Mark Dubbeld Family)
Elisha Moore (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
Jaylie Vanderslice (Sound Street)
Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
Makayla Hyssong (Hyssongs)
Priscilla Franks (Josh & Ashley Franks)
Tate Emmons
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)
Favorite Soprano
Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
Brooklyn Blair (Collingsworth Family)
Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
Kim Hopper (Hoppers)
Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
Melissa Kemper (Chuck Wagon Gang)
Rachel Kramer (Kramers)
Rebekah Shields (Rogers Family)
Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)
Favorite Tenor
Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance)
Cameron Edens (Anthem Edition)
Chris Allman (Greater Vision)
Chris Jenkins (Gold City)
David Sutton (Triumphant Qt)
Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)
Ernie Haase (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Gus Gaches (Tribute Qt)
Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
Paul Lancaster (Guardians)
Favorite Lead
Aaron Hise (Whisnants)
Bill Shivers (Brian Free & Assurance)
Chris Bryant (Kingdom Heirs)
Gary Casto (Tribute Qt)
Josh Feemster (Gold City)
Nick Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)
Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
Sean Barber (Triumphant Qt)
Tim Rackley (Anthem Edition)
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)
Favorite Band
Carolina The Band
Chosen Road
Chuck Wagon Gang
Endless Highway
Gaither Vocal Band
High Road
Isaacs
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
Joseph Habedank’s band
Kingdom Heirs
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)
Favorite Baritone
Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)
Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
Clayton Inman (Triumphant Qt)
Daniel Riley (Gold City)
Doug Roark (Anthem Edition)
Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
Mark Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Qt)
Scott Mullins (Greater Vision)
Favorite Songwriter
Dennis Murphy
Jim Brady
John Darin Rowsey
Joseph Habedank
Karen Peck Gooch
Kenna Turner West
Lee Black
Rodney Griffin
Ronny Hinson
Scotty Inman
Favorite Bass
Andrew Utech (Anthem Edition)
Brad Smith (Kingdom Heirs)
Brandon Barry (Down East Boys)
Daniel Ashmore (LeFevre Qt)
Eric Bennett (Triumphant Qt)
Ian Owens (Tribute Qt)
Jeff Chapman (Gold City)
Pat Barker (Guardians)
Will Lane (Mark Trammell Qt)
Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)
Favorite Album
40th Anniversary (Kingdom Heirs)
An Irish Christmas (Down East Boys)
Forever (Tribute Qt)
Go Out To The Program (Greater Vision)
Good Answers (Karen Peck & New River)
Here To Stay (LeFevre Qt)
Jesus Can (Jonathan Wilburn)
Made To Live Forever (Chuck Wagon Gang)
Up Above The World So High (Inspirations)
Where Healing Happens (Guardians)
Favorite Alto
Courtney Metz (Collingsworth Family)
Hannah Shields (Rogers Family)
Kari Gooch Baucom (Karen Peck & New River)
Karlye Hopper (Hoppers)
Libbi Perry Stuffle (Perrys)
Shaye Smith (Chuck Wagon Gang)
Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Susan Peck Jackson (Karen Peck & New River)
Susan Whisnant (Whisnants)
Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
Favorite Song
“Every Promise Made Is A Promise Kept” Anthem Edition
“I Just Stopped By On My Way Home” Kingsmen
“I Speak Jesus” Karen Peck & New River
“Mercy River” Down East Boys
“Motel Bible” Scotty Inman
“Pray” Mark Trammell Qt
“That Somebody Was Me” Guardians
“The Church” Joseph Habedank
“Up Above The World So High” Inspirations
“When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold” LeFevre Qt
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.
The Rogers Family has released their second single for Horizon Records, a song called “A Place to Spend the Night,” written by Kyla Rowland. The track features lead vocals by Rebekah Shields and explores the Christian truth that death is not a permanent end.
Provided to YouTube by Syntax Creative A Place to Spend the Night · The Rogers Family A Place to Spend the Night ℗ 2026 Horizon Records
The song draws on African-American Gospel sounds, opening with piano and B3 organ playing together to establish a stately 6/8 rhythm. Rebekah’s brother Samuel and sister Hannah join in on the chorus, giving the recording a family ensemble feel that longtime fans of the group will appreciate.
The decision to record the song came out of a conversation between producer Roger Talley and his daughter, singer Lauren Talley. Lauren suggested that Rebekah was the right voice for the song, and Roger agreed. The result is a recording that showcases a notably different musical direction from the group’s Horizon debut.
Their first single for the label, “He’s Still God,” leaned into country sounds as it affirmed the Lord’s unchanging presence. “A Place to Spend the Night” moves in a different direction, giving the family an opportunity to demonstrate their range as performers.
Rebekah described the song’s message plainly. “It is an uplifting song which encourages believers that death is not the end, and the grave is only temporary,” she said. “Written by songwriter extraordinaire Kyla Rowland, we hope this song will be a blessing and comfort.”
The Rogers Family’s story begins in Northeast Georgia, where Ray and Helen Rogers sang in local churches with their daughter Kim, who also played piano. Kim later married Sammy Shields after meeting him at a church in North Carolina in 1999. The family settled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where they raised three children: Rebekah, Samuel, and Hannah.
After Ray Rogers passed away in 2010, the younger generation stepped into a more central role in the group’s ministry. Today, the family travels and performs together as a group of six: Helen, Kim, Sammy, Rebekah, Samuel, and Hannah, with Kim continuing to serve as the group’s pianist.
Mark Bishop has released a new single through Sonlite Records, and it carries a message as timeless as the book it points to. Titled “You Better Go Read It,” the song follows his previous release “The Fishing Pole,” a quieter, country-flavoured reflection on life’s journey, and marks a clear shift in mood. This new track is upbeat and soulful, built on a syncopated rhythm and wrapped in a spirit of joyful urgency.
The idea behind the song came from an everyday moment most people know well. Bishop explained it this way: “How many times has a strange icon lit up on the dashboard of your car, and you have to fish out the owner’s manual in the glove compartment to figure out what’s going on? Wouldn’t it be great if we had a manual for when our lives needed some tune-up or repair? Guess what… we do!”
The answer, as Bishop sees it, has been there all along. “But it doesn’t do you any good if you don’t go read it,” he said.
“All of the answers are right there. It’s called the Bible, and it’s an owner’s manual for your life. Yours. Our newest song, ‘You Better Go Read It,’ is a playful, happy reminder that God has given us a gift… a roadmap… an instruction book… an insurance policy. But it does you no good if you don’t read it.”
That lighthearted but pointed tone comes through from the very first lines of the song, where Bishop sets the scene with a direct question to the listener: Can I have your attention? This’ll only take a minute. You’re runnin’ in the rat race. Now how ya’ gonna win it? Do you know where you’re going? When the journey’s through? Got any idea… who might be waitin’ for you?
The chorus opens things up further, with label mate Amber Lynn joining Bishop in alternating harmonies that give the song an energetic back-and-forth feel: You better go read it. It’s right there in the Word. You’re really gonna need it. Maybe you haven’t heard, There’s a hell and a heaven, there’s a right way and a wrong. By the end of the journey, who’s side will you be on? There’s a road map… you get to see it. But you better go read it.
The single also marks a milestone for someone close to Bishop. “I am especially excited for you to hear this new song,” he said, “because it also features my friend and live concert piano player, Tony Gross. If you’ve come to any of our concerts, you already know how talented this young man is on the keys. Well… now you can hear Tony play whenever you want to. Ladies and gentlemen… I present to you, recorded for the first time, the musical talents of Tony Gross on our newest song… ‘You Better Go Read It’!”
Texas Gospel Canada Southern Gospel Radio 