The Interview: James Walvin, author of ‘Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn’
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks with the professor of history at the University of York about the hymn, its composer and the “electrifying event” when President Barack Obama drew on its power…
Celebrations in the UK and beyond as ‘Amazing Grace’ marks 250 years
Norwich, UK Sung more than 10 million times every year, Amazing Grace has become much more than just a song as Amanda Molcher, a trustee at the Cowper & Newton Museum discovered while researching what it meant to people. This little museum in Olney, Buckinghamshire, focuses on Amazing Grace and its author, Rev John Newton, […]
The Interview: Jennifer Hudson says shared faith “definitely” helped her depict Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks with Jennifer Hudson about her role in the new film ‘Respect’, which tells the story of the “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin…
Harry Connick, Jr, bunkered for the pandemic, emerges with ‘Alone With My Faith’
RNS Even Harry Connick, Jr’s, iconic, New Orleans croon can’t hide just how meaningful making his new album was to him in a time when he needed it most. “This project helped me through my faith in the time of COVID,” said Connick of his collection of six original faith-inflected compositions and a half-dozen jazz […]
This Life: Grace – the greatest gift of all
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article first published on ASSIST News Service, reflects on God’s gift of grace…
Music: Reimagining the classics to reach a new generation
MARCUS CHEONG reviews Perry LaHaie’s new album of classic hymns re-imagined…
North American hymn society tournament reveals “greatest hymn of all time”
RNS Holy, Holy, Holy! has been chosen in a March Madness-like tournament as “the greatest hymn of all time”. The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada announced the winner on Thursday, the last day of its annual conference in Dallas. Eileen Guenther, church music professor at Washington’s Wesley Theological Seminary says the tournament […]
ARETHA FRANKLIN: NEW DOCUMENTARY SHINES A LIGHT ON THE MAKING OF SINGER’S GOSPEL ALBUM ‘AMAZING GRACE’
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports from the US about a new documentary looking at the making of Aretha Franklin’s 1972 live Gospel album, ‘Amazing Grace’…
ESSAY: AS US EVANGELICALS WIN WITH TRUMP, LITTLE “GOOD NEWS” IS LEFT IN THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT
US religion commentator JACOB LUPFER, in an article first published on Religion News Service, reflects on the US midterm elections…
MUSIC: ARETHA FRANKLIN STARTED WITH THE GOSPEL, ENDED WITH SOUL AT AGE 76
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, writes about the legacy of singer Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul”, who died on 16th August at age 76…