J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise continue to reach higher heights as they are nominated for three (3) Billboard Music Awards. The nominations include Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, and Top Gospel Song for their #1 hit, “You Deserve It,” which spent 21 weeks at the top spot of the Billboard Gospel Digital Songs sales chart. This feat is on the heels of the group winning six awards at the 33rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards a few weeks ago. They were also nominated for a GRAMMY® Awardearlier this year.“You Deserve It” and the group’s current Top Ten single, “No Reason To Fear,” hail from their latest album, You Deserve It (JamesTown Music/eOne Music). The Billboard Music Awards is scheduled to be taped in Las Vegas, NV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20th and will be televised live on NBC.
Recently, McDonald’s announced that Hairston will co-headline the 2018 McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour that is scheduled to begin May 12th in Newark, NJ and will hit 13 major markets across the country. The tour will also include some of gospel’s heavy hitters such as Deitrick Haddon, Todd Dulaney, Ricky Dillard, Canton Jones, LeAndria Johnson, and Donald Lawrence. All proceeds from the tour will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This week Hairston along with fellow gospel superstar Detrick Haddon visited the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago to spend time with families, pray, and provide meals.
It’s been a busy time for Hairston. He also has just launched a new syndicated radio show, Youthful Praise with JJ Hairston, and he is preparing for the spring 2018 publication of his new book, “Amazing Love,” with his wife, Trina.
The dynamic gospel super group, J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, has danced with Miss Piggy on a Lady Gaga network TV special and also performed on “Good Morning America” but their roots are in Bridgeport, CT. They were formed there in 1991 at Turner’s Faith Temple church. The group was originally known as Teens of TFT and served as the choir for the church pastored by Bishop J.C. White and Evangelist Gloria White. The group is known for their Top Ten gospel radio hits such as “After This,” “Resting On His Promises,” “Incredible God, Incredible Praise,” “Bless Me” “You’re Mighty.”
