The Year of Jubilee a Finalist in the 2024 Christy Awards
I’m so excited to share that The Year of Jubilee is a finalist in this year’s Christy Awards, which honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction. Thank you to my incredible publishing partner and team @tyndale and for everyone who has read and reviewed the book so far.
The novel is set in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a movement we are still involved in today. I’m grateful that the book (and accompanying album ‘The Sounds of Jubilee’) can be a part of that very important conversation.
You can pick up a copy of The Year of Jubilee wherever you love to buy books! And if you’ve read the book already, I’d be honored if you would consider writing a review, which greatly helps the folks discover the book.
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The Christy Award® was established in 1999 to acknowledge the value and impact of the novel of faith in contemporary culture. Since that time, the Christys have been a focal point for the writers and publishers in our community, symbolizing the best aspirations and accomplishments of writers who write from a perspective of faith and who create stories with matters of belief at their core. The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).
Cindy Morgan’s ‘Jubilee (featuring Tommy Sims)’ Wins Hollywood Independent Music Award
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 23, 2024) – Award-winning singer-songwriter, artist, producer and author Cindy Morgan won the Hollywood Independent Music Award for her single “Jubilee (feat. Tommy Sims)” in the Americana/Roots category at the ceremony in Los Angeles on July 18, 2024.
“Jubilee,” co-written and co-produced by Morgan, Sims and Stephen Leiweke, is the lively lead single on Morgan’s latest record “The Sounds of Jubilee” (November 2023), a 14-song soundtrack that compliments the stories and characters of Morgan’s semi-biographical novel "The Year of Jubilee" (Tyndale Publishers, 2023).
The album features some of Nashville's most notable singer-songwriters such as Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Tom Douglas, Jonathan Kingham, Marcus Hummon, Phil Madeira, Seven Fold, Stephen Leiweke and Andrew Greer.
“I was excited, shocked and thrilled for ‘Jubilee’ and all the special artists involved on this record to be highlighted.. especially my co-writer and collaborator, the legendary Tommy Sims,” Morgan said. “‘The Sounds of Jubilee’ is a soundtrack for the novel ‘The Year of Jubilee,’ set in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a movement we are still involved in today. I’m grateful that the album ‘The Sounds of Jubilee’ can be a part of that very important conversation, and I am so honored to receive this award for ‘Jubilee’ along with the incomparable Tommy Sims.”
The awards were presented on July 18 at the historic Avalon Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Morgan attended the awards ceremony with the album’s executive producer, Tim Sensabaugh, and her husband Jonathan Richardson.
“It was truly an honor to have Tommy Sims on the song ‘Jubilee.’ Within the music industry, Tommy’s bass playing, songwriting and production have been long admired as being in category unto itself. From Springsteen to Stevie Wonder, Tommy’s abilities as an artist have fans from music royalty—not to mention he’s one of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever known,” Morgan said.
The complete list of HIMA nominees and awards can be found at himawards.com.
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Nashville singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan is a two-time GRAMMY® nominee, a fourteen-time Dove award winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Songwriter of the Year trophy. Morgan has 21 number one radio hits to her credit, and has penned songs for notable artists including David Archuletta, Vince Gill, India.Arie, TJ Shepherd, Rascal Flatts, Ricky Skaggs, Amy Grant, Glen Campbell, Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Sandra McCracken, Josh Garrels, Sierra Hull, Kris Allen, and EchoSmith among many others. In 2017, Morgan’s song “Bird in a Cage” was performed by Robert Redford and Sasha Lazard in the movie Blind starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore. Cindy has authored four books, Barefoot on Barbed Wire (Harvest House Publishers, 2001), Dance Me Daddy (HarperCollins, 2009), her memoir, How Could I Ask for More (Worthy Inspired, 2015), and most recently The Year of Jubilee (Tyndale, 2023), in addition to being a co-creator of the charitable Hymns for Hunger Tour, which has raised awareness and resources for hunger relief organizations across the globe. Visit Cindy’s website for touring information, new music, masterclasses and more at cindymorganmusic.com.
The Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA) is a global platform for independent music. Emerging and established artists, songwriters, composers, and audio recording professionals around the world are recognized for outstanding contributions to independent music. The HIMA is an extension of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA), which is an annual event celebrating the songs and scores in all visual media including film, TV, video games, commercials, trailers, music videos, documentaries, and other new visual media.
1 Degree of Andy Podcast
I had so much fun walking down memory lane with my friend Andy Chrisman on his podcast, "1 Degree of Andy”!
This week I catch up with my friend Cindy Morgan, one of the all time great singer/songwriters in CCM history. We’ll take a look back at her career and hear about the exciting things she’s doing now, including releasing her first novel and maybe making a new record with a very special guest vocalist…
The Impact of Timothy Keller
Timothy Keller’s impact on my life…
I remember a time in my life when I was struggling with life, work stress, and significant personal struggles, that my dear friend Ginny Owens recommended Timothy Keller.
I began listening to his sermons, sometimes for hours a day. The first sermon I heard was called “Work and Rest” (link below). His sermons pulled me out of the pit, and I have been listening ever since.
Certain people are marked for greatness. I believe Tim Keller was the Martin Luther of our time— in that, he reformed the image many of us we had of some popular Christian leaders that projected a legalistic, slick, money collecting, prosperity focused, politically divisive, TV preacher image, into a man of the Gospel who presented a message that was (and is) thoughtful, merciful, relatable, believable, reachable, sustainable, responsible, and life changing.
Thank you God for the incredible life of Tim Keller, his precious wife Kathy, and all of the family and friends surrounding his ministry that sustained him to keep going. He was a North Star to us all—always leading us Jesus.
Well done good and faithful servant. Awaking to a new life in heaven.
Sermon “Work and Rest”: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../timothy-keller.../id352660924
Raising Boys & Girls
Raising Boys & Girls Podcast
Episode 111: Parenting Out of Love, Not Fear with Cindy Morgan
Bridges Podcast Episode 47: Cindy Morgan: Minister of ... Finding Jubilee
Episode 47: Cindy Morgan: Minister of ... Finding Jubilee
Typology Podcast: Singer-Songwriter Cindy Morgan on Enneagram (Type 4)
Thank you to my dear friend Ian Cron for inviting me back on the Typology Podcast!
The Compulsive Reader: An Interview with Cindy Morgan
Read the interview by clicking below!
Autumn & Eve: Old Testaments Vol. 1 - NOW AVAILABLE
The new EP from Cindy Morgan available now wherever you listen to music!
New Release Today Review of Autumn & Eve
New Release Today covering the Autumn & Eve EP release. Thanks!
2-time Grammy Nominee and 13-time Dove Award-winner Cindy Morgan is gearing up for the release of her new EP, Autumn & Eve, on March 8, 2019. This is the follow-up of her critically acclaimed 2015 album Bows & Arrows (which won Best Folk Album at the 38th GMA Covenant Awards).
"The new record is about a merging of Old Testament struggles and modern heartache," shares Cindy Morgan. "I have been in a season of loss and change, and the songs on Autumn & Eve are inspired by not only this season of my life but also of the stories of old."
Morgan's new EP is also receiving early critical praise. Dave Trout, President of UTR Media, shares: "Autumn & Eveseems like a perfectly-timed release, because the themes speak directly into the turmoil and pain so prevalent in our communities and personal lives. The musical execution is brilliant, with the warm Americana glow of upright bass, banjo, ukulele, acoustic, and piano -- all anchored by Cindy Morgan's soaring and authentic voice."
Autumn & Eve will be available on all music platforms on March 8th, including iTunes, Amazon, Apple Music, and Spotify. A special pre-release download and limited edition signed & numbered CD (including bonus tracks not available anywhere else) are available now thru March 7th at www.cindymorganmusic.com.
CCM Magazine Review of Autumn & Eve
Thanks for the kind words CCM Magazine!
Morgan’s new EP is also receiving early critical praise. Dave Trout, President of UTR Media, shares: “Autumn & Eveseems like a perfectly-timed release, because the themes speak directly into the turmoil and pain so prevalent in our communities and personal lives. The musical execution is brilliant, with the warm Americana glow of upright bass, banjo, ukulele, acoustic, and piano – all anchored by Cindy Morgan’s soaring and authentic voice.”
Bows & Arrows DELUXE EDITION Now Available!
Winner of Best Folk Album at the 2016 Canadian Covenant Awards, Cindy Morgan's Bows & Arrows (Deluxe Edition) is NOW AVAILABLE on Spotify! Includes exclusive instrumental, commentary, and bonus tracks!
TRACK LISTING:
Can't Help Yourself (Featuring Gabe Dixon) (4:28)
I Know You (3:46)
Bows & Arrows (5:02)
Wandering Child (4:19)
Unbroken (5:33)
Do You Know Jesus (5:01)
The Sound Of A Train (4:32)
I Want To Live (0:49)
Live In The Red (3:57)
Bring Balloons (4:42)
How Could I Ask For More (Featuring Andrew Peterson) (4:01)
Like Jesus (I Want To Live Part 2) (1:09)
Bows & Arrows (Instrumental) (5:03)
Breaking Heart (Live) (3:32)
Bows & Arrows (Album Commentary) (1:36)
Bows & Arrows (Song Commentary) (1:37)
How Could I Ask for More (Song Commentary) (1:45)
Point of Grace Grammy Nomination
I'm excited to be a small part of this exciting Grammy nomination for Point of Grace. I have an original song on this record called "Two Roads." The album "Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know)" by Point of Grace has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
46th Annual Dove Awards Nomination
Cindy has been nominated for a Dove Award at the 46th annual GMA Dove Awards – “Inspirational Song of the Year” as a songwriter for Laura Story's song, “HO Love of God” (co-written with Laura Story and Ian Cron). Congratulations Cindy!
How Could I Ask for More
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—How Could I Ask For More: Stories of Blessings, Battles and Beauty, the latest nonfiction title from GRAMMY® nominated, multi-Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan, is set to bow August 4 from Worthy Publishing.
Inspired by Morgan’s career-defining song, “How Could I Ask For More,” the 224-page book is a collection of stories celebrating the blessings that compose a rich, full life. With a foreword by acclaimed singer/songwriter, author and speaker Kelly Minter, each of the 29 chapters depicts defining seasons throughout Morgan’s life and the lives of various family and friends, past and present. From her hardscrabble childhood in the mountains of East Tennessee, to adventures as a young woman finding her way in the music business, to the wit and wisdom gained as a wife and mother of teenage daughters, Morgan’s vignettes challenge readers to embrace God’s blessings in every form.
“Sometimes the most extraordinary things are just the ordinary things that we finally see the true worth of,” Morgan shares in the book’s introduction. “Like a rising moon, a child’s smile, or your mother’s voice. I don’t want to lose that way of seeing. And I want to remind myself of the things in life that matter. Of what I have learned from loss and heartache and the beauty that often follows after loss."
“I want to tell you what my own journey has taught me,” she continues. “Stories of how God has shown Himself to me. Moments when I have walked away from God and what the road looked like walking back. I want to share my fears and my longings and those rare moments when you catch a glimpse of the truth.”
A GRAMMY® nominee and one of Nashville’s most influential singer/songwriters for more than two decades, Cindy Morgan has garnered multiple GMA Dove Awards, including the prestigious Songwriter of the Year trophy. With 22 #1 hits to her credit, in addition to her own iconic discography she has penned songs for such artists as Amy Grant, India.Arie, Rascal Flatts, Natalie Grant, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace and Mandisa, among many others. Morgan is half of the acclaimed pop duo St. Lola In the Fields with longtime writing partner Jeremy Bose. Their songs have been featured in such television shows as “Drop Dead Divas,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “One Tree Hill,” among other film and TV placements. She also co-created the Hymns for Hunger initiative with Dove-nominated singer/songwriter Andrew Greer. Annual Hymns for Hunger Tours help raise awareness and resources for local and international hunger relief organizations.
How Could I Ask For More: Stories of Blessings, Battles and Beauty will be available August 4 from Worthy Publishing/Capitol Christian Distribution.
Grammy Nomination
GrammyNomination
Cindy has been nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the category of "Best Contemporary Christian Music Song" as a songwriter on "Hurricane," the title track and current single from Natalie Grant's latest. Watch the Grammies on CBS, January 26, 2014 @ 8 PM EST/7 PM CST. Visit grammy.com for more info.
Dove Award Nominations
Cindy is nominated for two Dove Awards at the 45th annual Dove Awards - "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year" as a songwriter for Natalie Grant's single, "Hurricane". Congratulations Cindy! The Dove Awards will take place on Tuesday, October 7 at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, and is set to air on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) on October 12, 2014. For a full list of nominees, visit: doveawards.com/nominees
He Comes For You - Now Available at iTunes
My new single, "He Comes For You," releases on iTunes today. You can purchase the song here and watch the video below. This song is the result of a combined effort to increase support and raise awareness in the fight to end human trafficking. 100% of every penny earned through the sale of this single will be donated to an organization on the front lines of this human struggle. The International Justice Mission (IJM) works tirelessly every single day to end modern day slavery and sex trafficking across the world. Anything you can do to help spread the word about the iTunes release of "He Comes For You" - posting the link to Facebook, sharing via Twitter, or word of mouth - will go 100% towards the cause to end human trafficking in our time.
Thanks so much for whatever part you can play to help put an end to modern day slavery, together . . .
Hymns for Hunger - Collegiate Cover
We were so excited to be able to share the music and mission of the Hymns for Hunger Tour for Collegiate Magazine's Winter 2014 cover feature! You can read it or order your own copy here . . .