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Former Creed frontman Scott Stapp, recently in the news for a brawl, public intoxication, and sex tape scandal, admits that he has made "some boneheaded mistakes" in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. Of those "mistakes," Stapp said, "You try to learn from them, and move on," adding that he has "something to prove" on his solo tour. Meanwhile, at least one of those "mistakes"—a February charge of public intoxication the day after his wedding—is now behind him: MTV reports that the Los Angeles city attorney's office will not file charges. A grateful Stapp, who identifies himself as a Christian, replied in a statement: "We all make mistakes, and the day will come soon enough where you will no longer read of mine in the tabloids."

Country crooner Alan Jackson's latest album, Precious Memories, a hymns collection, debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, and soared to the peak of the Top Country Albums and Top Christian & Gospel Albums charts. According to his website, Jackson only intended the album to be a present to his mother, but encouragement from family, friends, and his record label motivated him to release it commercially.

Former Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell will release his Christian music debut, Welcome Home, May 2 on Reunion Records. "I've been writing Christian music for a long time," said Littrell, who grew up singing in his home church's choir. "Now I have the opportunity to share some of those songs with others. I'm a family guy making music for the family. This really is like a dream come true."

Dates for P.O.D.'s Warriors Tour II have been announced. Opening for P.O.D. on the tour will be Pillar, The Chariot, and Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, and the tour website includes bios on each band—plus lots of other goodies.

Thanks to a personal invitation from a missions organization, The Listening (formerly Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus) is headed to Russia next week for four shows. The gigs, to be held March 22-25 at St. Petersburg's Club Port, will be used to promote a church service later in the week. "It's a way for the local churches there to build relationships with the youth in St. Petersburg," says frontman Gabriel Wilson. "We hope to be a catalyst to help that relationship grow." The band will tour the U.S. on their return.

Cool Hand Luke is in the studio working on a new album to be released this fall, according to their website. Meanwhile, another report says the band will release an EP this spring, available only online and at their shows.

Floodgate Records band Forever Changed is calling it quits after playing shows through May, according to their MySpace blog. Drummer Nathan Lee wrote that "all of us in Forever Changed are still friends, and even though we are all bummed out that things are coming to an end, we're really excited about what lies ahead. We truly hope you'll come out to see us one last time for our farewell shows in May."

Worship songwriter Paul Baloche's new album, A Greater Song, releasing April 4, was recorded live at Baloche's home church. Baloche teams up with some of today's finest church music songwriters, including Matt Redman, Brenton Brown, Graham Kendrick, Don Moen, and Sara Groves. Baloche shot to fame after penning "Open the Eyes of My Heart."

On March 20-29, judges for Gifted—sort of a Christian version of American Idol—will narrow a field of 100 competitors down to eight finalists, who will be flown to Los Angeles to compete on national television for the crown. The show is set to air on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in May and will be hosted by Brian Littrell.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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