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Mary Mary has done it again! The dynamic duo made personal and industry history this week when their new self-titled CD debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music charts and at No. 8 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart. The album sold in excess of 56,000 copies, a feat that also currently places Mary Mary as the top-selling gospel debut of 2005, a title previously held by Donnie McClurkin's Psalm, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Additionally, the set's first single "Heaven" continues its unprecedented nine-week run atop Billboard's Gospel Radio chart.

Last week, Rocketown recording artist Ginny Owens sang the National Anthem at "Tee-Ball on the South Lawn," a special initiative launched in 2001 by President George W. Bush to "promote interest in baseball and a spirit of teamwork and service for America's youth." Sunday's game featured District 12 Little League Challengers from Williamsport, Pennsylvania playing West University Little League Challengers from Houston, Texas. The Little League's Challenger Division is organized for and features teams comprised of mentally and physically disabled children. This game celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

Audio Adrenaline frontman Mark Stuart will be raising awareness for the band's upcoming record, Until My Heart Caves In, as well as the group's humanitarian cause, the Hands & Feet Project, with a bike ride across America titled "Hands and Feet Across America." Stuart will be traveling approximately 3,000 miles on his Victory motorcycle to raise money per mile for the Hands & Feet Project, benefiting the ministry that his parents run in Haiti for orphans. Individual or group sponsors of the ride can go to http://www.handsandfeetproject.org/ or http://www.audioa.com/ to pledge their support. The motorcycle will be autographed by various celebrities along the way, and offered in the band's Second Annual Charity Auction on eBay at the end of the trip. Unsure if you want to bid? The highest bidder also gets a free Audio Adrenaline concert.

INO Records' singer/songwriter Derek Webb has again teamed up with Apple's iTunes music store, this time with their "Podcast" initiative. Last spring, he worked with Apple for the "iTunes Unplugged EP-Special Edition," offering acoustic versions of new songs and unreleased tracks for fans. Webb's new Podcast, beginning in August, allows him to have his own radio station of sorts, through which he'll feature exclusive music, performances, and interviews which can then be downloaded for free and listened to through iTunes or your iPod. Visit the iTunes Music Store to access the Podcast and look for two new projects later this year: a live DVD (How To Kill And Be Killed) releasing in October and his third solo album in December.

Speaking of INO singer/songwriters who can't be stopped, Sara Groves has just finished tracking the twelve songs that will make up her fourth studio effort, Add to the Beauty. Releasing October 4, the album is expected to have the same intimate, minimalist atmosphere of Conversations.

Another Disney teen-pop duo? Poised to follow in the footsteps of Jump5, sister duo Aly & AJ will release their debut Into the Rush to the general market August 16 and the Christian market October 4 through Hollywood Records. For those who don't know, 16-year-old Aly recently co-starred on the hit Disney Channel series "Phil of the Future," and 14-year-old AJ has been seen in such shows as "Six Feet Under," "Oliver Beene," "Birds of Prey," "The Guardian," and "General Hospital." The two have already had radio success with the No. 1 Radio Disney singles "No One" (from the Ice Princess film soundtrack) and "Do You Believe in Magic" (a single that's sold more than 50,000 copies).

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

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