Natalie Grant Surprises Contestants, Three Singers Voted Out, but One is Saved on 'Gospel Dream'

Natalie Grant Surprises Contestants, Three Singers Voted Out, but One is Saved on 'Gospel Dream'

Encores July 11 (8 P.M./1 A.M.) & July 12 (8 P.M./11 P.M.) ET

ATLANTA, July 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Natalie Grant surprised contestants, then helped coach their performances, while three singers were sent packing, but in a surprise twist, one was voted back in by remaining contestants last night on the popular Gospel Music Channel ( www.gospelmusicchannel.com) television network series Gospel Dream. (Viewers can catch special encores of the episode Saturday, July 11 (8:00 P.M., 1:00 A.M.) and Sunday, July 12 (8:00 P.M., 11:00 P.M.) on GMC. All times eastern.

It was ladies night and the surprise visit by the reigning and four-time GMA Female Vocalist of the Year Grant shocked the five remaining females: Amber Davies, Brownsville, TN (Age 18); Ashli Marie Pritchett, Thomaston, GA (16); Erin Lyder, Boston, MA (24); Jasmine Jackson, Murfreesboro, TN (21) and Rashelle Garrett, Ceres, CA (32). Grant then helped guide their performances as the ladies performed in front of a studio audience for the first time. Songs performed included: "Get Up" (Erin), "Can't Live a Day" (Rashelle), "I Will Not Be Moved" (Ashli), "I Can See Clearly Now" (Jasmine) and "When You Believe" (Amber). The judges voted out Erin, Rashelle and Ashli -- but then allowed the five remaining male contestants, whose night is next week -- to save one of the outcasts. The men elected to bring back Erin Lyder, who lives to sing another day along with Amber Davies and Jasmine Jackson.

Next week, it's guys night as NeVar Massey, Hampton, GA (34); Robert Mauti, Nashville, TN (26); Tim Stylez, Atlanta, GA (27); Tony LeBron, Boca Raton, FL (32); and Travis Lindseth, Kirkland, WA (21) hit the stage. Three are scheduled to be voted out, but they may get a few surprises of their own. The new episode premieres on GMC Weds. July 15 at 10:00 P.M. ET/9:00 P.M. CT.

The judges deciding the fate of the contestants are: Michelle Williams from the GRAMMY- winning group "Destiny's Child"; one of Gospel music's most prolific talents, J. Moss; and one of the music industry's most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek. Kimberley Locke, the first American Idol® alumnae to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts with a non-Idol single, serves as co-host along with Mike Kasem ("MTV's Top 20 Video Countdown" "American Top 10"). In addition, two major musical artists will serve as surprise coaches during the season. The theme for the Gospel Dream's fourth season: The Greatest Inspirational Songs of All Time.

GMC now gives viewers a chance to catch the previous week's Gospel Dream episode immediately before the new episode premiere:

GMC's New Weds. Night Line-Up
8:00 P.M. Clash of the Choirs
9:00 P.M. Gospel Dream (Encore of Previous Week)
10:00 P.M. Gospel Dream (New Episode Premiere)
All Times Eastern

Gospel Dream talent auditions invited solo artists between the ages of 16-40, from all genres of Gospel/Christian music styles, including traditional, rock, pop, country and soul to compete for the final competition in Nashville from which ten finalists-- and ultimately one winner--will be chosen by a celebrity panel of industry professionals. The winning artist will receive record and music video exposure, among other prizes.

The Gospel Dream series was created by Executive Producer Elvin Ross, who is also the series' executive producer and musical director. Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in 45 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.