Story Courtesy of WKRN.com and CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE®

A surprise visit by singer Michael W. Smith brightened the day of Staff Sergeant Rafael Panduro Wednesday at the Cracker Barrel in Clarksville.

“He’s in there with his wife and two daughters. They don’t know that I’m coming,” said Smith just before walking into the restaurant.

“We’re going to have a meal together and I’m going to give them some cash,” Smith told News 2.The Christian singer gifted the family with $500 and backstage passes to his Nashville show.

Staff Sgt. Panduro enlisted when he was 17 years old and has served for 15 and a half years in medical mission.

He’s currently a platoon leader at Fort Campbell.

Smith sat with the Panduros for lunch, chatting with the family, before presenting a Christmas gift on behalf of the Lebanon based restaurant chain.

“We’ve got a little money, a little Christmas shopping money here at Cracker Barrel,” Smith said with a smile. “Not $20, not $50, but $500.”

Sgt. Panduro and his wife Ursula were taken completely by surprise.

“One of his songs was the first song I ever heard after I became a Christian,” Panduro said, adding, “It’s amazing. I don’t know what to say. I’m just grateful to everybody who made this happen.”

Panduro’s wife Ursula was brought to tears.

“We’re representing Fort Campbell,” she said. “All of the families that are there that do the same thing that we do.”

In addition to the gift card, Smith gave the Panduros backstage passes to his show in Nashville Thursday night.

On Monday, December 1st – ABC aired their CMA Country Christmas Special which featured Michael W. Smith and Carrie Underwood singing ALL IS WELL.  Listen to the song here.

(ALL IS WELL is one of 14 new recordings on Michael’s album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS record.  Available everywhere you buy music. Sample every song and get your copy now here.)

Watch the live performance as it appeared during the CMA Country Christmas special here:

Watch and listen to the official lyric video here:

In the midst of promotion for Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, which quickly hit No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart, three-time GRAMMY® winner Michael W. Smith was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Nashville Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Additionally, Smith was honored by the Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) for his impact on the Nashville entertainment industry.

On National Philanthropy Day – November 5 – the Nashville Chapter of AFP named Smith Philanthropist of the Year based on his extensive work with Rocketown, which he founded in 1994. The first of its kind in the Southeast, Rocketown over the years has grown into a model example for Christian-based relational outreach programs across the country. Following the tragedy of Columbine in 1999, Rocketown’s board was inspired to grow the scope of programming and move to a central location in downtown Nashville. The current facility touts three stages for live entertainment, Middle Tennessee’s only indoor skatepark, The Hub snack bar, a recording studio and photography, art and dance studios. More than 800 teens from across the Middle Tennessee region participate in Rocketown programs each week. For more information, visit http://rocketown.com.

This past Tuesday evening at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, NATD held its annual gala, honoring seven entertainment professionals for their efforts to make Nashville the exciting and vital entertainment mecca that it is today. Hosted by ABC/WKRN’s Stephanie Langston, the Gala honored Smith along with Governor Bill Haslam, Rob Beckham, partner and co-head of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Vanderbilt University’s Head Baseball Coach, Tim Corbin, Founder and CEO of Parallel Entertainment, J. P. Williams, Demetria Kalodimos, WSMV News anchor and reporter and legendary country music icon Charlie Daniels.

The 2014 Honorees were chosen by the NATD Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Steve Tolman of LogiCom. “Our honorees are from varying entertainment backgrounds and professions, and they have each brought their expertise, their commitment and their vision to ensure that Music City continues to flourish and grow,” Tolman said.

Smith is gearing up to launch the “The Spirit of Christmas Tour” in support of Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, which features a plethora of A-list guests – including Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles, Bono and Michael McDonald.

The tour will kick off November 30 and will hit several cities in the U.S. and Canada. Partnering with Smith as the official tour sponsor is Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and joining him on all tour dates is Dove Award-winner Rachael Lampa. In addition to “The Spirit of Christmas Tour,” Smith will co-headline three special events with long-time friend and fellow GRAMMY® winner Amy Grant. Teaming up in Dallas, Minneapolis and Atlanta, Smith and Grant will showcase their beloved Christmas set while performing alongside the full Symphony Orchestras.

Smith will also perform on the CMA Country Christmas special to air on ABC on Monday, December 1 at 8/7c. Smith will perform two tracks off of the album, his original song “All Is Well” with Carrie Underwood, and the beloved Christmas classic “Silent Night” with Little Big Town. For more information, visit cmaworld.com/cma-country-christmas.

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About Michael W. Smith:
Michael W. Smith is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician who has sold more than 15 million albums, achieved 28 No. 1 songs, earned three GRAMMY® Awards, one American Music Award, and more than 40 Dove Awards. Most recently, in honor of ASCAP’s 100th Anniversary, Smith, along with Amy Grant, was honored as “a cornerstone of Christian music,” for his groundbreaking career and significant influence on the genre. Throughout his career, the Contemporary Christian Music artist has had the opportunity to sing for several Presidents and national leaders. He actively supports the teen club Rocketown, Compassion International, and Samaritan’s Purse, the ministry headed by Franklin Graham. Michael and his wife Debbie live in Middle Tennessee, where they raised their five children. So far this year, Smith has released Hymns, his first-ever classic hymns album available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and CrackerBarrel.com, as well as his first studio worship album since 2008, Sovereign, which took a Top 10 spot on the Billboard 200, as well as the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart. His fourth career Christmas album, Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, is available now. For more information, visit www.michaelwsmith.com.

About The Association of Fundraising Professionals:
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is an association of individuals responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit, charitable organizations. The Nashville Chapter of AFP is one of five Chapters in the state of Tennessee. Established in 1981, the Nashville Chapter currently serves a membership of more than 120 area professionals, serving all of Middle Tennessee and parts of Southern Kentucky.
Founded in 1960, AFP (formerly the National Society of Fund Raising Executives) advances philanthropy through its more than 30,388 members in 198 chapters throughout the world.
AFP believes that to guarantee human freedom and social creativity, people must have the right to freely and voluntarily form organizations to meet perceived needs, advocate causes, and seek funds to support these activities.

About Nashville Association of Talent Directors:
NATD was founded in 1958 and professionally represents, directs, and promotes the entertainment industry through its members. Today those members generate more than 300 million dollars annually for Nashville-based artists. The organization not only serves as a forum for idea exchange among its members, it also serves as a vehicle for other facets of the industry to share information vital to the overall growth of the Nashville music and entertainment industry. NATD members foster camaraderie among “friendly competitors” which seems to be unique to the closely knit Nashville music and entertainment community. As part of its philanthropic program, NATD provides scholarship funds for students showing exemplary performances in academics, civic duties, and personal goals. This is the 26th year that aid has been granted. For more information, please visit www.n-a-t-d.com.

Three-time GRAMMY® winner Michael W. Smith will bring holiday cheer to audiences across the country this holiday season as he launches “The Spirit of Christmas Tour,” set to hit several cities in the U.S. and Canada. Partnering with Michael W. Smith as the official tour sponsor is Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®.

Earlier this year, Michael W. Smith debuted his first classic hymns album, aptly named Hymns, exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations and online at www.crackerbarrel.com. The tremendous success of the album, which was recently won a Dove Award for Inspiration Album of the Year, led to Cracker Barrel Old Country Store signing on as the official tour sponsor.

“I’m really happy to have Cracker Barrel as a tour sponsor,” remarked Smith. “Our local Cracker Barrel has become a very special place over the past several years. It’s where I take my Dad once a week for breakfast. We’ve shared some great memories there that I’ll always cherish. It feels great to have Cracker Barrel as part of my tour.”

“We enjoyed working with Michael and his team when we exclusively released his Hymns album earlier this year, and were so happy for them when it was recently nominated for a Dove Award,” said Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager Julie Craig. “Christmas is a time when families come together, and often they gather to share a meal at Cracker Barrel. When we were approached about sponsoring his ‘Spirit of Christmas Tour,’ we knew it would be a great fit.”

In addition to “The Spirit of Christmas Tour,” Smith will co-headline three special events with long-time friend and fellow GRAMMY® winner Amy Grant. Teaming up in Dallas, Minneapolis and Atlanta, Smith and Grant will showcase their beloved Christmas set while performing alongside a full symphony orchestra. Full tour dates are listed below. For more information, visit:www.michaelwsmith.com.

Smith made national headlines last month as he announced the release of Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, featuring an all-star lineup of guests – Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles, Bono and Michael McDonald. The album will be available in stores – including Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® – as well as online on September 30.

“This is the most unique and unusual record I’ve ever done in my 31-year career,” remarked Smith. The album was co-produced by Smith, CMA Music Awards and CMA Country Christmas producer Robert Deaton and renowned orchestral maestro David Hamilton.

This year, the annual CMA Country Christmas will deliver plenty of holiday cheer on Monday, December 1 at 7 pm (CT) on ABC. Hosted again by Jennifer Nettles, the show will feature performances and special appearances by Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles and Christian singer, Michael W. Smith. Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) are also scheduled to appear.

Taping will be on Friday, November 7, 2014 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Tickets are currently on sale and run from $34.18 to $61.53 per seat. Audience members are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the show for the annual Toy Drive. The Nashville-based, non-profit group Generosity will have volunteers on site with specially marked bins to collect toys beginning at (5:00 PM/CT). Last year, the group collected over 5000 toys for children in Nashville.

In a press release, Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our toy drive adds something special to the celebration shining a spotlight on a worthy endeavor in a way that reflects the values and giving nature of our artists, the industry, and this city.”

Last year, guests like Lady Antebellum, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Kellie Pickler, Jake Owen, Lily Costner, Trace Adkins, Alyth McCormack, Luke Bryan, Willie Robertson, Michael W. Smith, Jennifer Nettles and Lucy Hale rang in the season with plenty of fun and holiday cheer.
Read more: http://www.musictimes.com/articles/13404/20141024/cma-country-christmas-performers-announced.htm#ixzz3I8pzmACo

Earlier this week we celebrated a great night at Rocketown.  Our Fourth Annual Comedy for a Cause was a HUGE success.  I can’t say enough about our headliner – Tim Hawkins.  Tim is truly one of the most talented people I know.  From the minute he hit the stage he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.  I don’t know if I’ve ever laughed so hard.  If you haven’t seen Tim Hawkins live – – make it a point to see him.  His site is http://www.timhawkins.net

Michael W. Smith’s new Christmas album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, has arrived!

Learn all about the album below.

Get your copy at any of the below links or wherever you experience music!

amazon
amazonMP3
Cracker Barrel (available in stores now)
Family Christian
F.Y.E.
GooglePlay
iTunes
Lifeway (available in stores now)
Mardel
MichaelWSmith
Target
Wal-mart

Streaming services access via Spotify, Rdio, BeatsMusic, and others will begin on Tuesday, November 4th

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Watch the video to go behind the scenes to learn more about how ‘THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS’ was made.

Michael W. Smith discussing ‘SOVEREIGN OVER US’

This song is from the new album SOVEREIGN.

SOVEREIGN on iTunes:  http://mws.cta.gs/002
Michael’s official website:  http://mws.cta.gs/006
Michael on Facebook:  http://mws.cta.gs/007
Michael on Twitter:  http://mws.cta.gs/008
Michael on Instagram:  http://mws.cta.gs/009
Michael’s YouTube channel:  http://mws.cta.gs/005

Music video by Michael W. Smith performing Sovereign Over Us. (C) 2014 The MWS Group under exclusive license to Sparrow Records

Michael W. Smith is BACK this Christmas Season with a brand new album this!  Watch the trailer below!

Click HERE to read the tracklisting, guest artists, and pre-order your copy now from MichaelWSmith.com.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS arrives in stores worldwide on September 30, 2014

Three-time GRAMMY® winner Michael W. Smith partnered with Rolling Stone Country today to announce the September 30 release ofMichael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, featuring an all-star lineup of guests – Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles, Bono and Michael McDonald.

(Scroll down to the bottom of this page to view THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS album trailer)

An acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician who has sold more than 15 million albums,Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas is Smith’s fourth Christmas project, following the successful releases of Michael W. Smith Christmas (1989), Christmastime (1998) and It’s A Wonderful Christmas (2007).
“This is the most unique and unusual record I’ve ever done in my 31-year career. The entire record was sequenced together before we recorded one song,” recalls Smith. “Sonically you’re hearing me in a way that you’ve probably never heard me before. At one point it’s like Smitty meets Bublé. There’s my granddaughter’s voice singing the song from ‘Home Alone,’ plus the whole orchestral and symphonic feeling of Christmas, mixed together with all these amazing voices and guests – yet it all fits together in a remarkable way.”

Marking his debut as an album producer, CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas producerRobert Deaton was inspired by Smith’s performance with Jennifer Nettles during the 2013 CMA Country Christmas television program, and suggested to Smith they create a full Christmas recording as co-producers. The two welcomed renowned orchestral maestroDavid Hamilton as a third co-producer, who arranged and oversaw the London Symphony Orchestra’s recordings on the project.

“When we started talking about who could be on this record with him, the list got really narrow really fast,” remarked co-producer Robert Deaton. “There’s a difference between a singer and an artist, or a celebrity and an artist. While we were fortunate to have these amazing guests on the record, it all feels like a cohesive piece and you never leave the fact that it’s a Michael W. Smith record. That was important. That, along with working with co-producer David Hamilton, who is the resident genius, was amazing. This entire process has just been phenomenal.”

Eager to create a one-of-a-kind project to be played at Christmastime for years to come, Smith and Deaton were inspired by the original Carpenters Christmas album, wanting nostalgia to hit listeners right at the top of the record. Thematically, the album is uniquely divided into three sections, creating an overall arc to the recording. Beginning with the childlike and wintery aspects of the start of the Christmas season, the collection evolves with songs and instrumentations reflecting the true meaning of Christmas with the celebration of family and faith, concluding with what Christmas brought to the world, the birth of Jesus.

This fall, Smith will bring holiday cheer to audiences across the country as he launches “The Spirit of Christmas Tour.” Smith’s long-time friend and fellow GRAMMY® winner Amy Grant will co-bill with him in Dallas, Minneapolis and Atlanta. Tickets for many shows are on sale now. For a full list of tour dates, and ticket information, visit michaelwsmith.com/tour.

Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas
1. The Miracle of Christmas
2. It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
3. Happy Holidays/Holiday Season
4. Christmas Time Is Here (feat. Vince Gill)
5. White Christmas (feat. Lady Antebellum)
6. Somewhere In My Memory
7. The Spirit of Christmas (Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Feels Like Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful)
8. Silent Night (feat. Little Big Town)
9. What Child Is This (feat. Martina McBride)
10. Almost There (feat. Amy Grant)
11. All Is Well (feat. Carrie Underwood)
12. Christmas Day (feat. Jennifer Nettles)
13. The Darkest Midnight (Spoken Word by Bono)
14. Peace (with Special Guest Michael McDonald)

About Michael W. Smith:
Michael W. Smith is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician who has sold more than 15 million albums, achieved 28 No. 1 songs, earned three GRAMMY® Awards, one American Music Award, and more than 40 Dove Awards. Most recently, in honor of ASCAP’s 100th Anniversary, Smith, along with Amy Grant, was honored as “a cornerstone of Christian music,” for his groundbreaking career and significant influence on the genre. Throughout his career, the Contemporary Christian Music artist has had the opportunity to sing for several Presidents and national leaders. He actively supports the teen club Rocketown, Compassion International, and Samaritan’s Purse, the ministry headed by Franklin Graham. Michael and his wife Debbie live in Middle Tennessee, where they raised their five children. So far this year, Smith has released Hymns, his first-ever classic hymns album available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and CrackerBarrel.com, as well as his first studio worship album since 2008, Sovereign, which took a Top 10 spot on the Billboard 200, as well as the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart. His fourth career Christmas album,Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, will be available September 30, 2014. For more information, visit www.michaelwsmith.com.

WATCH THE NEW ALBUM TRAILER HERE: