American Idol Special Report “From Idol to Inspiration” on Gospel Music Channel

World Premieres Thurs. April 23 @ 7:00 PM ET/PT On Gospel Music Channel; Live 2009 Dove Awards Follows at 8:00 PM

ATLANTA - The impact of the American Idol television series on the explosion in popularity of Christian/Gospel music, and vice versa, will be explored in a new documentary special, From Idol to Inspiration,world premiering on Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) Television Network.Gospel Music Channels exclusive telecast of the 40thAnnual Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awardsfollows at 8:00 p.m.live from theGrand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.

From Idol to Inspiration is a production of David Lewis Productions (www.davidlewistv.com) and directed by veteran documentarian David Lewis, whose other work has been for news outlets such as CNN, ABC News, Fox News and CNBC, and programs such as 60 Minutes, Frontline and 20/20. Lewis is producing this special report under the banner of Gospel Music Channels news program, Gospel Music Channel Insider, representing the networks first full-length special report.

American Idol is exposing the world to Gospel/Christian performers like never before. From the very beginning of American Idol, singers from gospel/Christian music backgrounds have flourished on the show, as have performers who proudly profess their faith. Winners Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Jordin Sparks and finalists Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, George Huff, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle and Mandisa are all examples of this trend. Many have gone on to sign with Gospel/Christian divisions of major record labels and are seen regularly on GMC, and will also be seen in The Dove Awards telecast following From Idol to Inspiration.

American Idol finalists telling their story in "From Idol to Inspiration" include Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle and Mandisa, as well as journalists who cover the program, Brian Mansfield of USA Today and Gil Kaufman of MTV News. There have been many Christians on the series and this seasons American Idol features three worship leaders in the finalists group. From Idol to Inspiration will tell the story of one of those finalists, worship leader Danny Gokey, whose wife, Sophia, died a few weeks before his American Idol audition.

From Idol to Inspiration select quotes:

I think if Jesus saw me on American Idol he would vote for me! I don’t believe that I would have been there if it wasn’t for the hand of God. I just think that God saw the opportunity to use people on a television show thats the biggest television show in the history of the world. I believe that He wanted to use me there. - Phil Stacey

I said, Simon a lot of people want me to say a lot of things to you right now. But what I want you to know is that I forgive you. The reason I can forgive you is that Jesus Christ died so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven. I can certainly extend that same grace to you. And then something extraordinary happened. His jaw dropped, he kept looking around to see what was going on, because that’s not what he was expecting and he got up, he gave me a big hug, he apologized and my relationship with him has been amazing ever since. - Mandisa on Simon Cowell

God has full control over everything and things happen for a reason so I lived that very much so during American Idoljust knowing, okay, if Im here another week, theres got to be a reason because I am scared out of my mind! I hope Jesus was dancing when I was singing on American Idol. - Melinda Doolittle

From Idol to Inspiration encores on GMC April 24, 26, 27, 30, May 2, 3; check www.gospelmusicchannel.com for show times. 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.