Gospel Royalty, Mary Mary, Wins Grammy® Award for its Record Breaking Hit, 'God In Me'

Mary Mary, continues its winning streak by taking home the Grammy® Award in the Best Gospel Song category for "God In Me" at the ceremonies held in Los Angeles on January 31. The win gives the gospel duo its third Grammy® award. Last year at the 51st Grammy® Awards the duo won for Best Gospel Performance, "Get Up," and at the 43rd Grammy® Awards in 2000 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, Thankful.

Earlier this month, Mary Mary, walked away with four wins at the 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards where they tied with Hezekiah Walker for the most wins. Mary Mary, took home awards for "Song of The Year" for "God In Me," "Group/Duo of the Year," "Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year," and "Urban Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year" for "God In Me."

The year 2009 was truly celebrated by the duo who won an American Music Award for Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational, a Dove Award, a Soul Train Award, an NAACP Image Award and a BET Award for its album, The Sound.

In December 2009, The Sound, was named the year's Top Gospel Album by Billboard magazine. The gospel duo was also named Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist, Duo/Group and Top Gospel Artist by the industry guide.

According to Billboard Magazine, Mary Mary's "God In Me" had earned the highest rank for a song that has spent 52 weeks on a chart in the Nielson SoundScan era (since 1992.) The former record holder, R. Kelly's "Step In The Name Of Love," was number 11 after a year on the list. Mary Mary is now the only gospel act to have at least two top tens this decade on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, "Shackles (Praise You)" peaked at No. 9 in 2000.

The Sound occupied the #1 slot on the Billboard Gospel Album chart for more than six months since its release in October 2008 and was #1 for nineteen consecutive weeks. The Sound has also spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

Heralded as "Praiseworthy" by People magazine, The Sound peaked at #1 on a variety of Billboard Christian and Gospel albums charts shortly after its release in October 2008. The Sound entered the Billboard Top 200 at #7, giving Mary Mary their highest chart position -- and second Top 10 -- album on that chart (2005's Mary Mary peaked at #8 on the Top 200). Mary Mary and The Sound achieved one of the highest chart debuts on the Top 200 of any gospel album released in 2008. A bona-fide crossover smash, The Sound made a "Hot Shot" debut on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at #2.

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SOURCE: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Andre Morris, Columbia Records, +1-212-833-5072,
+1-212-833-8536 (fax), andre.morris@sonymusic.com; Yvette Noel-Schure,
Columbia Records, +1-212-833-4483, yvette.noel-schure@sonymusic.com; Shannon
Walker, Integrity Music, +1-251-776-5083, shannonw@integinc.com

Web Site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/