JFH News: Michael W. Smith Releases First Children’s Album, Book; Featured On NBC TODAY, FOX & Friends

MICHAEL W. SMITH RELEASES FIRST CHILDREN'S ALBUM, BOOK

Nurturing Steps™ Infant, Toddler Series Album, Lullaby,
Book, Nighty Night and Good Night,
Both Featured On NBC TODAY, FOX & Friends

NEWS SOURCE: Hoganson Media
May 8, 2018

Multi-Platinum, three-time Grammy® Award winning artist and best-selling author Michael W. Smith launched Nurturing Steps™ with the release of his first children’s album, Lullaby, and book, Nighty Night and Good Night, through The Fuel Music and Zonderkidz™ respectively. The projects, which were crafted in collaboration with renowned VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki, are available now wherever great children’s books and music are sold, including as an eBay "Daily Deal" virtual bundle.

Celebrating the release on national television, Kathie Lee Gifford highlighted the new book and album on NBC TODAY’s “Favorite Things” segment during yesterday’s broadcast, sharing, “I love Michael W. Smith. He’s been a friend of mine for so so long. He has a brand-new book called, Nighty Night and Good Night, and beautiful new CD, Lullaby…” Gifford then handed the book and CD to co-host Hoda Kotb to give to her daughter, Haley Joy.

Smith also joined FOX & Friends hosts last Sunday to discuss the new projects. Following his interview in FOX’s New York studio, he further performed live the new ballad “No More Crying” and his widely-known hit song “Friends,” both featured on Lullaby. In an unscripted moment, co-host Pete Hegseth joined Michael to sing “Friends” during the “After the Show Show,” sharing, “I know this song…I’ve listened to this guy for years...he’s fantastic… Michael W. Smith, you’re an inspiration to a lot of us.”

Nurturing Steps (NurturingSteps.com) is a new infant and toddler series with a simple mission to provide parents and grandparents with music and books to enliven a young child’s journey with hope and faith through song and storytelling.

“One of the greatest joys of my life is being a parent and a grandparent,” says Michael, the father of five, who is called “G-Daddy” by his 14 grandkids. “I want to serve the next generation well. That’s why I created Nurturing Steps, to provide stories and songs that will help shape the faith of our newest generation.”

For Lullaby, Michael not only includes the songs mentioned above, but also a meaningfully arranged version of his widely-known worship song “Agnus Dei” along with new ballads like “Sleep Tight.” He further leads an audio bedtime drama for young children with the Nighty Night characters, who join Michael as his band with Bear on Guitar, Lamby on Keys and Sleepy Puppy on Upright Base.

In Nighty Night and Good Night, members of the Nighty Night band are further called upon to help their friend, Ben, as he tries to fall asleep. After bedtime prayers and some going-to-sleep rituals are done, a lullaby sung by the band of animals including Bear, Sleepy Puppy and Lamby finally does the trick.

Smith, who is known as one of the most influential Christian music artists in the world, recently performed “A Million Lights” and “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” from his 5-star-aclaimed albums A Million Lights and Surrounded respectively on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America. He has also recently been featured by USA Today, Billboard, TBN, FOX News, CBN, Parade, Yahoo! Music and many more outlets as these albums became his 30th and 31st Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart, more than any other solo artist in history.

Taking the new music and fan favorites from his extensive repertoire on the road internationally, Michael continues his “Sounded By A Million Lights World Tour” this week while also embarking on a weeklong Alaska Cruise 2018 to launch July 21 from Vancouver, BC, Canada. To sign up for the cruise and for more details, go to http://www.inspirationcruises.com/mwsa.

For all the latest Michael W. Smith and Nurturing Steps news, go to www.michaelwsmith.com and www.nurturingsteps.com

About Michael W. Smith:

Michael has been releasing new music regularly and performing around the world to sold-out crowds for the last 30+ years. During his storied career, he’s written 32 No. 1 singles, been honored with three Grammy Awards and 45 Dove Awards, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than 15 million albums. He’s also given back to the global community. Michael has raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa; started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped more than 70,000 children through Compassion International.

About The Fuel Music:

Established in 2008, The Fuel Music & Management, LLC, is a leading artist management and artist solutions company that independently distributes music internationally. Based in Nashville, TN, the Fuel team brings nearly 70 years of combined music industry experience in record label operations, major label distribution and marketing, and artist management for artists ranging from upstart bands to GRAMMY Award nominated, multi-platinum artists. More information on the company can be found at www.thefuelmusic.com.

About Zonderkidz:

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it creates products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 14. Zonderkidz is also publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader’s Version) Bible translation, the third grade reading level edition of the NIV. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com

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For more info on Michael W. Smith, visit the JFH Artists Database.