Juvenile crime is up 20%. WRAL Investigates goes inside new juvenile justice facilities to see new ways the system is approaching punishment and rehabilitation.

Tonight at 6 on WRAL: Juvenile crime is up 20%. WRAL Investigates goes inside new juvenile justice facilities to see new ways the system is approaching punishment and rehabilitation.

North Carolina is a hotbed for hurricanes. Here are the best tips and facts for hurricane season in NC.

Hurricane season begins June 1. Here's what every North Carolina resident needs to know

Hurricane Season in NC

The Raleigh City Council has launched a $5 million pilot program to move people out of camps and into permanent housing.

In Depth with Dan: Examining Raleigh's growing homelessness problem

Raleigh program aims to help homeless find housing

All assets associated with the tag: gospel music

Gospel music Coverage

Melissa Wade won the 2022 Stellar Award for "Gospel Announcer of The Year."

STRAIGHT TITLES FROM 1959. TO 1966, IT'S GOSPEL MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT, OF TALKING ABOUT THE STELLA AWARDS. >> WE HAVE AN EXCITING UPDATE TO A STORY. WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU BACK IN MAY. WELL, THE NATIVE MELISSA WADE IN THE WATER WAS NOMINATED FOR THE GOSPEL RADIO KNOTS OF THE YEAR. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE STILL AWARD WINNER RIGHT NOW. JOINING HAS NO DOUBT ON HER BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU STILL PINCHING YOURSELF. >> I AT THAT SOMEBODY CAN I SIT ON STILL CELEBRATING? IS IT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE TOP? MAYBE LIKE, YOU STOP OKAY. SO I BROUGHT ALONG WITH ME. SO MY GUYS TAKE THAT MOMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO THESE AWARDS, ARE YOU JUST GRATEFUL TO BE NOMINATED? YOU GO ENJOY YOURSELF. BUT WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU? CAN WORDS CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS. YOU SAID IT BEST. I MEAN, WE DO OUR JOBS BECAUSE WE LOVE IT. WE DON'T EXPECT ANY AWARDS OR REWARDS. SO I WENT FOR THE FIRST TIME FIRST TIME BEING NOMINATED. AND THE LAST THING I THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR WAS THE WINNER IS MELISSA WAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. I THINK I SAID THAT WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR A SECOND. AND I SAID THAT'S MONEY. HE GOT TO ASK YOU, WERE YOU READY WITH THE SPEEDS AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING TUCKED INTO YOUR YOUR PERSON WHO PULLED OUT OF YOU GO UP. AND IT'S JUST SPOKE FROM THE HEART. >> THAT'S IT. I SPOKE WITH MARK. I SAID, LORD, PLEASE DON'T LET ME HAHA TOP US AND NOT GIVE ME THE WORDS TO SAY. AND WAS IT GOOD? >> IT'S A NEW GREW UP WATCHING THE STILL AWARD TO A CITY WITH A WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE IN THAT AUDIENCE BEING NOMINATED AND THEN JUST SOAKING IT ALL UP. >> IT WAS ELECTRIFYING. I WAS TRYING TO JUST TAKE AND EVERY BIT AND PIECE YOU SAW THIS ARTIST AND THAT OURS AND THIS, YOU KNOW, STAR AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE WE WERE ALL IN THE SAME ROOM. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU TRY NOT TO ACT STARTS FAMILY AND A BIG MAN OVER THERE. YOU'VE GOT ERIC CAMPBELL OVER HERE. YOU KNOW THAT IT'S ALL AROUND. YOU SAYS THE INS AND ALLIES THESE OH, MY GOODNESS. I DIDN'T SING CC, BUT YES, IT WAS THERE. EVERYONE. >> WAS THERE. AND IT WAS AMAZING TO FEEL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S AMAZING TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS. LET ALONE JUST YOUR YOUR YOUR LISTENERS AND YOUR COMMUNITY TO SAY, HEY, MELISSA, I SEE YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. SO IT'S WONDERFUL AND CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS, THE AIR. SO VERY MUCH FOR JUST, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTING ME. I APPRECIATE THE LOVE. YOU ALL ARE DOING THEIR DEADLY DEAL FOR ME. LISTEN TO THIS. NEW ONE OF THE 3 POINT AND THE LIKE EVERY MORNING YOU SO EVERY DAY THAT YOU ON THAT PROGRAM, YOU'RE INSPIRING OTHERS. WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING FROM THE AUDIENCE? SO MUCH? I MEAN, SO MUCH SUPPORT. >> THEY CALL THEY INVITE ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ABSOLUTELY. EVERYTHING. WE WENT TO WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT THIS PAST WEEKEND AND I HAD SO MANY WOMEN WERE JUST LIKE MELISSA, YOU KNOW, YOU REPRESENT WELL, THANK YOU. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD RIGHT THERE. JUST FOR THEM TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, YOU'RE REPRESENTING KNOW THAT THE STATION, THE THE WOMAN OF GOD, THAT I AM THAT IS JUST CONFIRMATION THAT I'M DOING WHAT THIS IS THE LORD. AND THAT'S EVERYTHING TO ME RIGHT HERE INTO THAT. AND LADIES AND GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR STILL AWARD WINNER OF THE GOSPEL OF KNOTS OF THE YEAR. OUR VERY OWN. >> MELISSA WADE,

Raleigh native elated after winning Gospel Announcer of the Year

Raleigh native wins Gospel Radio Announcer of the Year

It's a gospel group that's been around since 1926 and which is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There have been different variations of the group over the decades, and members have come and gone, but today the World Famous Soul Stirrers is alive and well in Goldsboro.

RUNS DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. >> WE WILL START CALLING HER EXTREME EDITH. >>> A NEW GOSPEL GROUP AND AN OLD GROOVE, TONIGHT WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN GOLDSBORO, AND SCOTT MASON TELLS US ABOUT THE WORLD-FAMOUS SOUL STIRS. >> I FEEL THE MUSIC IN ME, I FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT. >> THIS IS A MUSIC THAT WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND, IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. >> Reporter: THE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1926. >> THERE WAS SOULSTERS IN DIFFERENT AREAS . SAM COOKE. SAM COOKE JOINED THE GROUP IN 1950, SAM PUT THEM ON THE MAP THEY ALSO PUT THE 19-YEAR-OLD ON THE MAP. SAM COOKE, AND THAT WONDERFUL VOICE. >> THERE WILL BE NOTHING LIKE THE SOULSTERS,  NOTHING LIKE SAM COOKE. >> Reporter: A NEW VERSION OF THE GROUP, IN 2020, WITH SINGLES. THEY GOT THE SOUND, THEY GOT THE NAME. >> WE KEEP THE NAME, THE SOULSTERS. >> Reporter: THE SOULSTERS'S HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GOING, BECAUSE ARE MANY, MANY GROUPS AND MEMBERS OVER THE DECADES. LOU RAWLS WAS A SOULSTERS. IN HER YOUNGER DAYS, DO YOU REMEMBER THE SOULSTERS? >> OH, LORD, YES. THEY WERE BEFORE R&B,  BEFORE DOO-WOP BEFORE MOTOWN. >> Reporter: THE SOULSTERS WERE WORLD-FAMOUS, AND NOW  THEY ARE WORLD-FAMOUS. >> WE DOING VERY WELL IN FRANCE, WONDERFUL AND VERY WELL IN ITALY. AND THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN YOU SEE UP THERE PLAYING THEY ARE PART OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS SOULSTERS. >> Reporter: THE SOULSTERS HAVE A NEW TWIST? >> GUESS. >> Reporter: THE MEMBERS AT CENTERSTAGE ARE ROOSEVELT JOHNSON, LAST YEAR JACOBS,  AND THE RIGHT HAMBURGER KING. >> Reporter: ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER HAMBURGER? >> YES, YES, I NEED TWO OF THEM. >> Reporter: WE ALL REJOICE, WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT TIME TOGETHER. >> LEE RYAN PROBABLY CREATES OUR NEW GENERATION OF SOULSTERS LOVERS, AND  I THINK IT IS COMING. IT IS COMING. SPIRIT WILL HE DO IT, YES HE WILL. I LOVE THAT.

Soul Stirrers gospel group alive and well in Goldsboro 

The country's oldest outdoor gospel singing convention kicks off this weekend in Johnston County. 

>> THERE'S A COUGAR IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY I WOULD SEE AS A KID. >>> THIS MARKS THE 100th YEAR OF A SINGLE CONVENTION IN JOHNSTON COUNTY. >> SCOTT MASON DETAILS THE LONG, RICH GOSPEL TRADITION. . >> I LOVE THIS PICTURE. >> Reporter: AN OLDIE, BUT SHE IS SURE OF THE CROWD. >> IT WAS A LARGE CROWD. A LARGE CROWD. . >> Reporter: THEY'RE REHEARSING FOR YET ANOTHER LARGE CROWD. >> PICTURE THE NIGHTS AT THE CONVENTION. >> Reporter: THE STATE ANNUAL SINGING CONVENTION IN BENSON. >> IT'S OUTDOORS. IT'S THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY. >> Reporter: THE OLDEST OUTDOOR GOSPEL SINGING CONVENTION SINCE  IS YOU BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 100 YEARS? >> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. >> A LONG TIME. . >> THAT'S HAROLD IN HIS SINGING DAYS WAY BACK WHEN. TODAY, HE'S 96. >> Reporter: DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SINGING VOICE? >> NO, LORD NO. >> Reporter: THAT'S OKAY. IT'S NOT THE VOICE THAT MATTERS BUT THE MESSAGE. >> THE MESSAGE OF JESUS AND HIS LOVE. IT'S CONTAGIOUS. YOU SING BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD. >> WE HAVE A HALL OF FAME. >> Reporter: IT'S A COMPETITION. >> WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE FROM CANADA TO DROP BY. >> Reporter: THAT'S AMAZING. AND IT'S HELD IN THE GROVE? >> YES. >> THE SINGING GROVE. >> IT'S A WHOLE BLOCK. PATTY IS TALKING TO YOU. >> MY DADDY MADE SURE THAT WE GOT READY AND WENT. I LOVED IT. >> Reporter: ARE YOU GOING TO SING THIS YEAR? . >> NO, LORD, NO. >> Reporter: THAT'S OKAY. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WILL SING. [ MUSIC ] >> IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING. >> I THINK IT'S SUPER. >> THE MUSIC FILLED THE AIR. >> WE HAVE A GOOD FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER. >> TRY TO PROMOTE GOSPEL MUSIC AND KEEP IT ALIFE. >> THE PURPOSE OF THE CONVENTION IS TO LET PEOPLE COME AND SING. . >> THE STATE ANNUAL SINGING CONVENTION BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY IN

Oldest outdoor gospel singing convention celebrates 100 years in Johnston County

North Carolina will be well represented in the final round of The Voice. NC A&T University senior Victor Solomon is among the top 5 finalists performing Monday night.

NC A&T senior grateful as he enters season finale of 'The Voice'

NC A&T Senior is Finalist on The Voice

Victor Solomon got a three-chair turn for his moving rendition of John Legend's hit song, "Glory," on The Voice.. 



NC A&T gospel singer hopes to keep wowing judges on 'The Voice'

Sneak preview: Singer from NC A&T wows on 'The Voice'

A gospel artist in Wilson created a new song of encouragement to help people cope during the pandemic.

Wilson gospel artist creates song about coronavirus

Calvin Suggs

He's one of the nation's most acclaimed gospel singers. Luther Barnes grew up Black and poor in Rocky Mount and now travels the country and beyond performing.

IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH IN BROAD >>> TONIGHT OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IS PROFILING A PAST HONOREE. >> IF YOU START NAMING BLACK GOSPEL ARTISTS, GET DOWN TO ABOUT 50. >> Reporter: TRY TOP 15 OR TOP 10. >> Reporter: LUTHER BARNES FROM ROCKY MOUNT STUDIED MUSIC IN RALEIGH. >> JAZZ MUSICIANS, OPERA SINGERS, GREAT MUSICIANS AND ALL. I TOLD THEM I WANTED TO DO GOSPEL MUSIC. MAN, THEY GOT ON MY CASE. >> THEY SAID I WOULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY SAID I WOULDN'T LAST LONG. THEY SAID I WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. >> WISH I COULD CALL THEM UP ON THE PHONE NOW. >> Reporter: HE WROTE "I'M STILL HOLDING ON" BASED ON THAT COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, AND IT BECAME HIS FIRST BIG HIT. HIS SECOND WON GOSPEL SING OF THE YEAR. >> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, HAD NO SPEECH OR ANYTHING, JUST RAN UP ON THE STAGE. >> HOW MANY ALBUMS HAVE YOU RELEASED? >> STOPPED COUNTING, IT'S IN THE 30s. QUITE A FEW. >> I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FULL- TIME SINCE 1984. >> Reporter: PREACHING HERE SINCE 2015 IN ROCKY MOUNT. HE CALLS THIS CHURCH A MIRACLE. >> WE JUST COME ALONG AT THE RIGHT TIME, THE RIGHT DATE, STARS LINED IT UP. >> Reporter: HE SAYS HE WRITES SONGS ALMOST EVERY DAY, BUT DOESN'T EVER HAVE TO WONDER WHERE THE INSPIRATION COMES FROM. >> GOD IS JUST AWESOME, WHAT HE CAN DO IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LET HIM USE YOU. AND THAT'S MY BELIEF, WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. >> INCREDIBLE VOICE AND

Country boy from Rocky Mount reflects on Hall of Fame gospel singing career

The 18th Annual Lamplighter Awards take place Nov. 2, 2019 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Gospel artists include BeBe Winans, JJ. Hairston, Maranda Curtis, Isabel Davis, James Fortune, Maurette Brown Clark and Todd Galberth.

Lamplighter Awards celebrate gospel music

Lamplighter Awards

Kim Person be at the Women's Empowerment Conference in Clayton this Saturday, and on September 1st she'll be the featured gospel artist of the African American festival in downtown Raleigh. 

Kim Person discusses new album, performs in WRAL studios

Kim Person performs 

A two-disc CD of the choirs from First Baptist Church in Clayton shows the church's long history of music. 

Clayton church's history of music lives on in recordings

A Whiteville native is using gospel music to cope with achalasia.

Duke Hospital patient copes with gospel music as treatment options dwindle

Duke Hospital patient copes with music as options dwindle

The Gospel Express performs on the Nov. 18, 2018, episode of Spiritual Awakening