ISRAEL HOUGHTON JOINS 2026 GRAMMY PREMIERE CEREMONY OPENING NUMBER
ISRAEL & NEW BREED HAVE HISTORIC NOMINATION: FIRST SPANISH-LANGUAGE ALBUM EVER RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ALBUM CATEGORY
2026/01/28.IsraelHoughtontoPerformatthe2026GRAMMYPremiereCeremonyOpeningNumber.asp
NEWS SOURCE: Merge PR
January 28, 2026
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (JANUARY 28, 2026) Kicking off music’s biggest day, seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning Israel Houghton will be part of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony®, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1. The ceremony’s opening number will feature performances by current nominees Houghton, Grace Potter, Lila Iké, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty.
Houghton is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Coritos Vol. 1 (with Israel & New Breed). A Spanish-language worship project, the album brings together artists from seven countries, including Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Miel San Marcos, Marcos Witt, and Evan Craft. The nomination marks a milestone as the first Spanish-language album ever recognized in this category, celebrating unity, faith, and Latin heritage.
Coritos Vol. 1 is Houghton’s first-ever live Spanish album, filmed and recorded primarily at Christian Church John 3:16 in the Bronx, New York City, capturing the energy, authenticity, and cross-cultural spirit of the Latin worship movement.
Israel Houghton is a GRAMMY Award-winning artist, worship leader, and songwriter whose genre-blending sound, spanning gospel, jazz, rock, and Latin music, has reshaped contemporary worship for more than two decades.
ABOUT ISRAEL HOUGHTON: Seven-time Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, worship leader, and songwriter, Israel Houghton, has been a key influence in contemporary Christian music for over two decades. As the visionary behind Israel & New Breed, he has redefined gospel worship with a dynamic blend of gospel, jazz, rock, and Latin rhythms, breaking barriers and bringing diverse audiences together through the power of faith and music. Formed in 1995, Israel & New Breed emerged as a trailblazing collective known for their electrifying live performances and innovative sound. With seven Grammy Awards, multiple Dove Awards, and Stellar Awards, two RIAA Gold-Certified albums (Alive In South Africa and Live From Another Level), Israel & New Breed have become one of the most influential references in churches and on modern gospel music playlists around the globe. Their projects showcase their ability to create an atmosphere of worship that transcends cultures and denominations. Beyond music, Israel Houghton has been a mentor and leader in the global worship movement, producing and collaborating with artists across genres. His heart for worship and excellence continues to inspire worshippers worldwide. In 2025, Israel & New Breed released Coritos Vol. 1 and Coritos Vol. 2, two powerful live albums featuring special guests and celebrating Latin-infused worship, further solidifying their impact on the international gospel scene. Coritos Vol. 1 received a Latin GRAMMY nomination in addition to a 2026 GRAMMY nod.
ABOUT INTEGRITY MUSIC: Integrity Music is part of the Cook Media Global family, a nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. With offices in both the US and the UK, Integrity Music, based in Franklin, Tenn., and Brighton, East Sussex, is committed to bringing songs that magnify the name of Jesus to the Church and its leaders worldwide.
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For more info on Israel Houghton, visit the JFH Artists Database.
