Recently honoured by the Gospel Music Association during this year's GMA Dove Awards, Michael W. Smith is busy preparing for his next project; a live worship CD to be recorded on the 20 June at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

Respected as a pop artist, composer, author and worship leader, Smith's first two worship projects, Worship and Worship Again, garnered fans in the millions, worldwide.

The upcoming album, Smith's 21st, will be recorded with the African Children's Choir as he leads worship for a group that is expected to exceed 15,000 in attendance.

His song list will include familiar worship songs as well as new songs Michael has written especially for this project.

Title and release dates for the CD will be announced in the coming weeks.

Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalogue of achievements. His 20 albums have garnered multiple honours including an American Music Award, 3 GRAMMY Awards (from 13 nominations) and 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and 5 Platinum albums, 33 No.1 radio hits, and has been named one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People.

Smith has also scored several film projects and written 11 books. His tours consistently rank among the best attended in the US and he has performed to capacity crowds throughout the world.

Constantly giving back to the community, one of his current projects is Rocketown - a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee - which serves as safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He is married to Debbie Smith and they are the proud parents of five children.