Bob Carlisle's album, 'Butterfly Kisses', makes number one in the US

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN album ever to reach the number one spot in America's Billboard Top 200 'Butterfly Kisses' by Bob Carlisle (pictured) recently knocked the Spice Girls off the number one slot. The album, previously titled 'Shades Of Grace', was reassembled and retitled after the unprecedented popularity of the "Butterfly Kisses" song dealing with a father's emotions as his daughter grows up. It was voted Inspirational Song Of The Year for 1996 and was subsequently picked up for secular exposure. The song "Butterfly Kisses" helped boost the album sales to such an extent that it is now near double platinum (two million units sold). Amongst Bob's latest activities were a performance in the Oprah Winfrey show for a special Father's Day performance of "Butterfly Kisses".

The ex-Allies singer is surprised by his sudden mainstream popularity. He said, "I'm 40 years old and this is nothing less than a miracle in my life. It is one thing to have a song that's popular. It's another to have a song that's been the No. 1 album in the country and is reaching the phenomenon thing. That's God."