Los Angeles, CA. -- March 8, 2006 - GIFTED, America's search for Christian music's brightest new star will hold Super Regional auditions March 20-29 in Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland and Costa Mesa, CA with a possible appearance from host and recording artist Brian Littrell. After weeks of reviewing thousands of auditions from over 20 cities, GIFTED producers, including manager Johnny Wright (Janet Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Jonas Brothers and Justin Timberlake) have selected close to 100 competitors who will advance to the Super Regionals and compete to be one of only eight finalists.

"I have been through a lot of auditions in my life," said GIFTED producer Johnny Wright. "Whether it be for artists that are on my roster or the auditions we went through for MTV's 'Making the Band 3,' the audition process for GIFTED and the quality of talent that has come out of it make my knees buckle - in a good way! And it takes a lot for my knees to buckle."

Once chosen, the eight finalists will be flown to Los Angeles where they will compete on national television to secure their place as the nation's most gifted vocalist. The show is set to air on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in May and will be hosted by Brian Littrell. Littrell was on his way to study for the ministry and to becoming a youth pastor when he was recruited as a founding member of the Backstreet Boys, so his return to Christian music is a return to his roots.

GIFTED was formed by a partnership with Johnny Wright (founder, Wright Entertainment Group), the manager who helped bring Britney Spears, *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake to massive international fame, and Matthew Crouch, founder for the successful independent film company Gener8Xion Entertainment. Together, they've formed Wright Gener8Xion Entertainment with the goal of creating pop-positive, family friendly entertainment, concerts and television productions. With the help of concert promotion giant AEG Live, they look forward to bringing GIFTED into households nationwide.

The winner of GIFTED will receive a major-label recording contract, management by the Wright Entertainment Group and day-to-day support from Wright Gener8Xion Entertainment. The winner will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact with an invitation to open for Brian Littrell on the road. Additionally, a $10,000 donation will be made to the church where the winner originally auditioned.

The GIFTED project began with a series of local competitions in Jan. and early Feb., all held at mega-churches across the United States. Competitors 18 and over were invited to sing a cappella versions of classic hymns from an established list that included such standards as "How Great Thou Art," "Amazing Grace," "Blessed Assurance" and "Holy, Holy, Holy." At the upcoming Super Regionals, competitors will perform any Christian or gospel song.

"We want to showcase the best of the best of those ready to make the next step," says Philip McIntyre, producer of GIFTED. "It will be all about the talent they have, all about their gift. It won't be about image or what someone looks like. It will be about vocal talent, period."

As the producers point out, Christian communities have long given America great singers, with the list including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Amy Grant, Usher, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys and Beyonce Knowles.

"There's been an explosion in popularity of singers and groups coming out of the Christian music community recently," says McIntyre, citing the popularity of hit Christian rock acts Switchfoot, MercyMe and Casting Crowns and Christian country singer Carrie Underwood. "That's only the tip of the iceberg, really. There's so much more talent out there yet to be heard."

Indeed, GIFTED couldn't ask for a more accomplished team. Johnny Wright's Wright Entertainment Group is responsible for more than 200 million in album sales while developing the careers of several of the biggest names in modern pop .Wright can be seen weekly on the hit series MTV's Making the Band 3, where he acts as one of the show's producers and on-air talent, as well as management for the resulting group. Wright is also currently working with Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, host of GIFTED, in developing a contemporary Christian music album for the Provident Label Group.

Matthew Crouch's Gener8Xion Entertainment is an independent feature film and television company widely recognized for its Christian-themed films, among them The Omega Code, Carmen the Champion, and Megiddo. Gener8Xion Entertainment first burst onto the scene with 1999's No. 1 independently produced and distributed film, The Omega Code. Since then, they have been the leader in making films that can be embraced by secular and faith-based audiences. The company's latest feature, One Night with the King, an epic retelling the Old Testament Book of Esther, is currently in production and will be released in the spring of 2006.

AEG Live ranks among the most successful concert promotion companies in America, working with the biggest international touring acts and selling more than $500 million in tickets last year. Operating with offices from New York to Los Angeles, AEG Live brings top notch acts to audiences across the nation. In addition, AEG Live owns premiere venues like The STAPLES Center and The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

"The people involved in GIFTED are known for having their finger on the pulse of American pop culture," says McIntyre. "They want to be leaders in this movement toward upbeat, inspirational entertainment."