Dianne has been writing Southern Gospel Music since the 1970s.  Her first recorded song was "Behold theLamb" by the Song Masters in 1976. The song was also recorded by other groups, including the Hoppers, and was recorded in 2001 by the Dove Brothers. Dianne started performing at the age of 12 with her mother and aunt as the Ross Sisters, primarily in the tri-state area of Arkansas/Missouri/Tennessee. Having been “raised” on Gospel music, she has a rich background of history dating back to the 1950s; her favorite music remains the traditional, quartet style of Southern Gospel, with particular fondness for the “old convention” songs.  Dianne has been nominated for the Singing News Fan Award for Songwriter of the Year, and in 2000 she was nominated as SGMA Songwriter of the Year…the first woman to be so honored. Dianne was nominated as Songwriter of the Year in the SGMG Harmony Honors Awards in 2004.  She has had the good fortune of winning major awards with two of her songs, “We Shall See Jesus” and “Jesus Has Risen”,both recorded by the Cathedral Quartet (SGMA Song of the Year in 1984 and Singing News Fan Award for Song of the Year in 1995, respectively).  Dianne’s song, “Oh, Come Along”, also recorded by the Cathedrals, was nominated for a Dove Award in 1996.  Dianne began a two-decade relationship with the Cathedrals in 1981, and they recorded a total of 16 of her songs during that time. She has also had songs recorded by many other groups, including Gold City, Greater Vision, the Hoppers, the Kingdom Heirs, Legacy Five, the Dove Brothers, the Kingsmen, Brian Free and Assurance, the Talleys, Perfect Heart, the Singing Americans, the Lesters, the James Blackwood Quartet, Down East, the Southern Brothers, the Ruppes, Paid in Full, Won By One, the Melody Masters, the Crossmen, the John Hagee Family, the Heartland Boys, ‘N Harmony, the Rick Webb Trio, Heaven Bound,Crossway, Signature Sound, The Mark Trammell Trio, Karen Peck and New River, Triumphant, The Palmetto State Quartet, and the Melody Boys. She has had songs recorded by solo artists including Glen Payne, Kirk Talley, Ivan Parker, Dean Hopper, Danny Funderburke, and Karen Peck.  Dianne is a contributing editor to the U.S. Gospel News and has been since 1988. She lives in Dyersburg, Tennessee, and has a busy full-time career in healthcare (now for 30+ years) as a practice consultant and quality manager for a large physician group. She has been a church musician since the age of 12 and is currently active in the Springhill Baptist Church in Dyersburg where her brother, James Branscum, is pastor.  Dianne is the church pianist and teaches the Open Door Sunday School class. She is born again by the grace of God and is a Southern Baptist by conviction and by choice. She holds to the King James Authorized Version of the Bible and highly recommends it to you!  Dianne’s greatest objective in writing Gospel songs is to get the message out through lyrics that are grounded in the true doctrine of the Word of God. It is her strong conviction that Gospel songs should bring the lost to Christ and comfort Christian people and increase their faith in these perilous times in which we live. To God be the glory!

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