37th GMA Music Awards Nominations Announced

Tomlin’s nine nominations include Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year. “Holy is the Lord” and “How Great is Our God,” two songs he wrote from his RIAA Gold-certified CD Arriving, were nominated in both the Song of the Year and Worship Song categories, awards that go to the songwriter(s) and publisher(s). In addition, another song off of Arriving, “Indescribable,” has earned its writer, Laura Story, nods in both Song of the Year and Worship Song categories. Tomlin’s three other nominations came from his participation on collaborations on three Special Event Album of the Year nominees Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, WoW Christmas Green and Passion: How Great Is Our God.

Fellow Passion worship leader David Crowder Band earned its nominations for the rock-influenced CD A Collision, which got a nod in the Rock/Contemporary Album category and landed its lead single, “Here is Our King,” a nomination for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song. David Crowder Band shares Tomlin’s nominations in the Special Event Album category for their participation on the same CDs. Also of note, band leader David Crowder picked up four individual nominations for production and songwriting efforts.

Joining Chris Tomlin in being nominated for Artist of the Year are Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant and Switchfoot. Tomlin is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year alongside Camp, Jason Crabb (of the Crabb Family), Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns) and David Phelps. Natalie Grant and Joy Williams are joined by Bethany Dillon, Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. The three-sister girl band BarlowGirl will vie for Group of the Year honors with Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Kutless and MercyMe. The five nominees for New Artist of the Year are The Afters, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Shawn McDonald, Krystal Meyers and Stellar Kart.

Other notable nominees for the 37th GMA Music Awards are gospel music’s prolific producer Brown Bannister, who is up for seven nominations, including Producer of the Year along with six album nominations. He’s joined in the Producer of the Year category by country music legend Vince Gill with whom Brown co-produced Amy Grant’s nominated Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith in the Inspirational Album of the Year category. Steven Curtis Chapman, who has collected 49 Dove Awards, more than any other artist in gospel music history, has a chance to pass the 50-trophy mark this year if one of his three nominations results in a Dove Award.