Nominations Announced For 38th GMA Dove Awards

Top nominees Tomlin and Jars of Clay are up for Artist of the Year along with The Crabb Family, Stellar Kart, Casting Crowns, TobyMac and Third Day, with ties in voting yielding seven nominees in this category instead of the usual five. Leeland and Shust are joined by DecembeRadio, Pocket Full Of Rocks and Ayiesha Woods in the New Artist of the Year category. Group of the Year nomination honors go to BarlowGirl, Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Jars of Clay and MercyMe. Tomlin, 2006’s reigning Male Vocalist of the Year is nominated again in that category along with Jeremy Camp, Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns), Mat Kearney, and Shust. And, last year’s Female Artist of the Year Natalie Grant also returns to that category with Krystal Meyers, Christy Nockels, Nichole Nordeman and Rebecca St. James.

Littrell not only co-hosted the nominations announcement, he will share hosting duties for the Dove Awards telecast in April. He was nominated today for Short Form Video of the Year for “Welcome Home,” the title track from his Christian music debut CD. Co-hosting with Littrell will be Curb recording artist Natalie Grant and Verity Records’ Donnie McClurkin. Comedian Thor Ramsey will host the Dove’s opening ceremonies where the majority of the awards will be presented.

The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards will be produced by Steve Gilreath Television. Securing first-run national syndication is Central City Productions of Chicago, Ill. Network affiliates in Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Cleveland, New Orleans and Nashville are among the more than 50 television stations, including half of the top 50 markets, that have already signed on to broadcast the GMA Dove Awards. Following syndication, The Gospel Music Channel will have the cable premiere of the Dove Awards.

The American Bible Society (www.bibles.com) is the Designated Charity for the Dove Awards. Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life-changing message.