GMA Dove Awards Re-Cap

Last Year’s Artist of the Year Repeats and Aaron Shust Shares the Awards Spotlight on Gospel Music’s Biggest Night

NASHVILLE MUSIC CITY – Last year artist/songwriter Chris Tomlin went home with an impressive five Dove Awards. He added six more trophies as the most honored artist at the 38th Annual Dove Awards, held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Newcomer Aaron Shust was also a major honoree with three Doves, announced John W. Styll, president and CEO of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and executive producer of the GMA Dove Awards.

The GMA Dove Awards is gospel music’s biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows gospel music’s highest honor -- the Dove Award. Hosted by Natalie Grant, Brian Littrell and Donnie McClurkin, the GMA Dove Awards were presented live at the Opry House and will begin airing in national television syndication in May.

Tomlin’s six Dove Awards included Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, two honors he repeats for the second year. “Holy Is The Lord,” a song he co-wrote with Louie Giglio earned him another trophy as did his involvement in the Special Event Album of the Year, Passion: Everything Glorious. His most current CD release, See the Morning accounted for two more awards, as it was honored as both the Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Praise & Worship Album of the Year.

Shust marks his Dove Awards debut with three of the evening’s most prestigious honors, including Songwriter and New Artist of the Year. He also was honored for writing “My Savior My God,” which was named Song of the Year.

“Chris Tomlin and Aaron Shust deserve their moment to rejoice in the recognition their community has bestowed on them with their multiple Dove Awards and it is evident they will be impacting gospel and Christian music for some time to come,” said Styll.

Tomlin and Shust did not shine alone. The more than 30 artists who received Dove Awards reflected the rich and colorful tapestry of gospel/Christian music’s unique embrace of all styles of music. The celebration extended to newcomers and veterans and included Alan Jackson, Jars of Clay, Amy Grant, Andraé Crouch, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lewis Family and even Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber from VeggieTales.

“The Dove Awards is evidence that the message of the good news of the Gospel knows no musical boundaries and reaches across generations, genres and cultures. The artists, songwriters and producers honored tonight may come from many different backgrounds, but they are connected by excellence, creativity and passion and we congratulate each on their individual honors,” Styll said.

In the “overall” categories, Dove Awards were presented for:

Song – “My Savior, My God” (Aaron Shust)
Artist – Chris Tomlin
New Artist – Aaron Shust
Female Vocalist – Natalie Grant
Male Vocalist – Chris Tomlin
Group – Casting Crowns
Songwriter – Aaron Shust
Producer – Ed Cash

The handing out of the statuettes for the 43 categories was only part of the reason a packed house gathered at the famed Opry House. There were fifteen music performances featuring 25 different artists including the evenings’ top Dove recipients Chris Tomlin and Aaron Shust, along with TobyMac, Mandisa, Kirk Franklin, Take 6, the Caravans, The Crabb Family with Jonathan Butler, MercyMe, Stellar Kart, Kirk Whalum, Brian Littrell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mac Powell (of Third Day), Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns), DecembeRadio, Family Force 5, Leeland, Red and Brian Free & Assurance. Some of the presenters included Brenda Lee, Michael W. Smith, KJ-52, Ayiesha Woods, Nichole Nordeman, Nicole C. Mullen, Rebecca St. James, Alex Kendrick and Jim McBride from “Facing the Giants,” child actor Grayson Russell, child activist Zach Hunter and Hunter Smith, punter for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts.

The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards were produced by Steve Gilreath Television for the sixth straight year. Dove Awards were handed out in 43 categories. Many of the awards were presented during opening ceremonies but only seven awards and all the performances will be part of the television broadcast of the Doves.

The Doves will get its strongest Internet impression ever when Yahoo! features the Dove Awards on the front page of its popular music section at www.music.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Music, with its 20-million daily impressions, will offer official online coverage of the Dove Awards featuring world premiere video streams of five performances, photos and an exclusive backstage recap written by CCM Magazine. Through this exclusive promotion with the GMA, Yahoo! Music will make the Dove Awards its featured music partner on Thursday, April 26.

Securing first-run syndication through broadcast network affiliates and independent stations nationwide is Central City Productions/Timeless International which also produces and syndicates the Stellar Awards. Broadcast affiliates in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, New Orleans and Nashville are among the more than 120 television stations, including seven of the top ten Nielsen markets, that have already cleared the GMA Dove Awards for the 2007 broadcast. Following the broadcast syndication, The Gospel Music Channel will have the cable premiere of the GMA Dove Awards.

The American Bible Society 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. The American Bible Society Web site is www.bibles.com.

ABOUT THE GMA

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of 4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.