Doves' Big Night Soars

Brandon Heath, Steven Curtis Chapman and Natalie Grant shine in celebration of music that changes the world

By Deborah Evans Price, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com

On stage, off stage and backstage the power of gospel music to change the world was a recurrent theme at the 40th annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. Broadcast live from Nashville’s Grand Old Opry house on GMC, the evening saluted the talented artists whose music made an impact this year.

For the first time ever, fans had an opportunity to have their voices heard in the Dove Awards process by voting in the Artist of the Year and New Artist categories. Steven Curtis Chapman was named Artist of the Year and Tenth Avenue North won the New Artist accolade.

“Everything we’re singing about tonight is true, in the darkest, ugliest, most hopeless places,” Chapman said backstage addressing reporters in the pressroom. “We’re more certain of this hope that we have and we’re more desperate for God.”

In addition to artist of the year, Chapman was also named Songwriter of the Year. “It was so awkward in a way to receive these awards,” he acknowledged, referencing the outpouring of love and support his family has experienced since the death of their daughter, Maria Sue, last year when she was struck by a car in the family’s driveway.

“I know a lot of the reasons why I’m standing here it has a lot to do with what we’ve been through this past year. There’s been a lot of mixed emotions. I never wanted to be here doing this acceptance speech under these experiences... My family knows this is one more encouragement from the Lord to say how loved we are.”

Perennial favorites Third Day won the Dove for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for “Revelation.” Casting Crown won Group of the Year, but backstage Mark Hall said he expected it to go to Third Day based on the success this year of “Revelation,” which he called his favorite album.

Last year’s Dove New Artist of the Year, Brandon Heath was one of the evening’s top winners, taking home Doves for Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for the hit “Give Me Your Eyes” and winning the male vocalist of the year title. “I have always considered myself to be a songwriter,” said Heath, after picking up the Dove for male vocalist. “I feel very much like I am still finding my voice to be standing in front of you tonight, I’m humbled but I’m so proud to part of this group of people, the things we accomplish and the lives that we change for the glory of God.”

Backstage Heath revealed that he and Leeland will be touring together in the fall and was excited about their duet “Follow You.” “The message of the song is about engaging the world, but letting the Lord lead us to where we’re supposed to go,” he told GMC, “but being open to going wherever, whenever however inconvenient it may be.”

Natalie Grant won her fourth consecutive Dove for Female Vocalist of the Year. Smiling and clutching her Dove, Grant also used her platform in the pressroom to call attention to the tragedy of human trafficking. “The Home Foundation has built an orphanage in Mumbai and built in Bangladesh,” she says of the foundation she launched. “We’ve just opened a safe house in Greece. We’ve started a program to partner with 10 cities in the United States to open shelters in the U.S. ...One mile from my front door, they broke up a brothel with 12 girls under the age of 15. This is happening everywhere."

Martha Munizzi came backstage with her sister Mary Alessi and recalled attending the Doves with her father in the 70s and clutching his Dove the night he won. “Tonight it’s great to have my own,” she smiled.

Munizzi won the Dove for Contemporary Gospel Album, Change the World. “Change is what everybody is talking about,” Munizzi said. “We are in the middle of change and God put this on my heart to reach those that are unreachable, to help those that have no hope. That’s what this record is we’re just beginning. It’s something we want to do on a larger scale. ‘Change the World’ is not just a record title. We’ve gone into foreign countries, bringing teaching, bringing music and taking resources.”

It was a breakthrough year for worship leader Laura Story who won the Inspirational Album of the Year Dove for Great God Who Saves. “We have prayed that God would use our lives, our story, our songs in whatever way he wants to. It’s cool that it was recognized here and that the songs are impacting lives,” Laura said backstage.

In an evening the celebrated the diversity in the gospel music community, KJ-52 took home the Dove for “Do Yo Thang” (Rap/ Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year). “God is working in all kinds of ways through hip hop,” KJ said backstage, sharing a story about a man who came up to him and said he had been the biggest drug runner in northern Florida before he found Christ. KJ’s music had been part of that conversion experience. “To know that my music played a part in that is awesome!”

photo: Steven Curtis Chapman, 2009 Artist of the Year, with his wife Mary Beth and sons Will Franklin and Caleb, backstage at the Dove Awards; photo credit: Andy Argyrakis

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