39th Annual GMA Dove Awards Recap
Casting Crowns pauses for a moment to bask in the light of seven Dove awards, photo by Andy Argyrakis
By Deborah Evans Price, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com
tobyMac, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant and Chris Tomlin were among the big winners last night at the annual GMA Dove Awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry house. Aired live for the first time on Gospel Music Channel, the event honored the diverse family of artists that comprise the Gospel/Contemporary Christian music scene.
A surprised tobyMac took the stage to claim the Artist of the Year award, an honor he won back in 1996 as a member of the groundbreaking trio dcTalk. He also won rock/contemporary album of the year for Portable Sounds and his hit Boomin' was named short form video of the year. “I almost didn’t come this year. We were gonna stay home and watch it on Gospel Music Channel. My wife and I thought it would be a great year to just watch and enjoy it,” tobyMac said backstage clutching his armful of Doves. “Then they announced my name [as winner] on this one and then another and another. I didn’t expect it. I’m blessed.”
Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall won four Dove awards and the band picked up three honors, among them their fourth consecutive Dove in the group of the year category. Hall and co-writer Bernie Herms won Song of the Year honors for East to West. Casting Crowns’s current album, The Altar and the Door was named pop/contemporary album of the year.
Hall, who has rapidly become one of the industry’s most awarded artists, says each honor always catches him by surprise. “Every time an award is about to be announced, you get a lump in your throat and then you get up there and [think] ‘I’m such a dork! How did I even get this award? God you are so awesome to even let us be in the room.’ It’s just really good to be appreciated for what you do.”
Grant picked up her third consecutive female vocalist of the year Dove and Tomlin received his third honor in the male vocalist category. Addressing the media backstage in the press room, Grant spoke of her desire to be a role model for this generation of young girls, adding that they would be the ones influencing her twin daughters in the future.
Ian Eskelin was named producer of the year. Cindy Morgan was named songwriter of the year. Morgan penned the Point of Grace hit, How You Live, (Turn Up the Music) which was named country recorded song of the year. Morgan, who was named Best New Artist 15 years ago, said being recognized for her songwriting was particularly gratifying. “This means the most to me,” she said, adding the she dedicated the honor to her late father who would patiently listen to all her early songwriting efforts and was constant source of encouragement.
“It really was a surprise,” Brandon Heath said backstage holding his Dove for New Artist of the Year. “If I’ve learned anything it’s that great things can happen when you take risks. Jesus was one of the riskiest people ever.”
Several artists took home their very first Dove Awards during this year’s event. Trin-i-tee 5:7 won for urban recorded song for Listen and urban album of the year for T57.
It’s been a big year for Daywind Records newcomers Austins Bridge and the trio earned their first Dove for He’s in Control from their self-titled debut album.
Veteran rockers Skillet won rock recorded song of the year for their hit Comatose. “I was just shocked,” Skillet’s John Cooper told GMC backstage. “We didn’t even write a speech.”
Added his lovely wife Korey, “When I heard Comatose, I said ‘Did I just hear Comatose?’ Do we go up there now?’ It was really crazy!”
Third Day’s Mac Powell was beaming backstage after Glory Revealed netted two Doves. The multi-artist project, spearheaded by Powell and his friend David Nasser, won the Dove for Special Event album of the year and By His Wounds was named inspirational song of the year. “This project is close to my heart,” said Powell backstage and also revealed (forgive the pun) to GMC that he and other writers would gather in June to begin work on the second Glory Revealed project.
Comedian Mark Lowry pulled a major coup by besting good friend Sandi Patty to claim the Dove for inspirational album of the year for I Love to Tell the Story, A Hymns Collection. The project was steered by acclaimed producer Paul Johnson. Backstage Lowry told the press corps that he and Johnson had met at the Dove Awards 27 years ago.
During the two-hour telecast there were numerous memorable performances, among them Natlie Grant’s duet with Wynonna, Trin-i-tee 5:7’s powerful performance and Casting Crowns stirring rendition of East to West. Amy Grant, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey and Mandisa honored Michael W. Smith for his 25 years in Christian music and the segment turned into a worship event as the audience rose to its feet and lifted their hands.
Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Christy Nockels, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, and Michael W. Smith performed So Great, recorded for Compassionart, a charity founded by Delirious frontman Martin Smith.
The finale featured the top names in Southern gospel and country music, among them Karen Peck & New River, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites, The Hoppers, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Isaacs, Mac Powell and Charlie Daniels. Powell pulled Kirk Franklin from the audience to the stage where Buck White gave him an impromptu lesson in clogging.
After the Doves, the industry’s elite gathered at the Sheraton Music City hotel for a post-awards party that featured a performance by pioneering Christian rockers DeGarmo & Key. Chris Sligh, Aaron Shust, New Harvest and other artists mingled with industry executives and fans gathered to celebrate Gospel music’s biggest night.
2008 WINNERS
Song of the Year
“East to West”; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms; My Refuge Music (BMI), Club Zoo Music (BMI), SWECS Music (BMI), Word Music LLC (ASCAP), Banahana Tunes (ASCAP)
Songwriter of the Year
Cindy Morgan
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Tomlin
Female Vocalist of the Year
Natalie Grant
Artist of the Year
tobyMac
Group of the Year
Casting Crowns
Producer of the Year
Ian Eskelin
New Artist of the Year
Brandon Heath
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
"Everything Glorious"; Remedy; David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band; Sparrow Records, sixstepsrecords
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
"Name Droppin'"; Bone-Appetit Servin" Up Tha Hits; T-Bone; Rene F. Sotomayor, Teak Underdue, Dee Underdue; Flicker Records
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
"By His Wounds"; Glory Revealed; Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall, Brian Littrell, Mac Powell; Davis Nasser, Mac Powell; Reunion Records
Rock Recorded Song of the Year
"Comatose"; Comatose; Skillet; John L. Cooper, Brian Howes; Ardent Records, Atlantic, Lava, SRE Recordings
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
"Get Away, Jordan"; Get Away, Jordan; Ernie Haase & Signature Sound; Traditional; Gaither Music Group
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
"East To West"; The Altar and the Door; Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms; Beach Street Records, Reunion Records
Country Recorded Song of the Year
"How You Live (Turn Up The Music)"; How You Live; Point Of Grace; Cindy Morgan; Word Records
Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year
"He's In Control"; Austins Bridge; Austins Bridge; Justin Rivers, Mike Kofahl, John Ramsey; Daywind Records
Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
"Ready For A Miracle"; Evan Almighty Soundtrack; LeAnn Rimes; Bunny Hull, Art Reynolds; Curb Records
Urban Recorded Song of the Year
"Listen"; T57; Trin-I-Tee 5:7; Chanelle Haynes, Adrian Anderson, Walter W. Millsap III, Angel Helaire, Candice Nelson, Lamar Van-Sciver, Charles Griffin III, Ryan Farish, Frank Greenfield, Tony Jones; Music World Entertainment
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
Group 1 Crew; Group 1 Crew; Christopher Stevens, Andy Anderson; Fervent Records
Redemption; Grits; Mario "Rio" Moore, Grits; Gotee Records
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
"Say So"; A Deeper Level; Israel & New Breed; Michael Gungor, Israel Houghton; Integrity Music
Rock Album of the Year
Scars Remain; Disciple; Travis Wyrick; SRE Recordings
Worship Song of the Year
"How Great Is Our God"; Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash; worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Alletrop Music
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
The Altar and the Door; Casting Crowns; Mark A. Miller; Beachstreet Records, Reunion Records
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
Portable Sounds; tobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, David Wyatt; Forefront Records
Inspirational Album of the Year
I Love To Tell The Story, A Hymns Collection; Mark Lowry; Paul Johnson; Gaither Music Group
Worship Album of the Year
Remedy; David Crowder*Band
Urban Album of the Year
T57; Trin-I-Tee 5:7; The Bama Boyz, Matthew Knowles, Solange Knowles,Walter W. Millsap III, DJ Static; Music World Entertainment
Bluegrass Album of the Year
Salt of the Earth; Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Skaggs Family Records
Country Album of the Year
Big Sky; The Isaacs; Mark Bright; Gaither Music Group
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
Past and Present; Lillie Knauls; Wayne Haun, Lillie Knauls; Vine Records
Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
A Deeper Level; Israel & New Breed; Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey; Integrity Music
Youth/Children's Musical of the Year
"Praise Rocks"; Brentwood Kids Club Music
Children's Music Album of the Year
VeggieTales Christian Hit Music; VeggieTales; Christopher Davis; Big Idea Records
Christmas Album of the Year
It's a Wonderful Christmas; Michael W. Smith; David Hamilton, Michael W. Smith; Reunion Records
Long Form Music Video of the Year
Live From Hawaii; Audio Adrenaline; Mark McCallie; Audio Adrenaline; Audio Adrenaline; Forefront Records
Short Form Music Video of the Year
"Boomin'"; tobyMac; Scott Speer; Jason Peterson; Symbolic Entertainment; Forefront Records
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Remedy (David Crowder*Band); Gary Dorsey; Gary Dorsey; Gary Dorsey, Kaysie Dorsey; Sparrow Records, sixstepsrecords
