The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced this year’s Dove Award nominees Feb. 17. The Dove Awards are the gospel music industry’s top honor.
As he did last year, Stephen Curtis Chapman dominated the list with nine nominations. Toby McKeehan of dc Talk was just behind him with eight nominations, and Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay was third with seven nominations.
Singer Rich Mullins, who died tragically last year in a highway accident, was nominated in five categories. During his recording career, Mullins was nominated for 12 Dove Awards, but never won one.
Neither Amy Grant nor Sandi Patty were nominated for female vocalist of the year, even though both were eligible. Grant’s Behind the Eyes was nominated for pop/contemporary album of the year and Patty’s Artist of My Soul was nominated for inspirational album of the year. The omission of these perennial favorites from the female vocalist of the year category may reflect GMA members’ views on Grant’s completely secular album and on Patty’s attempted comeback from a career-stopping adulterous affair.
In a repeat of last year’s nominations, the hard rock recorded song and hard rock album categories had an insufficient number of eligible entries, and will not be awarded. A new category in this year’s nominations is “enhanced CD” of the year, a category growing out of a new technology that lets creators of music CDs add images and text which can be retrieved by a home computer.
Winners will be announced April 23 during a live television broadcast from Nashville.
Here are some of this year’s nominations:
- Song of the year: “A Baby’s Prayer” by Kathy Troccoli, “Free” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “He Walked A Mile” by Don Muckala, “Let Us Pray” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “Live the Life” by Michael W. Smith, “On My Knees” by David Mullen, “People Get Ready … Jesus Is Comin'” by Brian Ray, “Stomp” by Kirk Franklin.
- Songwriter of the year: Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby McKeehan, Chris Rice, Michael W. Smith, Kathy Troccoli.
- Male vocalist of the year: Bob Carlisle, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rich Mullins, Jonathan Pierce, Chris Rice.
- Female vocalist of the year: Crystal Lewis, Rebecca St. James, Kathy Troccoli, Jaci Velasquez, CeCe Winans.
- Group of the year: 4HIM, dcTalk, God’s Property, Jars of Clay, Point of Grace.
- Artist of the year: Bob Carlisle, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, Rich Mullins, Point of Grace.
- New artist of the year: Avalon, Caedmon’s Call, God’s Property, Chris Rice, Smalltown Poets.
- Producer of the year: Brown Bannister, Kirk Franklin, Toby McKeehan, Charlie Peacock, Steve Taylor.
- Rap/hip hop song of the year: “Ain’t Nobody Dyin’ But Us” from Ain’t Nobody Dyin’ But Us by E.T.W., “Blood Spilla” from Heaven’s Mentality by The Cross Movement; “Bow Down” from Bow Down by True II Society, “Jumping in the House of God” from Revived by Worldwide Message Tribe, “People Noticin’ Me” from Factors of the Seven by Grits, “Shock!” from Heaven’s Mentality by The Cross Movement.
- Modern rock/alternative song of the year: “Chem 6A” from The Legend of Chin by Switchfoot, “Crazy” from Plumb by Plumb, “Love” from Sixpence None The Richer by Sixpence None The Richer, “Low” from Yours Truly by The Altered, “Some Kind of Zombie” from Some Kind of Zombie by Audio Adrenaline.
- Rock song of the year: “Alien” from Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day, “Day by Day” from Jesus Freak by dc Talk, “Free Ride” from Bloom by Audio Adrenaline, “If You Want To Lead Me To Jesus” from Wrestling Angels by Grover Levy, “Jesus” from Redemption by Whiteheart.
- Pop contemporary song of the year: “Beauty for Ashes” from Beauty for Ashes by Crystal Lewis, “Circle of Friends” from Life, Love and Other Mysteries by Point of Grace, “Crazy Times” from Much Afraid by Jars of Clay, “Elijah” from Songs by Rich Mullins, “Let Us Pray” from Signs of Life by Steven Curtis Chapman.
- Inspirational song of the year: “A Baby’s Prayer” from Love and Mercy by Kathy Troccoli, “Center of the Mark” from The Message by 4HIM, “Praise the Lord” from Mission by Jonathan Pierce, “The Greatest Story Ever Told” from Avalon by Avalon, “Welcome To Our World” from Deep Enough to Dream by Chris Rice.
- Southern gospel song of the year: “Butterfly Kisses” from The Rocks Cry Out by Tim Greene, “For God So Loved” from 4 God So Loved by Brian Free & Assurance, “Grace” from Wherever You Are by The Martins, “Heaven’s Child” from Light of the World by The Martins, “Yes I Know” from Southern Classics II by Gaither Vocal Band.
- Country song of the year: “Answer To My Prayer” from Until I Found You by Skip Ewing, “Heart of My Heart” from Steel Witness by Charlie Daniels, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” from You Light Up My Life by LeAnn Rimes, “One Perfect Son” from Little Bit Of Faith by Jeff Silvey, “The Gift” from The Best of Collin Raye – Direct Hits by Collin Ray.
- Urban recorded song of the year: “In Harm’s Way” from BeBe Winans by BeBe Winans, “Let the Redeemed” from Virtue by Virtue, “More Than You Know” from More Than You Know by out of eden, “Pray” from Pray by Andrae Crouch, “Stomp” from God’s Property by Kirk Franklin Nu Nation.
- Traditional gospel song of the year: “I Go To The Rock” from The Preacher’s Wife Sound Track by Whitney Houston, “Lord Help Me To Hold Out” from Strength by The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee, “Mother Sherman’s Story” from Live At Azusa 2 – Precious Memories by Carlton Pearson, “Testify” from Testify by Dottie Peoples, “You’re Next In Line For A Miracle” from A Miracle In Harlem by Shirley Caesar.
- Contemporary gospel song of the year: “Come Unto Me” from Under The Influence by Anointed, “I Believe” from Bold by Angie & Debbie Winans,, “Speak To My Heart” from Donnie McClurkin by Donnie McClurkin, “Up Where I Belong” from BeBe & CeCe Winans Greatest Hits by Bebe & CeCe Winans, “Walking In The Light” from Under The Influence by Anointed.
- Rap/hip-hop album of the year: Factors of the Seven by Grits, Heaven’s Mentality by The Cross Movement, Resurrected Gangstaz by God’s Original Gangstaz, Revived by Worldwide Message Tribe, Take Me To The Homies by Geno V.
- Modern rock/alternative album of the year: Caedmon’s Call by Caedmon’s Call, Plumb by Plumb, Sixpence None The Richer by Sixpence None The Richer, Smalltown Poets by Smalltown Poets, and Supertones Strike Back by Supertones.
- Rock album of the year: Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day, Redemption by Whiteheart, The Waiting by The Waiting, Threads by Geoff Moore & The Distance, Welcome to the Freakshow by dc Talk.
- Pop contemporary album of the year: Behind the Eyes by Amy Grant, Deep Enough to Dream by Chris Rice, Love and Mercy by Kathy Troccoli, Love Revolution by NewSong, Much Afraid by Jars of Clay.
- Inspirational album of the year: Artist of My Soul by Sandi Patty, I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns by Carman, This Bright Hour by Fernando Ortega, Unveiled Hope by Michael Card, You Light Up My Life by LeAnn Rimes.
- Southern gospel album of the year: Far Away by Kirk Talley, I Believe by George Younce, Light Of The World by The Martins, Lovin’ God and Lovin’ Each Other by Bill Gaither & The Gaither Vocal Band, When I See The Cross by Greater Vision.
- Country album of the year: A Tender Road Home by Susie Luchsinger, Across My Heart by Kenny Rogers, Hymns from The Ryman by Gary Chapman, Ponder, Sykes & Wright by Ponder, Sykes & Wright, The Ordinary by Ken Holloway, Until I Found You by Skip Ewing.
- Urban album of the year: BeBe Winans by BeBe Winans, Bold by Angie & Debbie Winans, God’s Property by Kirk Franklin Nu Nation, More Than You Know by out of eden, Virtue by Virtue.
- Traditional gospel album of the year: A Miracle In Harlem by Shirley Caesar, Live At Azusa 2 – Precious Memories by Carlton Pearson, Living the Dream: Live in Washington D.C. by The Canton Spirituals, Testify by Dottie Peoples, Woman, Thou Art Loosed – Songs of Healing and Restoration by T.D. Jakes.
- Contemporary gospel album of the year: Come Walk With Me by Oleta Adams, Grace and Mercy by Marvin Sapp, Praise Celebration by Babbie Mason, Pray by Andrae Crouch, Shout In The House by Motor City Mass Choir.
- Instrumental album of the year: Cool Jazz Christmas by Eric Darken; Invention by Phil Keaggy, Wes King and Scott Dente; Music For All Time by Dino; Ralph Carmichael and Friends Live by Ralph Carmichael; Sax for the Soul by Sam Levine.
- Enhanced CD of the year: Caedmon’s Call Intimate Portrait by Caedmon’s Call, Crazy Times by Jars of Clay, Feel Free by Carolyn Arends, Joy To The Rhythm of the World by NewSong, Live the Life by Michael W. Smith.
Other categories include bluegrass song, bluegrass album, praise and worship album, children’s musical album, Spanish language album, special event album, musical, youth/children’s musical, choral collection, recorded music packaging, long form video and short form video.
– E.P. News
