Dove Awards: Tomlin Leads Noms, GMA Starts Fan Voting

Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin is the top artist nominee for the 2009 Dove Awards. The reigning three-time Male Vocalist of the Year scored seven nominations, revealed at this morning’s press conference, including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist, Song, Praise & Worship Album, Worship Song, Special Event Album, and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song. The 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held April 23 at the Grand Ole Opry House and will be broadcast nationwide live on the Gospel Music Channel at 7 PM/CT.

Natalie Grant, Casting Crowns and newcomer Francesca Battistelli each received five nominations. Grant, the current three-time Female Vocalist of the Year, received another nomination in that category, as well as nods for Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song, and Worship Song. Four-time Group of the Year winners Casting Crowns are again up in that category, as well as Artist of the Year, Christmas Album, Short Form Video and Long Form Video. Battistelli, who burst on the Christian music scene in the summer of 2008, is up for Female Vocalist, New Artist, Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Song, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

In a growing awards show trend, fans will be able to vote on awards for the upcoming show. For the first time, fans will vote for Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year through www.gospelmusicchannel.com and www.doveawards.com. Voting opens Feb. 26—the same day online voting opens for GMA members—and continues through the live Dove Awards broadcast. It will account for one-third of the total vote in those two categories, while GMA member votes will account for the remaining two-thirds.

Tickets to the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 615-242-0303. Select nominations are below, or click here for a complete list.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns
Steven Curtis Chapman
Fireflight
Marvin Sapp
Third Day
TobyMac
Chris Tomlin

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Addison Road
Francesca Battistelli
Fee
Jonathan Nelson
Remedy Drive
Chris Sligh
Tenth Avenue North

COUNTRY RECORDED SONG
“Did I Make A Difference”; Front Row Seats; The Oak Ridge Boys; Rob Crosby, Bill Anderson; Spring Hill Music Group
“Good Side Of Goodbye”; Home For Now; Living Waters Trio; Wayne Haun, Dave Clark; Vine Records
“I Saw God Today”; Troubadour; George Strait; Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby; MCA Nashville
“I Wish”; How You Live Deluxe Edition; Point of Grace; Cindy Morgan, Phil Madeira; Word Records
“Jesus And John Wayne”; Lovin’ Life; Gaither Vocal Band; Gloria Gaither, William J. Gaither, Doug Johnson, Kim Williams, Benjamin Gaither; Gaither Music Group

COUNTRY ALBUM
Around the Bend; Randy Travis; Kyle Lehning; Warner Bros. Records
Home For Now; Living Waters Trio; Terry Thompson; Vine Records
Hymned Again; Bart Millard; Brown Bannister; INO Records
I Turn To You; Richie McDonald; Frank Myers, Gary Baker, Tommy Lee James; Lucid Entertainment
Runaway Train; Crabb Revival; Ben Isaacs, Tre’ Corley; Daywind Records

SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM
Billy: The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack; Brooks & Dunn, Mac Powell, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, China Edelman, Patty Griffin, Brandon Heath, Gregory Page, Michael W. Smith, Melinda Doolittle, Roy Orbison, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, Sierra Hull, John Cowan, Harry Stinson, Ronnie Bowman, Ronnie McCoury, John Wesley Ryles; Anastasia Brown; Arista Nashville, Essential Records

Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One; Gaither Vocal Band, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, The Grascals, Buddy Greene, The Isaacs, Gordon Mote, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Booth Brothers, George Jones, Wesley Pritchard, Reggie & Ladye Love Smith, Brittany Allen, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Jimmy Fortune, Dailey & Vincent, Jason Crabb, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Cherryholmes, Lisa Daggs-Charette, Vince Gill, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman; Bill Gaither; Gaither Music Group

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry; The Charlie Daniels Band, Mac Powell, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs & The Whites, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood; Steve Gibson; Sony BMG Nashville
Passion: God of This City; Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, David Crowder*Band, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Fee, Matt Redman; Nathan Nockels; Sparrow Records, sixsteps Records

Your Name; Joel Auge, Leeland Mooring, Paul Baloche, Aaron Shust, Phil Wickham, Josh Reedy, Ayiesha Woods, Ian Eskelin, Mark Stuart, Vicky Beeching, Jared Anderson, Christy Johnson, Sean Loche, Aaron Boyd, Jason Roy, Wes Willis, Lincoln Brewster, Adam Agee; Ian Eskelin; Integrity Music

At today's nomination announcement: (L-R) Lisa Kimmey, Gospel Music Channel; Dan Evans and Jackie Evans, of NBC's Biggest Loser. Photo courtesy: Judy Nelson Group