2011 Dove Award Winners

Here’s a complete list of winners from the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. And the Dove Award goes to…
Song of the Year
“Sometimes I Cry”; Jason Crabb; Gerald Crabb; Christian Taylor Music (BMI)

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris August

Female Vocalist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli

Group of the Year
NEEDTOBREATHE

Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli

New Artist of the Year
Chris August

Producer of the Year
Ian Eskelin

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
“Walking on the Stars”; Outta Space Love; Group 1 Crew; Manwell Reyes, Pablo Villatoro, Andy Anderson; Fervent Records/Word Records
Rock Recorded Song of the Year
“Start Again”; Innocence and Instinct; Red; Jasen Rauch, Rob Graves, Jason McArthur; Essential Records

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Something Beautiful”; The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Recording Corporation

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Beautiful, Beautiful”; My Paper Heart; Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Andrew Fromm; Fervent Records\

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
“Joseph”; Because It’s Christmas; Jason Crabb; Don Poythress, Tony Wood; Spring Hill Music Group

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Better Day”; Greatly Blessed; Gaither Vocal Band; Connie Harrington, Steven Jones; Gaither Music Group

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year
“Mountaintop”; Straight From the Heart of Dixie; Lizzy Long & Little Roy Lewis; Wayne Haun, Lyn Rowell, Lizzy Long; Vine Records

Country Recorded Song of the Year
“There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace”; No Changin’ Us; Point of Grace; Marshall Hall, Sam Mizell, Antonio Neal; Word Records

Urban Recorded Song of the Year
“Wait On The Lord”; The British Are Coming; Lola Godheld; Lola Godheld; Zoe Records

Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Go Tell It On The Mountain”; Because It’s Christmas; Jason Crabb; Public Domain; Spring Hill Music Group

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“The Best In Me”; Here I Am; Marvin Sapp; Marvin Sapp, Aaron Lindsey; Verity Gospel Music Group

Worship Song of the Year
TIE “How Great Is The Love”; Meredith Andrews, Jacob Sooter, Paul Baloche; Word Music, Integrity’s Hosanna Music, LeadWorship Songs
TIE “Our God”; Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin; Thankyou Music, sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com Songs, Said and Done Music,
Vamos Publishing, SHOUT! Publishing

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
Outta Space Love; Group 1 Crew; David Garcia, Andy Anderson, Christopher Stevens; Fervent Records/Word Records

Rock Album of the Year
Horseshoes & Handgrenades; Disciple; Rob Hawkins; INO Records

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
Tonight; TobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, Dave Wyatt, Jamie Moore; ForeFront Records

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
No Far Away; Chris August; Ed Cash, Chris August; Fervent Records/Word Records

Inspirational Album of the Year
TIE Downtown Church; Patty Griffin; Buddy Miller; Credential Recordings
TIE The Edge of the Divine; Sandi Patty; Sandi Patty, Chance Scoggins, Anna Trent, Mike Atkins; Stylos Records

Southern Gospel Album of the Year
Greatly Blessed; Gaither Vocal Band; Bill Gaither, David Phelps, Michael English; Gaither Music Group

Bluegrass Album of the Year
Singing From The Heart; Dailey & Vincent; Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent; Rounder Records

Country Album of the Year
No Changin’ Us; Point of Grace; Nathan Chapman; Word Records

Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
The Master Plan; Tamela Mann; David & Tamela Mann, Myron Butler, Terrell Carter; Tillymann Music Group

Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
Love God. Love People; Israel Houghton; Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims; Integrity Music

Spanish Language Album of the Year
Con Todo; Hillsong; Andrew Crawford; Hillsong Church T/A Hillsong Music AU/Sparrow

Special Event Album of the Year
Passion: Awakening; Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, David Crowder*Band, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Fee, Hillsong United; Nathan Nockels; Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords

Christmas Album of the Year
Home for the Holidays; Point of Grace; Nathan Chapman, Stephanie Chapman; Word Records

Praise & Worship Album of the Year
As Long As It Takes; Meredith Andrews; Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp; Word Records

Musical of the Year
As Sure As My Redeemer Lives… So Shall I; Robert Sterling, Tony Wood; Word Music

Choral Collection of the Year
Declare Your Name; Carol Cymbala, Jason Michael Webb; Word Music

Recorded Music Packaging
Move; Third Day; Beth Lee, Tim Parker; Tim Parker; David McClister

Short Form Music Video of the Year
SMS (Shine); David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band

Long Form Music Video of the Year
TIE Until the Whole World Hears…Live; Casting Crowns; The Erwin Brothers; Dan Atchison; Alabama Production Company; Beach Street/Reunion Records
TIE Count Your Blessings, Bill and Gloria Gaither and Homecoming Friends; Doug Stuckey; Bill Gaither, Barry Jennings, Bill Carter, Gaither Television Productions; Gaither Music Group

For more info, visit www.doveawards.com.

Dove Awards recap part two

Click here for Part One.

Oh yeah, there were awards too. I’ll spoil one for you, just because the speech was so awesome. The first award of the broadcast was Male Vocalist of the Year, and Chris won it. No, not Chris Tomlin, Chris August! The new guy. Wow. When he was a kid, he made himself a dare that if he ever won anything and got to give a speech he would thank the Fresh Prince. Sure enough, he kept that promise, saying, “I’d like to thank Will Smith for his pick-up lines on The Fresh Prince that got me started writing love songs.” Nice.

Well, he said something like that. I was trying to get the quote down, but I was distracted in the press room.

I mentioned before this was my first time covering the Dove ceremony, so let me tell you a little about the press room. It was really cramped. Like middle-airplane-seat-coach-class cramped. On my little swath of table I had my notes, a program, my netbook computer, my recorder, my phone, my phat camera, and a plate containing the dregs of the woefully undersized snack table. The live feed was on a big TV in front of me, and I had headphones to hear the audio if someone else was talking. I was also right in front of a platform from which the presenters and winners answered questions. Tough to focus with all that commotion and paraphernalia and twitter updating and getting texts from my daughters in the theater telling me what the feel was like in there. All that so say, if I didn’t get August’s line quite right, I apologize.

I wondered going in if I would be brave enough to ask questions in that media room. So there I was, sitting a few feet from music legend Kenny Rogers, thinking about raising my hand, then having second thoughts. This wasn’t just anyone, this was Kenny Rogers! The Gambler! He’s releasing his sixty-sixth album!! And he made those chicken restaurants!!! I’m running out of exclamations points!!!!

But there I was, and there he was, and there was the publicist announcing, “Any questions?”, and there was just enough of an uncomfortable pause for my hand to almost involuntarily extend, and there was that moment when I wasn’t sure if I should say “Kenny” or “Mr. Rogers” or “Gambler”.

The hand went up, and the words came out: “Kenny!”

The legend looked my way, anticipating my question. And so I said,

“Did Lucille leave you with four HUNGRY children or four HUNDRED children?”

No, not really. But that would have been cool. Instead, I asked how gospel music has shaped his career. He gave a very interesting and thoughtful answer, describing his childhood in a family that went to church three times a week. “God had a pretty good chance in this home,” he said, almost reminiscing. This will be his first gospel album. When I told my wife that Kenny and I had this touching moment and were now pretty much BFFs, she said, “What was Kenny Rogers doing at the Dove Awards?” Turns out, Kenny covered “Circle of Friends” by Point of Grace on his new album, and they asked him to come perform.

One of the ceremony’s most talked-about moments was the awarding of the new GMC Uplift Someone award to the Chapmans’ Show Hope foundation, which has helped 2,700 families seeking to adopt children around the world. Steven Curtis Chapman and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall joined Third Day to perform “Children of God” in a moving musical reflection on the meaning of adoption, and Mary Beth Chapman accepted the award with a tearful and poignant speech.

Ironically, the GMC Uplift Someone Award itself got an award: Most Awkwardly Named Award Award. (Just kidding. But you know that about me by now, right?)

Francesca Battistelli was a big winner last night. She performed her current hit “This is the Stuff” over a trio of mandolins in a strange retro-living room set. She was also part of a fantastic tribute to Sandi Patty offered by all the Female Vocalist of the Year nominees. I love the concept and would particularly enjoy seeing the same idea applied to the male vocalist nominees, who tend to represent more diverse genres. Following the medley, Natalie Grant introduced Sandi Patty, who sang her classic “Love in Any Language”.

By the way, it’s interesting to see how some performers are disgraced by a public sin and fall out of favor with the Christian music community, only to eventually return. Such redemption often requires a long road of equally public remorse and repentance. Few would have predicted such a tribute to Patty 15 years ago.

Two more standout performances worth mentioning:

Kirk Franklin closed the show with a grin…

… performing “I Smile”. I loved the operatic opening with the old Charlie Chaplin song “Smile”. I also liked Franklin’s honest answers to questions in the press room. Describing the importance of family, he mentioned that he had left Atlanta yesterday afternoon to jet back to Texas because his daughter had a track meet. “I don’t want my daughter to see Jesus as the guy who kept daddy away,” Franklin said.

Though he was shockingly shut out of awards in all his categories, Lecrae showed how to turn a performance into an event. He demonstrated the antithesis of the message in his song “Background” by arriving backstage in a chauffeured limo surrounded by adoring fans, and he got help from Natalie Grant during “God is Enough”.

Lecrae was also mentioned by another of the night’s winners, David Crowder, responding to questions about their mash-up on the new Passion CD. “Lecrae’s got flow!” Crowder gushed.

That followed a bizarre and hilarious five minute discourse on Lite Brite pegs, inspired by the band’s win for their remarkable video “SMS (Shine)”. Crowder rambled (no surprise!), touching on the similarity of pink and orange pegs, the lessons of capitalism in the free market for pegs on eBay, and the near-apocalyptic profundity of finding a “quad green” peg. Crowder remains one of my favorite interviewees, though I’m typically left scratching my head.

As far as the rest of the awards go, a couple of the wins were really big surprises for me, even in some of the biggest categories. (Let’s just say there might be a spike in curious downloads of a certain Jason Crabb song on Monday.) Really, though, the Dove Awards might be less about the trophies than any other awards show. There is more than a hint of irony in celebrating one another in an industry that’s supposed to be focused Heavenward. Much of the reason the Doves have existed for 42 years now is more that they give this industry an excuse to get together, have some fun, make some music, and do the sort of business and networking that are necessary from a business sense. There was much less of that this year, with fewer showcases and ancillary events, and it’s clear that the industry is still counting every penny. But the spirit was still there, Atlanta seemed to serve as a wonderful host, and my hope is the Doves will keep celebrating music for years to come.

Dove Awards recap part one

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards are in the books. Here’s the list of official winners, if you can’t wait for the Sunday broadcast or you don’t get GMC. Instead of spoiling Sunday’s show completely, I offer the following account of the night that was through my limited lens. Call it a teaser, not a spoiler.

The GMA took a risk moving the Doves outside of Nashville, and it’s clear that Atlanta is very proud to be hosting the ceremony this year. The pre-show included a proclamation read by the Atlanta City Council chair…

…and the main show included footage of the new artists performing at various Atlanta landmarks and welcomes from Atlanta-based GMC (it’s just letters now – they’re no longer the Gospel Music Channel) and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

But no one came to see the governor. They came for music, and Chris Tomlin ushered in the sound with “Our God”. This was the version from the new Passion: Here for You album, and Tomlin brought the crowd to their feet, declaring, “Rise up, church!”

Host Sherri Shepherd continued the theme and brought the gospel into the house. She seemed particularly thrilled to be able to declare her love for Christ in a very public and vocal manner.

[Rick Diamond/Getty Images]

She was remarkably comfortable, energetic, and engaging. Shepherd was the first non-musician to host, but seems to have been an excellent choice.

Mary Mary followed with “Never Wave My Flag”, adriving anthem performed through the fog in front of a cavernous backdrop. The flag in question is a flag of surrender to fear. I should make a mix tape and add that song to “No Surrender” by Springsteen and that awesome “Never Surrender” song by Corey Hart. But I digress.

The Stage was built out in three sweeping arcs over the theater’s orchestra pit, leaving two small pits loaded full of drums and guitars.

This was clearly not a live show, with long pauses for set changes and repeated intros to fix sound or lighting issues. The energy gradually waned in the audience over the four-plus hour event, and the pauses did not help. It would be fantastic if GMC could manage to air it live in the future.

During the lulls, comedienne Chonda Pierce entertained the crowd. The feed was piped into the press room, and she often had the whole room in stitches, even via closed circuit. I do wonder if any of that material will make it on the broadcast. One example: “Don’t you wish Jesus would come right now, just so you could see who would really be taken?”

You know how when CBS hosts the Grammys and they trot out presenters because they’re “the stars of the hit new CBS comedy series…”? Well, GMC does that too, apparently. But their “stars who have no serious musical affiliation and are mainly there to plug new shows” are actually really cool. To wit:

Yes, that’s right, Tootie!! Bonus points if you recognized Kim Fields right away. Is it too juvenile to point out that she was not wearing roller skates in the press room? I bet she’s sick of those references. Kim actually delivered a wonderful quote to the musicians in the audience: “Your gift is medicine, and your gift is uplifting, and God knows the world needs that right now.”

Next non-musical actor:

That’s right, Hercules!! Tootie and Hercules in the same night! That’s a party! Kevin Sorbo is a handsome dude with a speaking voice that says, “Hollywood, baby”.

Part Two is here, and I promise it does not include the words “Tootie” or “Hercules”.

News from the Dove Pre-Show

The Fox is filling fast and we’re between shows. The main show, the part you’ll see on TV this Sunday on GMC, starts in about ten minutes. The pre-show, during which all the awards that you won’t see on TV are distributed, just ended in momentous fashion. Curiously, the final award was Spanish Language Album of the Year. Jason Crabb made a big to-do of not being able to read the categories, so a nice young lady was brought up from the audience. She struggled to see the teleprompter, and seemed a bit uncomfortable, but she was a good sport. The award was given to Hillsong, (also a bit odd, with the Spanish Language award being accepted in an Australian accent), but as the ceremony closed, a young man hopped on stage, dropped to one knee, and proposed to our astonished impromptu presenter.

Surprise!

Dropping to one knee…

She said yes!

That’s how to end a show! (I must say the pre-show for the Doves was worlds better than the pre-show for the Grammys earlier this year. Acoustics in the Egyptian Ballroom were outstanding, and the top-notch performances took full advantage.)

The biggest winner of the night so far in my (sound) opinion has been Group 1 Crew, winners for Rap/Hip Hop song and album of the year. I thought Lecrae might sweep those two. Other awards have been spread out, with a few slight surprises. NeedToBreathe won over Third Day and TobyMac, but Toby got a win for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. Chris August won his first Dove for Pop/Contemporary Album, and Francesca Battistelli had a big win for her song “Beautiful, Beautiful”, besting MercyMe (“All of Creation”), Toby Mac (“Get Back Up”), Sanctus Real (“Lead Me”), and Chris August (“Starry Night”). Makes me wonder if she might become the night’s big winner.

Awards were also given to Third Day, Casting Crowns, and Passion. Louie Giglio’s acceptance speech was spot on in mastering a refreshing combination of gratitude, humility, and focus on Christ.

Just minutes until the big show, when things get really interesting!

Live, before the Doves

I’m in the lobby of the Georgian Terrace, the hotel directly across the street from the Fox Theatre, the venue for tonight’s GMA Dove Awards. This might be my favorite part of events like this. The lobby is teeming with artists, publicists, reporters, and organizers. You don’t have to know personally them to know which category they belong to. The artists look like, well, rock stars. They’re not all dressed up yet, though every car that rolls up disgorges several garment bags with tonight’s carefully selected finery. Even without said finery, there is a definite look: the hair and the shoes and the disheveled insouciance that says “rock star”. It’s saying it a lot in this lobby!

The publicists are busy getting their artists from interview to interview and taking care of details, lots of details. They have a way of looking across the lobby at their artist and giving this little nod that says, “It’s time to wrap that interview up, we have places to go and we need to stay on schedule!”

The media are struggling to get good sound on their recorders in this noisy lobby. A TV program is recording a promo with a hip-hop artist right behind me. Over and over, trying to get the sound right. Some of these reporters are a little bit like vultures, waiting to try to get an on-the-spot interview with anyone who wanders by. There are two elevator doors in the lobby, and every time they open it’s like a shell game. Will that elevator reveal a famous artist?

The organizers are easy to spot, because they’re getting ever closer to frantic. Things seem to be under control so far, but we’re just over an hour from the pre-show, and the tension will ramp up from now on.

I forgot one other category: the fans. They’re here too, trying not to be too obvious, but looking star-struck. It’s hard to blame them. If you’ve grown up listening to and being impacted by certain artists and their songs, it’s a very cool thing to stroll past them on Peachtree Street.

The other thing I love about settings like this is the conversations one can overhear. They are just not the sorts of discussions you typically here. For example, beside me, right now, this conversation is taking place:

“Who was that?”

“Actually that’s the head of a new label I’m on.”

So, I’m having fun already, and nothing has even started yet. Someone is beat-boxing in a corner. Mac Powell’s family just walked by, mercifully unnoticed by the masses. About a third of the artist of the year nominees are in the lobby, right now, some pushing baby strollers. And I’m starting to form an opinion on the latest rock star-dressing trend I need to adopt. So far, it’s rolled-up jeans. Note to self: buy jeans that are way too long so I can roll them up.

Dove Day Is Officially Here!

Tonight is Gospel music’s biggest night! If you can’t trek to Atlanta, Ga., for the celebration, be sure to tune in to gmc on Sunday night at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST for the world premiere of the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. We’ll have tons of Dove coverage right here, but while we wait for the winners to be announced, let’s take one last look at the final nominees and who we predict will come out on top…

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Female Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Group of the Year Predictions

New Artist of the Year Predictions

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

The Dove Awards are Here

The Doves are here! Today is the day. I’ve packed up my Netbook and my Nikon to bring you live coverage all day long.

This will be my first Dove Awards ceremony, so I’m heading into the day with several questions:

1) How well will the ceremony run? This is the first time the Doves have left the friendly confines of Tennessee, and with a new venue in a new town there will surely be glitches. There’s also a good chance of thunderstorms this evening, so that won’t help.

2) What will the media room be like? This part is particularly new to me. The media stay in a completely different area of the Fox Theater and only watch what’s going on in the ceremony on TV monitors. Presenters and winners are ushered in for press conferences and one-on-one interviews. I’d rather watch the whole ceremony and do the interviews afterwards, but I guess that’s not practical. Got a question you want me to ask? Let me know.

3) And by the way, what do media wear? Writers and photographers always seem kinda sloppy to me, but this is a fancy event. I’ll sneak some pictures and let you know.

4) What’s the vibe like? This event is often described as Christian Music’s Grammys, but I suspect (and hope) it will be quite different. It’s good to celebrate a year’s worth of Christian music, but the narcissism of awards shows would be out of place in a room full of people who claim the words of John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I’m curious to see how that tension can be resolved.

Look for articles and exclusive photos, and be sure to watch our live tweets during the event at @thesoundopinion.

Finally, some late-breaking news: Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mark Hall will be performing “Children of God” together tonight. All are advocates of adoption. If you haven’t seen the song’s video, the message is powerful.

Dissecting the Doves: New Artist of the Year

New Artist of the Year is always one of the most significant awards of the evening. More times than not, a New Artist win indicates the next buzz-worthy act and is an accolade that has propelled the careers of many well-known artists. Case in point? Through the years, this award has been given to artists as diverse as Take 6, Point of Grace, Jars of Clay, Jaci Velasquez and Avalon. Recent years have seen The Afters, Brandon Heath and Tenth Avenue North nab the award. Last year, Sidewalk Prophets carried home the trophy. So who will leave with the New Artist bird tomorrow night? We have our opinions… There’s still time to make your opinion heard. This is one of two categories open to fans. So head on over to www.watchgmctv.com/fanvote and vote for your favorite new artist!

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Audrey Assad
• Chris August
• forever JONES
• John Mark McMillan
• No Other Name
• Kerrie Roberts
• Kristian Stanfill

SHOULD WIN: AUDREY ASSAD

Audrey is one of the most poetic, thoughtful female singer/songwriters to come along since Nicole Nordeman. She writes in the vein of cherished female counterparts like Nordeman, Sara Groves, Jill Phillips and Brooke Fraser. Her lyrics are eloquent, and her lilting voice envelops the listener in sunny warmth. Above all, her smart debut, The House You’re Building (Sparrow), was a superb introduction to a timeless artist who has a long career ahead of her. Unfortunately, Assad stayed a bit under the radar this year. While everyone from Jars of Clay to Natalie Grant and Chris Tomlin raved about her, some of the other nominees experienced far more commercial success, which will put this year’s New Artist Dove just out of reach for Assad.

WILL WIN: CHRIS AUGUST

“Starry Night” (also nominated for Song of the Year) details a turning point in the life of newcomer Chris August. It also tells our story. August’s debut, No Far Away (Fervent), is filled with other chapters of the human condition and the bigger story God is authoring. Honestly, August was one of the biggest surprises of the year. He’s poised to run in the big leagues with fellow pop singer/songwriters Brandon Heath, Matthew West and Jeremy Camp. He’ll win the New Artist Dove by a landslide.

WHO’S MISSING: TOOTH & NAIL ARTISTS
For fans of harder rock, it comes as no surprise that Tooth & Nail Records isn’t represented in the list of New Artist nominees. In fact, they aren’t really represented in any of the major categories. Although Tooth & Nail prides itself on being an indie, under-the-radar label, they introduce more new artists each year than all the major labels combined. If nothing else, they should be recognized for continuing to seek out and champion new artists and for consistently being a pioneer in signing hard rock acts.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Female Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Group of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for New Artist of the Year? Who do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.

Dissecting the Doves: Group of the Year

Let’s face it. There are a lot of bands in Christian music, which makes Group of the Year one of the most crowded categories. There’s never enough room to honor all of the worthy contenders. However, the seven nominees up for this year’s Dove all have reason to be in this category.

GROUP OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• Gaither Vocal Band
• Sidewalk Prophets
• Tenth Avenue North
• MercyMe
• MIKESCHAIR
• NEEDTOBREATHE

SHOULD WIN: MERCYME

MercyMe is arguably one of the biggest bands in Christian music history. While much of the band’s success stems from mega cross-over hit “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe is far from a one hit wonder. Bart Millard & Co. have proven time and time again that the band’s talent is no fluke but a God-given talent. With each successive release, the band seems to churn out powerful songs that are creative, cohesive, memorable and timeless. “All of Creation” (also nominated for Song of the Year) is simply a recent example. The band hasn’t won Group of the Year since 2004, and they’ve contributed a wealth of quality songs to the genre since then. This would be a well-deserved win for the band, especially considering The Generous Mr. Lovewell (INO)–MercyMe’s latest release–garnered the biggest street week of the band’s career.

WILL WIN: TENTH AVENUE NORTH

When NEEDTOBREATHE was announced as last year’s Group of the Year, everyone was surprised. It wasn’t that NEEDTOBREATHE wasn’t worthy of the win. They consistently release music that is beloved by industry insiders and fans alike that is relevant, unique and creative. However, after winning Song of the Year, everyone figured Tenth Avenue North would likely snag Group as well. This will likely be the year that prediction comes true. While the popular pop/rock band won’t likely walk away with Song of the Year this year, they have a great chance at Group. With a string of No. 1 hits to their name in a relatively short time, a slew of high-profile touring slots, two best-selling albums and a live CD/DVD, the men of Tenth Avenue North are fast becoming the future of Christian music.

WHO’S MISSING: THIRD DAY

There are several deserving names noticeably absent from the Group nominee list this year: Casting Crowns, Sanctus Real and David Crowder Band, to name a few. However, most surprising is the absence of veteran rock band Third Day. In many ways, this band has helped define the pop/rock genre of Christian music; and with each successive release, the band seems to reinvent itself and find a broader audience. They continue to serve up substantial material that pushes creative boundaries and defies the limitations of one particular fanbase. With the release of new album Move (Essential) this past year, along with continued non-stop touring from the band, it was disappointing not to see their name on the final ballot.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Female Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for Group of the Year? What band or group do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.

Dissecting the Doves: Female Vocalist of the Year

Earlier this week, we took at look at the Male Vocalist of the Year category for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. It’s now time to shine the spotlight on the ladies of Christian music. Every year, this is a consistently tough category. With the Male Vocalist category there aren’t enough spots to adequately honor the talent that comes from the male-dominated genre. With Female Vocalist, it’s quite the opposite. The females are few and far between in Christian music. However, this year’s list is a combination of some old favorites and some new up-and-comers.

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Audrey Assad
• Francesca Battistelli
• Natalie Grant
• Britt Nicole
• Janet Paschal
• Kerrie Roberts
• Laura Story

SHOULD WIN: BRITT NICOLE

To see Britt Nicole’s name on the final nominee list for Female Vocalist of the Year is both refreshing and a long time coming. Britt is as genuine as they come, and her mix of colorful, fun hooks combined with straightforward Christ-focused lyrics is finally getting the attention it deserves. Britt’s second album, The Lost Get Found (Sparrow), caused a few radio programmers and new fans to take notice. The title track, along with “Walk On the Water,” became No. 1 hits and have allowed Britt a fine run at radio this past year. While she doesn’t quite have the strong fan base that Franny does, Britt is definitely one to watch and a reminder that we need more female heavy-hitters like her committed to sharing the Gospel through song in a relevant way.

WILL WIN: FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI

Francesca walked away with this award for the first time last year ending Natalie Grant’s Female Vocalist streak. Once again, Battistelli will no doubt repeat the win this year. She had an unprecedented ride this year, thanks to the continued longevity of her debut release as single after single from My Paper Heart (Fervent) soared to the top of the charts. The popularity of “Beautiful, Beautiful” allowed the singer/songwriter to not lose any momentum as she took time off to have her first child and record her second album, Hundred More Years (Fervent). The new album’s first single, “This Is The Stuff,” is already a No. 1 hit. By the end of Wednesday night’s ceremony, the songstress will easily have another trophy to add to her growing collection.

WHO’S MISSING: MEREDITH ANDREWS

In an industry void of female talent, it was hard to determine who was “missing” in this category. Amy Grant is a perennial nominee in this category–some year’s only because there’s such a huge lack of females. However, even though Grant saw some success this year with “Better Than a Hallelujah,” it would actually be nice to see worship better represented in this category. Aside from Laura Story (who incidentally didn’t even release a new album in the eligibility period), there’s a lack of straightforward female worship artists. Though nominated in a few other minor Dove categories, Meredith Andrews is an oft-overlooked talent. Her knack for writing poignant vertically-slanted lyrics is matched only by the incredible strength of her voice. She’s definitely underrated, and her sophomore album, As Long As It Takes (Word), ranks right up there with Nicole and Battistelli in terms of quality and vocal prowess. Brooke Fraser and Jenny Simmons (Addison Road) could easily fit in with the other nominees in this category as well.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for Female Vocalist of the Year? What artist do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.