Lauren Daigle leads with 6 nominations, including Artist of the Year; Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin garner 5

Songwriter Jason Ingram scores 7 nods, including Song of the Year

Awards to be held live Tuesday, October 11 at Lipscomb University and will air on TBN on Sunday, October 16

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 10, 2016) – The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced today the nominees in 44 categories for the 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The awards show will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville at 6:30 p.m. CST. Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) will exclusively air the awards show on Sunday, October 16, reaching over 100 million viewers in the U.S., plus global and multi-platform distribution. Voting for the final winners will run August 23 through August 30. 

Lauren Daigle leads artist nominations with six, followed by Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin with five. Anthony Brown, Bill Gaither, Danny Gokey, Jonathan McReynolds, Kirk Franklin, Matthew West and Tasha Cobbs tally four nods each. Songwriter Jason Ingram scores seven nods, including “Song of the Year.” To see the full list of nominees, visit the Dove Awards website here.

GMA executive director Jackie Patillo, artists CeCe Winans and Jason Roy (Building 429) and radio personalities Wally from WAY-FM and Doug from the “Family Friendly Morning Show” participated in the nominee press conference from the campus of Lipscomb University.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s Dove Award nominees!” Patillo stated. “We celebrate the outstanding achievement, hard work and creative excellence you have poured into this life-changing music.”

Patillo continued, “Our theme this year is ‘Love. Amplified.,’ a phrase we believe encompasses the collective power & impact of our music. At a time when so much of the world is divided and hostility is in the air, we will turn up the volume of love and the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”

TBN Chairman Matt Crouch said that the faith-and-family network is thrilled once again to serve as the exclusive broadcast partner for the GMA Dove Awards. “The Dove Awards set the standard for excellence in the field of Gospel and Christian music,” he said. “And as always, TBN is excited to share with our global audience this incredible evening honoring those who create the music that brings hope and changes lives.”

The nominees in the following categories were revealed at the press conference today:

Artist of the Year

for KING & COUNTRY, Word Entertainment
Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Music Australia/Sparrow Records
Lauren Daigle, Centricity Music
Lecrae, Reach Records
TobyMac, ForeFront Records

New Artist of the Year

Hollyn, Gotee Records
Jordan Feliz, Centricity Music
Stars Go Dim, Word Entertainment
Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
We Are Messengers, Word Entertainment

Traditional Gospel Album of the Year

Everyday Jesus– Anthony Brown & group therAPy, (producers) Anthony Brown, Justin Savage
We Give You Praise– Chicago Mass Choir, (producers) Percy Gray, Jr., Demetrius Banks, Cornelius Doles, Felica Welch, Dr. Feranda Williamson
WAP New Era– James Hall Worship & Praise, (producers) James Hall, Troy Chambers, Dr. Kevin Bond
Powerful – Japan Mass Choir, (producer) DA Johnson
Level Next– John P. Kee, (producer) John P. Kee

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year

Uncomfortable– Andy Mineo, (producers) 42 North, Alex Medina, Black Knight, Daniel Steele, Dirty Rice, Elhae, Gabriel Lambirth, Gawvi, Illmind, Jon Bellion
Therapy Session– NF, (producers) Tommee Profitt, David Garcia, The720
Church Clothes 3– Lecrae, (producers) Black Knight, Epikh Pro, GAWVI, Mykalife, Ryan Righteous, S1
This Time Around– Tedashii, (producers) Gabriel Azucena, Jamaal “Elhae” Jones, Crystal “Crystal Nicole” Johnson-Pompey, John “The Kracken” Williams
Forward– Flame, (producers) SPEC, Courtney Orlando, G. Roc

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year

Cities – Live In New York City– Anberlin, (producer) Aaron Sprinkle
Sound Of The Saints– Audio Adrenaline, (producers) Seth Mosley, Joshua Silverberg, Nick Baumhardt
Dead Man Walking– John Tibbs, (producer) Ben Shive
The Wonderlands: Sunlight & Shadows– Jon Foreman, (producers) Tyler Strickland, Anton Patzner, Neal Avron, Keith Tutt, Aaron Roche, Dan Brigham, Jeremy Lutito, Jason Morant
Surrender– Kutless, (producer) Aaron Sprinkle

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year 

“My Story”– Big Daddy Weave, (writers) Mike Weaver, Jason Ingram
“Just Be Held”– Casting Crowns, (writers), Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Matthew West
“Good Good Father”– Chris Tomlin, (writers) Pat Barrett, Tony Brown
“Tell Your Heart To Beat Again” – Danny Gokey, (writers) Bernie Herms, Randy Phillips, Matthew West
“The River”– Jordan Feliz, (writers) Jordan Feliz, Colby Wedgeworth, Joshua Silverberg
“Trust In You”– Lauren Daigle, (writers), Paul Mabury, Michael Farren, Lauren Daigle

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year

“Jesus Changed Everything”– Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, (writers) Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey
“Jesus Gave Me Water”– Gaither Vocal Band, (writer) Lucie E. Campbell
“I Am Blessed”– Karen Peck & New River, (writers) Karen Peck Gooch, Kenna West, Michael Farren
“Keep On”– Perrys, (writers) Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey
“Jesus, The One”– The Hoppers, (writer) Paula Stefanovich

Worship Song of the Year

“No Longer Slaves”– (writers) Jonathan David Hesler, Brian Johnson, Joel Case (publisher) Bethel Music Publishing
“Good Good Father”– (writers) Pat Barrett, Anthony Brown (publishers) Vamos Publishing, Capitol CMG Parago, Common Hymnal Publishing, Housefires Sounds, Tony Brown Publishing Designee, worshiptogether.com songs, sixsteps Music
“Touch the Sky”– (writers) Joel Houston, Dylan Thomas, Michael Guy Chislett (publisher) Hillsong Music Publishing
“We Believe”–  (writers) Travis Ryan, Richie Fike, Matt Hooper (publishers) Integrity Worship Music, Integrity’s Praise! Music, Life Worship, Travis Ryan Music
“Even So Come”– (writers) Jess Cates, Jason Ingram, Chris Tomlin (publisher) S. D. G. Publishing, Sixsteps Songs, Worship Together Music, Open Hands Music, So Essential Tunes, Lily Makes Music

The GMA Dove Awards celebrate the contributions of artists from every style of Christian/Gospel music. Nominees are determined by over 1,500 professional members, and winners will be voted on by the entire GMA membership of nearly 2,500. For more information, visit www.doveawards.com. To purchase tickets to the show, click here.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, Latin and more. The GMA community includes agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.

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