Dove Awards Nominees Announced

Casting Crowns, The Clark Sisters, Natalie Grant, Point Of Grace, Skillet, TobyMac and Chris Tomlin are among the diverse and gifted artists nominated for gospel/Christian music's highest honor - the Dove Award.Those seven were announced as the nominees for Artist of the Year for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards at a press conference today in Nashville, hosted by Dove and GRAMMY winner Michael W. Smith (who received three Dove nominations of his own) and Elle Duncan, host of Gospel Music Channel's weekly "Kitchen Sink." The GMA Dove Awards, gospel music's biggest night of the year featuring artists from every style of gospel/Christian music coming together for a night of music and celebration, will be produced in high definition and broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel from 8 - 10 p.m. (ET/PT) on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. The top nominee for 2008 GMA Dove Awards is Mark Hall, lead vocalist and songwriter of Casting Crowns, with six nominations including Male Vocalist and Song of the Year. His band, whose Altar and the Door CD debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart when it released last August, added four nominations including Artist and Group of the Year nods. Reigning two-time Dove Award Artist of the Year and one of the world's most prolific worship artists Chris Tomlin is also among the top nominees announced today. His five nominations include Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. Also garnering nominations in those same categories and a total of five was rock/hip-hop artist TobyMac. Progressive worship band David Crowder*Band's five nominations included Group of the Year. SOURCE OF THIS STORY