A mix of artists both old and new received nominations last Thursday for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards, Christian and gospel music's premier awards ceremony.

Casting Crowns and lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall topped the nominees six overall, including nods in the Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Song of the Year categories. "It never gets old, because it's new music," Hall told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution about being recognized. "Can't coast on what you did in the past."

Tied for the second most nominations were rap/rocker tobyMac, alternative worship group David Crowder Band, and praise-and-worship leader Chris Tomlin (a GMA favorite for the past three years). All three snagged five nominations, including Artist and Song of the Year honors.

Hot off a Grammy sweep and an impressive run at the Stellars, legendary gospel quartet The Clark Sisters received four nominations, including Group and Artist of the Year honors. Also with four nods were Point of Grace, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, and Ricky Skaggs.

"Gospel and Christian music artists share an expressed intent to honor God through music and the freedom to create their art without stylistic boundaries," said Gospel Music Association President and CEO John W. Styll. "This year's Dove nominations are a testament to that."

Styll added that the organization's board of directors decided to expand the main artist categories — Artist, New Artist, Group, Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year — from five to seven nominee slots, citing a difficulty "in the past for the artist categories to fairly represent and celebrate the breadth and depth of our music's diversity."

Said expansion apparently made room to recognize Dove award newcomers like Hillsong United, Marvin Sapp, Mandisa, Gerald Wolfe, and Skillet in the major categories alongside mainstays like Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, Mark Schultz, and Natalie Grant. More diverse still was the New Artist award, with nominees as varied as Rush of Fools, Austins Bridge, 33 Miles, DeWayne Woods, Brandon Heath, Mandisa, and Group 1 Crew.

Less surprising and varied was Song of the Year, which has traditionally accommodated up to 10 nominees to celebrate the GMA's diversity. Of this year's nominated songs, nine of them were hits at Christian AC radio, including Tomlin's "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)," MercyMe's "Bring the Rain," and Casting Crowns' "East to West." The single exception was "Tears of the Saints" by rock-worship band Leeland.

To view the complete list of nominees in all 43 categories, click here.

Tricia Whitehead, spokesperson for the GMA, said that no performers or presenters have been decided yet, but confirmed that this year's ceremony will not have a host.

For the first time since 2002, the awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, beginning at 8 p.m. on April 23. No plans for syndication have been announced yet.

Tickets to the live telecast are available through Ticketmaster. The GMA is also offering tickets to an official after-party.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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