As expected, repeat winners dominated most of the top categories for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards, which honors artists in Christian music. But the Gospel Music Association also remembered several previously unsung heroes during the ceremony, which was broadcasted live, in part, from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Casting Crowns claimed three awards, while frontman Mark Hall took home four more of his own.

Casting Crowns enjoyed their fourth consecutive win as Group of the Year, and picked up two more awards for Best Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (The Altar and the Door) and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("East to West"). Because the latter category also recognizes the writer, frontman Mark Hall picked up two personalized Doves for "East to West," which was additionally named Song of the Year. Hall's participation on the multi-artist project Glory Revealed earned him two more individual awards for Special Event Album of the Year and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("By His Wounds"), bringing his personal total to four.

"I'm a product of Christian music," said Hall as he mentioned a long list of respected winners from years past, including Third Day and Point of Grace. "Just to be [included] among all of them is kind of crazy."

It was a pair of three-peats for the Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, awarded to Chris Tomlin and Natalie Grant, respectively. "My microphone used to be my hairbrush," Grant said. "I pinch myself every day that I get to do what I love and get to sing about the God that I love."

The New Artist title went to Nashville native Brandon Heath, a singer/songwriter who now leads worship in Houston, Texas. Heath beat out some stiff competition from country bands 33Miles and Austins Bridge, American Idol finalist Mandisa, contemporary gospel singer DeWayne Woods, urban pop trio Group 1 Crew (which beat out the competition for Rap/Hip-hop album), and the band Rush of Fools, a perceived frontrunner because of the smash hit single "Undo."

The night's biggest trophy, Artist of the Year, went to tobyMac, who won the same award in 1996 as a member of dc Talk—his first win in the category as a solo artist after seven years. He also won artist and producer awards in Rock/Contemporary Album for Portable Sounds, plus one more for Short Form Music Video for "Boomin'."

TobyMac was awarded top honors as Artist of the Year—the first time he's won it since his days with dc Talk twelve years ago.

"I think my shoes are shining brighter than these joints," said tobyMac, pointing to his leopard-patterned Nikes while juggling his awards.

Many other veterans also earned recognition after years of creativity. One of the night's biggest surprises was Songwriter of the Year, which went to acclaimed singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan for "How You Live (Turn Up the Music)." The Point of Grace hit also earned a statuette for both group and songwriter as the Country Recorded Song.

"I wasn't going to cry, but I did cry," said an emotional Morgan, who dedicated the win to her father. The singer/songwriter got her start in the early '90s performing pop songs written by other people. Over the years, she became a respected songwriter in her own right, penning material for Michael English, Women of Faith, Mark Schultz, and David Phelps, among many others. "I never set out to be a singer," she said. "I just wanted to be a songwriter. I'm an introvert, so it's a much easier thing to do to sit behind the piano and write a song than be on stage."

Ian Eskelin, who has enjoyed some fame as a solo artist and the creative core of the band All Star United, was shocked to learn he was named Producer of the Year, presumably for his work with Stellar Kart and Krystal Meyers, among others. "Seriously, I don't know why I have this right now," Eskelin said, surprised that he won out over longtime favorite Ed Cash. He added that his creative work "is the gift that God has loaned me, and I just go for it every single day."

One of the original Edwin Hawkins singers that recorded "O Happy Day," Lillie Knauls won her first Dove award after 32 years.

Several other artists won their first award after years—if not decades—of trying. Lillie Knauls, a gospel veteran who sang on the original recording of the Edwin Hawkins classic, "O Happy Day," won Traditional Gospel Album for Past and Present. It was her first Dove after first being nominated 32 years ago.

The band Skillet also snagged their first-ever Dove for Rock Recorded Song "Comatose," an award that came after 20 nominations and 12 years as a best-selling rock band. Frontman John Cooper jokingly said that the win "is ruining my losing streak." Other first-time winners after several years in Christian music include West Coast rapper T-Bone and the urban-pop trio Trin-i-tee 5:7.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Packed with Performances
A new partnership between Gospel Music Channel and the Gospel Music Association yielded one of the more memorable and smooth-running Dove Awards ceremonies in recent memory. With 12 performances in 2-plus hours, the program resembled the Grammy awards as it celebrated musical diversity united by the Christian faith.

The show began with a medley of the nominees for New Artist of the Year, who each provided snippets of their best-known songs, ranging from urban and pop to country and contemporary gospel.

Later, Female Vocalist winner Natalie Grant was joined by country superstar Wynonna to perform the soulful "Bring It All Together" from Grant's 2005 album Awaken—the two attend the same church.

Trin-i-tee 5:7 brought style and energy to the Doves with a performance of "Listen" that was part New Orleans, part Andrews Sisters.

One of the night's strongest, most memorable performances was Trin-i-tee 5:7. With a production reminiscent of Destiny's Child or Outkast, the trio performed their hit "Listen" with chic costumes and backdrops in a style that was like The Andrews Sisters gone New Orleans.

The night's big winners Casting Crowns performed a poignant, string-heavy rendition of "East to West" that made the Song of the Year sound more somber and weighty, with orchestrations by conductor Bernie Herms (Natalie Grant's husband/producer, who also co-wrote the song).

The Clark Sisters sang "Blessed and Highly Favored" with relatively simple staging and accompaniment, but they didn't need much in the way of flash with such amazing vocal harmonies. The legendary gospel group was surprisingly snubbed at this year's awards after a string of accolades at the Stellars and the Grammys.

Six prominent vocalists and songwriters in Christian music united to introduce a new song that benefits the poor through Compassionart.

The next performance was introduced through a video by Martin Smith (Delirious), his wife, Anna, and fellow worship leader Darlene Zschech, who all explained the purpose behind their newly formed charity Compassionart. Several prominent songwriters recently gathered for a retreat to create songs for the church, with all royalties to support the poorest in the world. The first song unveiled from these sessions was "So Great," a simple worship tune performed at the Doves by Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Christy Nockels, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Chris Tomlin. With their legendary voices in harmony, it showed solidarity in the Christian community for an important cause.

Male vocalist nominee Marvin Sapp followed with a throat-shredding, powerhouse delivery of his gospel smash "Never Would Have Made It," a song which at 29 weeks currently holds the record for the longest running single on gospel radio. (If it continues to top the charts for a couple of more weeks, it will become the longest running No. 1 radio single of any format).

In typically inventive fashion, David Crowder Band delivered "Everything Glorious" with a creative concept. Stagehands in white quickly assembled a picturesque scene worthy of Disney around the band as they performed, complete with artificial turf, fake flowers, animal statues, and a cardboard sun.

Point of Grace followed by singing their award-winning hit "How You Live (Turn Up the Music)." Songwriter of the Year winner Cindy Morgan accompanied on piano.

After 11 years in the business, multi-Platinum rock band Switchfoot gave their first Doves performance with "This Is Home," a new song they wrote and recorded for the upcoming film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Amy Grant—along with American Idol finalists Mandisa, Chris Sligh, and Phil Stacey—joined Michael W. Smith at the piano to celebrate his 25 years in Christian music.

Perhaps the biggest treat of the evening was a segment celebrating the 25th anniversary of Michael W. Smith's career in Christian music. Playing at the piano, the veteran accompanied longtime friend and collaborator Amy Grant for a nostalgic duet of their classic "Thy Word." Then the legendary duo was joined at the piano by three American Idol stars, each delivering a short version of the song that most touched them—Phil Stacey delivered "Place in This World," Chris Sligh sang "Secret Ambition," and Mandisa led Smitty's gospel-pop arrangement of "Crown Him with Many Crowns." All five then joined together to lead the Opry audience in "Agnus Dei," reflecting Smith's heart for worship that has developed in more recent years.

Finishing off the evening was a country music tribute to the historical venue, beginning with Ricky Skaggs and the Whites singing "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less." That was followed by Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Hoppers, and Karen Peck and New River performing "I Wouldn't Take Nothing." The grand finale came with the Charlie Daniels Band and Mac Powell (Third Day) singing a rousing bluegrass version of "I'll Fly Away" with The Isaacs, complete with a fiery duel between Daniels' fiddle and the saxophone of gospel instrumentalist Angella Christie.

All of that, plus a meaningful video tribute to the late great Christian music pioneer Larry Norman—who passed away last February—yielded one of the most engaging Dove Award extravaganzas in recent memory.

"The parade of artists taking the Dove Awards' stage tonight as award recipients and performers once again displays the depth and breadth of Christian and gospel music," said Gospel Music Association president and CEO John W. Styll. "It was a joy to see so many different artists recognized for their creative contributions and on this same night to be uplifted by one brilliant and moving performance after another."

Nothing like a live broadcast to kick things in gear and showcase more artistic excellence. By helping to make the Doves more credible and exciting, Gospel Music Channel has made a compelling case to re-team with the GMA for next year's awards show.

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

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