34TH ANNUAL DOVE AWARDS HANDED OUT IN NASHVILLE WITH NICHOLE NORDEMAN AND MICHAEL W. SMITH LEADING THE WAY
19 Performance Highlight 2-Hour Show Which Will Air on PAX TV on April 19
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 10, 2003 - Dove Awards were handed out tonight in Nashville for the 34th Annual Dove Awards with singer songwriters Nichole Nordeman and Michael W. Smith taking top honors. The Dove Awards, the Gospel Music Association's (GMA) annual awards celebration, was hosted by perennial Dove favorites Steven Curtis Chapman and CeCe Winans, and took place at The Gaylord Entertainment Center. The show will air at 9 p.m. ET/PT on April 19 on PAX TV with subsequent broadcasts on TBN (www.doveawards.com).
The Doves were also carried live on more than 60 radio stations nationwide and via a live Webcast. Nineteen Performances included Winans, Nordeman, Blind Boys of Alabama, Sixpence None the Richer, Amy Grant with Vince Gill, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, The Crabb Family, Joy Williams, Mark Schultz, Audio Adrenaline, Bebo Norman, and an all-artist performance of “Friends,” marking Smith’s 20th anniversary in music. The Dove Awards also featured a tribute to the Armed Forces.
"Michael and Nichole have each created music that has obviously connected with people in a powerful way and these awards are well-deserved," said GMA President John W. Styll. "But I want to congratulate everyone who received a Dove Award tonight. The recognition of achievement from their peers is a real honor. I also want to thank all of our nominees and performers for their positive contribution to our culture."
Nordeman earned a total of seven Dove Awards including Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Her record-breaking #1 radio hit “Holy” from Woven & Spun also received Song of the Year honors. That song, which she both wrote (with Mark Hammond) and performed, received recognition in the Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song category. Her seventh Dove came for her performance on the Special Event Album of the Year, City on A Hill - Sing Alleluia.
Smith’s Dove collection of six awards includes the Artist of the Year for the second straight year as well as his first Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Worship Again was honored for Praise & Worship Album of the Year, a project on which he performed as well as produced. Smith’s Worship video was awarded a Dove for Long Form Music Video of the Year. Smith earned Doves for performing and producing that video.
In other categories, Third Day earned a third consecutive Group of the Year Dove Award, along with a Dove for Best Rock Recorded Song, “40 Days” and Special Event Album. Paul Colman Trio was named New Artist of the Year and Brown Bannister took Producer of the Year honors. There were several multiple winners including Grant, Gill, The Crabb Family, The Lewis Family, Out of Eden, Souljahz and Phil Keaggy.
In addition to the Dove Awards, three gospel greats were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ceremonies. Amy Grant, Pat Boone and the Blind Boys of Alabama received recognition for their contributions to the growth of contemporary Christian and gospel music.
Feed the Children (www.feedthechildren.org), the third largest U.S. charity involved in global aid, will be the official charity for the awards show for the third straight year.
About The Dove Awards and GMA:
The Dove Awards recognizes achievement in all genres of contemporary Christian and Gospel music and is the premiere television awards show for the contemporary Christian and gospel music industry. The 34th Annual Dove Awards show will be produced by NorthStar Studios and will be held on April 10th at The Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. A complete list of nominees for the 34th Annual Dove Awards can be found on the Web at www.doveawards.com.
Founded in 1964, the 4,500 member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to educating the public and the music industry concerning the mission and role of gospel music in today's world. For more information, go to www.gospelmusic.org.
About PAX TV:
Paxson Communications Corporation owns and operates the nation’s largest broadcast television distribution system and PAX TV, family television. PAX TV reaches 88 percent of U.S. television households via nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. PAX TV’s original series include “Sue Thomas: G.B.Eye,” starring Deanne Bray, “Doc,” starring recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus and “Just Cause” starring Richard Thomas and Lisa Lackey. Other original PAX series include “It’s A Miracle” and “Candid Camera.” For more information, visit PAX TV’s website at www.pax.tv.
About TBN:
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is the world’s largest producer and distributor of Christian television programming. TBN broadcasts over 416 stations along with 6,100 cable outlets in the United States and over 3,774 foreign stations. TBN is covering the world via 27 satellites. TBN has produced the nation’s longest running Christian music video program – “Real Videos”- which has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Gospel Music Association for the past 18 years. On November 1, 2002, TBN launched Jesus Christ TV (JCTV) a 24-hour Christian youth channel reaching the 13 to 30 age group. For more information, visit TBN’s website at www.tbn.org.
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