The nominees for the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards were announced February 1 in downtown Nashville by Kirk Franklin and Rebecca St. James, who will also host the Awards show. Topping the list was Chris Tomlin, who drew a whopping nine nominations, followed by label mate David Crowder with six nods. So in case you needed proof that the praise & worship genre was still going strong, now you have it.
Other notable multiple nominees include Relient K, Joy Williams and Natalie Grant who are each up for six of the Dove statuettes. And several of 2005's big winners cropped up on the list again with Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, the Crabb Family and Israel Houghton all pulling in five nods. BarlowGirl and Third Day will also compete in five categories come April.
So who was named in some of the bigger categories? The Male Vocalist of the Year race is between Tomlin, David Phelps, Jason Crabb, Camp and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. Meanwhile, Female Vocalist honors will go to either Amy Grant, Bethany Dillon, Williams, Natalie Grant or Nichole Nordeman. If it's Group of the Year that piques your interest, the field is filled with talent. BarlowGirl, Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Kutless and MercyMe are all competing. The Artist of the Year title is between Casting Crowns, Tomlin, Camp, Natalie Grant and Switchfoot.
Then there's the big question: Will Steven Curtis Chapman, who has already amassed a collection of 49 Dove Awards (more than any other artist in gospel music history), pass the 50-trophy mark this year? He's nominated in three categories, but you'll just have to wait and see.
Franklin and St. James are not only hosts, they're also nominees. Look for them at the podium when the GMA Music Awards are handed out on April 5 at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. The 37th Annual GMA Music Awards will be produced by Steve Gilreath for SGTV, Inc., with the show scheduled to be televised in national syndication from April 15 to May 21, 2006. Stay tuned for details on exact channels and times.
For a complete list of nominees, click here.
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