TODAY'S NEWS: 34th Annual Dove Awards Winners Announced

Much like the recent GRAMMY Awards belonged to one woman (Norah Jones), so did last night's 34th Annual Dove Awards where introspective singer/songwriter and expectant mother Nichole Nordeman walked away with seven Dove Awards ("Female Vocalist of the Year", "Songwriter of the Year", etc.). 

Other standouts included Michael W. Smith who finally won a Dove Award for "Male Vocalist" as he claimed his 40th statuette in his 20 years of being in Christian music.  "Here's just another thing I can't take with me, and I have to lay at the foot of the cross," said the winner backstage as he commented on his victory. 

Newcomer sibling trio Souljahz walked away with two Dove Awards - one for "Rap/Hip Hop Dance Recorded Song" for "All Around the World" and another in a tie for "Urban Album of the Year" for "Fault Is History" (Out of Eden's "This Is Your Life" also won).

Gospel greats Amy Grant, Pat Boone, and The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and a special all-artist performance of Michael W. Smith's "Friends" featured Smith on keys with guest vocals by Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Anointed, Tait, Point of Grace, CeCe Winans, Avalon and Mac Powell.

Following is a complete list of winners from this year's 34th Annual Dove Awards...

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Song of the Year
"Holy"
Nichole Nordeman, Mark Hammond; Ariose Music, Mark Hammond Music (ASCAP)

Songwriter of the Year
Nichole Nordeman

Male Vocalist of the Year
Michael W. Smith

Female Vocalist of the Year
Nichole Nordeman

Group of the Year
Third Day

Artist of the Year
Michael W. Smith

New Artist of the Year
Paul Colman Trio

Producer of the Year
Brown Bannister

Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Recorded Song
"All Around the World"
"Fault Is History"; Souljahz; Joshua Washington, Je'kob Washington, Rachael Washington, Chris Rodriguez; Warner Brothers

Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song
"Breathe Your Name"
"Divine Discontent"; Sixpence None the Richer; Matt Slocum; Reprise

Hard Music Recorded Song
"Boom"; "Satellite"; P.O.D.' P.O.D.; Atlantic "Electric"; Out of my Mind; GS Megaphone; Ben Shreve; Spindust

Rock Recorded Song
"40 Days"
Third Day
"Come Together"; Third Day; Mac Powell, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee, Tai Anderson; Essential

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song
"Holy"
"Woven & Spun"; Nichole Nordeman; Nichole Nordeman, Mark Hammond; Sparrow

Inspirational Recorded Song
"Here I Am to Worship"
Tim Hughes; Tim Hughes; Worship Together

Southern Gospel Recorded Song
"Don't You Wanna Go?"
"A Crabb Collection"; The Crabb Family; Gerald Crabb; Family

Bluegrass Recorded Song
"Walkin' and Talkin'"
"50th Anniversary"; The Lewis Family; Wayne Haun; Joel Lindsey; Thoroughbred

Country Recorded Song
"The River's Gonna Keep on Rolling"
"Legacy...Hymns & Faith"; Amy Grant; Vince Gill; Word

Urban Recorded Song
"Meditate"
"This Is Your Life"; Out of Eden; Lisa Kimmey, Michael Clemons, Nate Clemons, Eric Roberson; Gotee

Traditional Gospel Recorded Song
"Holding On"
"Amazing Love"; Mississippi Mass Choir; Dorothy Love-Coates; Malaco

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song
"In the Morning"
"Incredible"; Mary Mary; Waryn Campbell, Tina Akins-Campbell, Erica Atkins-Campbell, J. Campbell; Integrity

Rap/Hip Hop Dance Album
"The Art of Translation"
GRITS; Teron Carter, Stacey Jones, Ric Robbins, Otto Price, Kenne Bell; Gotee

Modern Rock/Alternative Album
"The Eleventh Hour"
Jars of Clay; Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark; Essential

Hard Music Album
"Fireproof"
Pillar; Travis Wyrick; Flicker USA Parade of Chaos; ZAO; Barry Poynter; Solid State

Rock Album
"Lift"
Audio Adrenaline; Mark Stuart, Will McGinniss, Ben Cissell, Tyler Burkum, Forefront

Pop/Contemporary Album
"Woven & Spun"
Nichole Nordeman; Charlie Peacock, Mark Hammond; Sparrow

Inspirational Album
"Legacy...Hymns & Faith"
Amy Grant; Brown Bannister, Vince Gill; Word

Southern Gospel Album
"A Crabb Collection"
The Crabb Family; Mike Bowling; Family Music Group

Bluegrass Album
"50th Anniversary Celebration"
Lewis Family; Wayne Haun, Buddy Spicher; Thoroughbred

Country Album
"Rise and Shine"
Randy Travis; Keyle Lehning; Word

Urban Album
"Fault Is History"
Souljahz; Tonex, Chris Rodriguez, Warner Brothers

"This Is Your Life"
Out of Eden
Lisa; Kimmey, Donnie Scantz, Jaimie Portee, Nate Clemmons; Gotee

Traditional Gospel Album
"Higher Ground"
Blind Boys of Alabama; John Chelew; Real World/EMI Gospel

Contemporary Gospel Album
"The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin"
Kirk Franklin; Sanchez Harley, Kirk Franklin; Gospocentric

Instrumental Album
"Hymnsongs"
Phil Keaggy; Phil Keaggy, Ric Kardinski; Word Records

Praise & Worship Album
"Worship Again"
Michael W. Smith, Michael W. Smith; Reunion

Children's Music Album
"Jonah, A Veggie Tales Movie Original Soundtrack"
Kurt Heinecke, Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, David Mullen, Steve Taylor, Monroe Jones; Big Idea

Spanish Language Album
"Navidad"
Jaci Velasquez; Chris Harris, Alejandro Jean; Word

Special Event Album
"City on a Hill - Sing Alleluia"
Caedmon's Call, FFH, Jars of Clay, Jennifer Knapp, Phil Keaggy, Nichole Nordeman, Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortega, The Choir, Third Day; Steve Hindalong, Macr Byrd; Essential

Musical
"The Christmas Shoes"
Donna VanLiere, Eddie Carswell, J. Daniel Smith; Brentwood

Youth/Children's Musical
"Meet Me at the Manger"
Celeste Clydesdale; Clydesdale & Clydesdale

Choral Collection
"More Songs for Praise & Worship 2"
Ken Barker, Keith Christopher; Word

Recorded Music Packaging
"Welcome to the Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus"
The Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus; Sam Noerr; Matthew Lloyd; Karen Mason-Blair; Vertical

Short Form Music Video
"Irene"
tobyMac; Alex Moon; Rick Kim; Forefront

Long Form Music Video
"Worship"
Michael W. Smith; Michael W. Smith; Michael Sacci, Ken Conrad; Carl Diebold; Reunion