The Gospel Music Association released this year’s nominees for the 55th Annual Dove Awards on July 24.
Bill Gaither, singer and songwriter with the Gaither Vocal Band, was part of a small group that first presented the concept for the Dove Awards at a GMA board meeting in 1968. The group was rounded out with Les Beasley, who was lead singer for Florida Boys; Bob McConnell, who was art director and designer for Benson Records from the 1960s to the 1980s; and Bob Benson, whose family started a publishing company for southern gospel artists.
“The idea was to create an award with a descending dove to represent the dove from when Jesus was baptized,” McConnell said.
The same statue that was sketched by McConnell is the same award used today.
Process
Like many media-related awards programs such as the Oscars and the Emmys, the awards are an involved process that starts as a submission, then goes to a screening and is finalized through a first and second ballot, voted on by members of GMA. This schedule begins in February of each year.
After meeting the qualifications for an entry to be screened, it goes to the Dove screening committee, made up of more than 50 industry leaders. After passing the screening stage, GMA professional members vote, which creates the list of official nominees.
In August of each year the nominees are voted on again by GMA professional members to make up the list of winners, which aren’t announced until the live show held in late September or early October of each year.
This year’s GMA Dove Awards live show will be held at the Allen Arena in Nashville on Oct. 1 and will be hosted by Tauren Wells, a contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and pastor.
Nominees for this year can be found here.
Capitol Christian Music Group 2024 GMA Dove Award nominees:
Song of the Year:
“All Things”– Writer: Kirk Franklin
“Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” – Writers: Cody Carnes, Austin Davis, Chandler Moore
“Holy Forever” – Writers: Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
“I Believe It (The Life of Jesus)” – Writers: Daniel Carson, Jess Cates, David Leonard, Jon Reddick, Jonathan Smith
“More Than Able” – Writers: Ben Fielding, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick, Naomi Raine
“Praise” – Writers: Pat Barrett, Cody Carnes, Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown
“Praise You Anywhere”- Writers: Ben Fielding, Hank Bentley , Jacob Sooter, Brandon Lake
“Thank God I Do” – Writers: Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram, P!nk, Jeffrey Bhasker, Nate Ruess
“This Is Our God” – Writers: Pat Barrett, Phil Wickham, Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake
“Trust in God” – Writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong
Songwriter of the Year – Artist:
Cody Carnes
Brandon Lake
Chandler Moore
Chris Brown
Naomi Raine
Phil Wickham
Songwriter of the Year – Non-Artist:
Ben Fielding
Hank Bentley
Brian Johnson
Jason Ingram
Jeff Pardo
Artist of the Year:
Anne Wilson
Brandon Lake
CeCe Winans
for KING + COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Producer of the Year:
David Leonard
Hank Bentley
Jeff Pardo
Jonathan Jay
Jonathan Smith
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year:
“COUNT ‘EM” Brandon Lake (writer: Hank Bentley)
“Faith!?” Chris Renzema (writer: Hank Bentley)
“Grave Robber” Crowder (writers: Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka)
“Whatever It Takes” Stephen Stanley (writer: Stephen Stanley, Paul Duncan)
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year:
“Strong” Anne Wilson (writers: Anne Wilson, Jeff Pardo)
“Any More” CAIN (writer: Jeff Pardo)
“Counting My Blessings” Seph Schlueter (writers: Jonathan Gamble, Jordan Sapp)
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year:
“Center Of My Joy” Cece Winans, Gaither (writers: Bill Gaither, Gloria Gaither)
“In Christ Alone (Live From Sydney)” CityAlight, Keith & Kristyn Getty (writer: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend)
“My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)” Natalie Grant (ft. CeCe Winans) (writer: Andrae Crouch)
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year:
“Until We Fly Away” Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (writer: Joel Lindsey)
“Make The Morning Worth The Midnight” Gaither Vocal Band (writer: Bill Gaither)
“Here Come Jesus” Jeff & Sheri Easter (ft. Mo Pitney)
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year:
“Praying Woman” Anne Wilson (ft. Lainey Wilson) (writers Anne Wilson, Jeff Pardo)
“If I Got Jesus” Ben Fuller (writer: Jeff Pardo)
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year:
“All Things” Kirk Franklin (writer: Kirk Franklin)
“God Problems” Maverick City Music (ft. Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore) (writer: Chris Davenport)
“Only One Night Tho (Radio Edit) [Live]” Tye Tribbett
Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year:
“When I Think (Live)” Ricky Dillard
“Burdens Down (Live)” Tasha Cobbs Leonard (writer: Tasha Cobbs Leonard)
Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year:
“Fill The Room” Michael Bethany (writers: Michael Bethany, Zac Rowe)
“Lead Us Again” DOE (writer: Tommy Iceland)
Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year:
“Tantas Historias” Christine D’Clario (writers: Christine D’Clario, Jordan Sapp, Jonathan Gamble)
Spanish Language Worship Song of the Year:
“Holy Forever (Espanol)” Chris Tomlin, Miel San Marcos (writer: Chris Tomlin)
“Alaba” Elevation Worship (writers: Pat Barrett, Cody Carnes)
“Tu Amor No Tiene Fin (Correr A Tus Brazos)” Generacion 12, Gateway Worship Espanol (writer: Christine D’Clario)
Worship Recorded Song of the Year:
“Praise You Anywhere” Brandon Lake (writers: Ben Fielding, Hank Bentley)
“Firm Foundation (He Won’t) [Live]” Cody Carnes (writers: Cody Carnes, Austin Davis)
“Praise” Elevation Worship (writers: Pat Barrett, Cody Carnes)
“I Believe” Phil Wickham (writer: Chris Davenport)
Children’s Recorded Song of the Year:
“Jesus Calms the Storm (Hymn for Anxious Little Hearts)” The Getty Girls, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Sandra McCracken (ft. Joni Eareckson Tada) (writer: Matt Boswell, Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa)
“Holy Forever” Yancy (writer: Chris Tomlin)
Christmas Recorded Song of the Year:
“Christmas Hits Different” TobyMac, Tasha Layton (writer: TobyMac)
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year:
EVERYONE LOVES A COMEBACK STORY: PLATINUM EDITION, Social Club Misfits
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year:
Manna, Chris Renzema
Divided, Frame of Mind, Stephen Stanley
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year:
COAT OF MANY COLORS, Brandon Lake
Jesus Music, CAIN
Joy In The Morning (Horizon Edition), Tauren Wells
Inspirational Album of the Year:
Our God Will Go Before Us – The Hymns of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, Vol 3 Matt Boswell, Matt Papa
Amazing Grace: Hymns and Gospel Classics (Live), Wintley Phipps
Southern Gospel Album of the Year:
Shine (Darker The Night, Brighter The Light), Gaither Vocal Band
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year:
REBEL, Anne Wilson
Gaither Tribute: Award Winning Artists Honor The Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither, Gaither
Country Chapel, Travis Tritt
Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year:
Father’s Day, Kirk Franklin
Note To Self, DOE
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year:
Choirmaster II (Live), Ricky Dillard
Gospel Worship Album of the Year:
Overflow, Michael Bethany
Worship Album of the Year:
EIGHT, Brooke Ligertwood
Firm Foundation (Live), Cody Carnes
Christmas/Special Event Album:
The Birth Of A King (Live), Tommee Profitt
Packaging:
Shelter, Pat Barrett
Short Form Video (Concept):
“Faithfully” TobyMac
Long Form Video:
Firm Foundation (Live) Cody Carnes
Celebrare Gateway Worship Español
Feature Film of the Year:
Unsung Hero
Sound of Freedom
Ordinary Angels
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