NASHVILLE (BP) — Gospel music veterans MercyMe were named Artist of the Year at the 48th annual Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards Oct. 17 in Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville.
The band’s frontman, Bart Millard, who wrote the monster hit “I Can Only Imagine” and the more recent chart-topper “Even If,” took home the award for Artist Songwriter of the Year. According to the Tennessean, Millard told the crowd, “We’ve been a band for 23 years … yay for old people!”
Gospel music veterans MercyMe accepted the award for Artist of the Year at the 48th annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville Oct. 16. Photo from FacebookCasting Crowns were named Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year, while relative newcomer Zach Williams received the award for New Artist of the Year. The Gaither Vocal Band and CeCe Winans took home honors for Southern Gospel Artist of the Year and Gospel Artist of the Year, respectively. Winans also won the Dove for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year for “Let Them Fall in Love,” while the Gaither Vocal Band took Southern Gospel Song of the Year for “Better Together.”
Hillsong Worship’s “What a Beautiful Name” received the award for Song of the Year as well as Worship Song of the Year. Other Song of the Year honorees included “Hard Love” (Rock/Contemporary); “Eye of the Storm” and “Chain Breaker” (tie — Pop/Contemporary); “When Grandpa Sang Amazing Grace” (Bluegrass/Country/Roots); “My World Needs You” (Contemporary Gospel/Urban) and “Change Me” (Traditional Gospel).
Country music superstar Reba McEntire received her first ever Dove Award for her album “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope,” which took the award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year. Other album of the year winners included NEEDTOBREATHE (Rock/Contemporary), MercyMe (Pop/Contemporary), Joseph Habedank (Southern Gospel), CeCe Winans (Contemporary Gospel/Urban) and Donnie McClurkin (Traditional Gospel).
McEntire, who was visibly moved by the honor, complimented her friends and fellow nominees the Isaacs before saying, “It’s not mine … it’s God’s. I give Him all the glory. And I’ll think of Him every time I look at it…. I’m just a conduit. I’m just a water hose. He lets me sing words that if it touches my heart, and I sing it and it touches your heart, I’ve done my job.”
The show will be broadcast exclusively by Trinity Broadcasting Network Oct. 22 at 8 p.m.
For a complete list of winners, go to doveawards.com.
See also:
Dove Awards 2017: MercyMe, Reba McEntire, CeCe Winans Top Honors (The Tennessean)
