The Dove Awards (www.DoveAwards.com), Christian and gospel music’s biggest night of the year will take place live on Thursday, April 23, 2009 in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House and will be broadcast live nationwide on the awards’ exclusive television home, the Gospel Music Channel television network from 8 – 10 p.m. (ET).

The performers confirmed for the show are also nominees for Dove Awards:

Francesca Battistelli
Steven Curtis Chapman
Natalie Grant with special guest Group 1 Crew
Brandon Heath
Mary Mary
MercyMe
Jonathan Nelson
Remedy Drive
Chris Sligh
Tenth Avenue North
Third Day
Chris Tomlin
Dottie Rambo Tribute with surprise guests

Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. Tickets for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards are currently available at TicketMaster.com.

While the awards are the purpose of the show, music performances will definitely share center stage at the Dove Awards, showcasing some of gospel music’s hottest and most diverse artists. In addition to the exclusive live broadcast, Gospel Music Channel will present back-to-back encore broadcasts that night and additional re-airings following. Gospel Music Channel’s rapid growth has made it the fastest growing network in television for the past two years and GMC is now available in more than 43 million homes in all major markets on the major cable systems as well as on DIRECTV on Channel 338. The American Bible Society (www.AmericanBible.org) is the official charity for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Dove Awards will be handed out in 43 categories. For the first time, fans have become stakeholders in the Dove Awards with an opportunity to vote for the winner of two of the night’s biggest awards – Artist of the Year along with New Artist of the Year. Fan voting is open at the Gospel Music Channel website (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) and at www.doveawards.com. The cumulative fan vote, which will continue through the live Dove Awards broadcast, will account for one-third of the total vote in those two categories.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of more than 3,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.

 

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