Third Day’s latest single, “Children of God,” artfully relays the concept that each person on Earth is adopted into the family of God. Using adoption as a metaphor for God’s love, the Atlanta-based, award winning rock band – celebrated with GRAMMY, AMA and GMA Dove Awards — will bring the song to life at with special guests Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Hall. All three artists in this heartwarming segment have adopted children of their own.

Steven Curtis Chapman has been awarded 56 GMA Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date, five GRAMMY awards and an American Music Award. Chapman has sold more than ten million records including two RIAA certified platinum albums and eight RIAA certified gold albums.

Casting Crowns, Christian music’s GRAMMY, AMA and Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year, is headed by frontman/principal songwriter Mark Hall. The platinum-selling band’s recent fourth album, Until The Whole World Hears, sold 167,000 copies first-week setting a sales record as the highest debuting Christian Music artist in SoundScan history (week ending 11/22/09). The album certified RIAA Gold in four weeks, with more than 600,000 sold to date. All of Casting Crowns' projects are RIAA certified, with a monster tally of two RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, three RIAA Gold Albums and a Gold DVD, holding position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

This year’s list of presenters includes Super Bowl and Green Bay Packer standout Greg Jennings, actresses Kim Fields and Yvette Nicole Brown, comedienne Chonda Pierce, actor Kevin Sorbo, singers Mandisa and Ruben Studdard, Leigh Anne Tuohy and Collins Tuohy. The pre-show event will be hosted by artist Jason Crabb, who is a multi-Dove Award nominee. Brian Courtney Wilson and Guy Penrod will perform at the pre-show.

Previously announced performers and appearances during the televised show include Audrey Assad, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Deitrick Haddon, Kirk Franklin, LeCrae, Mary Mary, MIKESCHAIR, Britt Nicole, Chonda Pierce, Point of Grace, Kerrie Roberts, Kenny Rogers, Smokie Norful, Marvin Sapp, Chris Tomlin, Laura Story, Tenth Avenue North.

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by gmc, in association with Encore Entertainment. Michael Johnson is director. Tommy Sims is musical director. Rex Humbard is executive producer for gmc. Ed Leonard and Mitchell Solarek are executive producers for GMA.

Many events will be taking place throughout the week in Atlanta surrounding the awards. The nominee luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 19. Various record labels will host special events and the annual Holy Hip-Hop Awards will be given out.

For more information on the awards, please visit www.wortmanworks.com/clients/doveawards for more detailed information on the show and all the participants or visit www.doveawards.com.. Tickets to the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards are now on sale at the Fox Theatre box office in Atlanta or at www.ticketmaster.com.

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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, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community consists of 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 Dove Week and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.

About GMC:
GMC (www.watchgmctv.com) is America’s favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. In 2010, The Parents Television Council™ awarded its Entertainment Seal of Approval™ to GMC for being “an authentic family-friendly cable network.” GMC was the only television network to receive the highly coveted honor last year.

GMC can be seen in nearly 48 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.