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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — TobyMac won Artist of the Year, Casting Crowns took home Group of the Year honors and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns won four individual honors during the 39th annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards April 23 in Nashville.
Bringing home her first ever Dove was gospel veteran Lillie Knauls, affectionately known as “Miss Lillie,” who took home a prize for “Traditional Gospel Album of the Year” with her vocal treat “Past and Present,” which she co-produced with Wayne Haun.
Knauls, famous for her alabaster smile and penchant for hats, has performed with the Edwin Hawkins Singers and the Gaither Homecoming Friends. A self-described “musicianary,” Knauls is also a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
The annual awards show honoring Christian music’s top artists across a spectrum of styles was broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel and held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
It was a big night for TobyMac, who took home three Doves (Artist of the Year; Rock/Contemporary Album, “Portable Sounds;” Short Form Music Video, “Boomin”) as well as for Casting Crowns, which also won in three categories (Group of the Year; Pop/Contemporary Song, “East to West;” Pop/Contemporary Album, “The Altar and the Door”). It was the first time since 1996 that TobyMac, then as a member of dcTalk, won Artist of the Year.
The awards follow a year of success for both TobyMac and Casting Crowns, both of which in 2007 saw their albums debut high on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart: TobyMac’s “Portable Sounds” at No. 10 and Casting Crowns’ “The Altar and the Door” at No. 2.
Hall, Casting Crowns’ lead singer and songwriter, won For Song Of The Year (with Bernie Herms, “East to West”), Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song (“East to West”), Inspirational Recorded Song (“By His Wounds”) and Special Event Album (the multi-artist “Glory Revealed”).
It was the fourth consecutive Group of the Year award for Casting Crowns. In fact, two other major categories saw repeat winners. Chris Tomlin won Male Vocalist of the Year and Natalie Grant Female Vocalist of the Year, each for the third straight year.
In other categories, Brandon Heath won New Artist of the Year, Cindy Morgan Songwriter of the Year—15 years after being named New Artist of the Year—and Ian Eskelin, Producer of the Year.
The show, also broadcast on XM satellite radio, featured performances by several artists, including Casting Crowns, The Clark Sisters, David Crowder Band, Marvin Sapp and Point Of Grace.
The Dove Awards will be rebroadcast on the Gospel Music Channel multiple times.
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