The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards were handed out Tuesday, October 16 in the Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The big winner was first-time nominee, newcomer Tauren Wells, who took home four awards, including Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year and New Artist of The Year. Superstar Zach Williams took home Artist of the Year. The night was filled with many remarkable performances, including first time collaborations including Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly, Jason Crabb and Rascal Flatts, as well as Natalie Grant and Koryn Hawthorne.
Tauren Wells dominated the 49th annual Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards winning four of his eight nominations. Wells picked up four awards for Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Rap / Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year and Pop / Contemporary Album of the Year. Wells, who was the former lead singer for Christian rock group Royal Tailor, performed his number-one single “Known” from his solo debut album, “Hills and Valleys,” and performed “War Cry” with show winners Social Club Misfits.
GRAMMY®-winning recording artists and Gospel Music Hall of Fame members the Gaither Vocal Band were awarded Southern Gospel Artist of the Year honors. Label-mate and rising country gospel singer Bradley Walker took home his first GMA DOVE Award for best Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year (Gaither Music Group) for Blessed, Hymns and Songs of Faith, produced by Ben Isaacs (The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Fortune).
Bethel Music was honored with four wins at the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards with Cory Asbury and Bright Ones taking top honors. Asbury’s smash single “Reckless Love” garnered wins for Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year while the album of the same name captured the Worship Album of the Year title.
Matthew West took home his first GMA Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year (Artist)
RCA Inspiration garners three wins at the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards, as chart-topping artists Travis Greene, 49th GMA Dove Awards winners revealed; Tauren Wells wins bigwere honored for their hit songs this past year. Travis Greene won his first Dove Award in the category of Urban Worship Recorded Song of the Year for his chart-topper “You Waited.” Koryn Hawthorne won her first Dove Award in the category of Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year for her hit track “Won’t He Do It” (ft. Roshon Fegan). Marvin Sapp took home his second Dove Award, winning in the category of Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for his hit single “Close.”
Here’s a partial list of winners in the top categories:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Zach Williams
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tauren Wells
SONG OF THE YEAR: “Reckless Love” – writers Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson, (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Richmond Park Publishing, Watershed Music Publishing
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST): Matthew West
SOUTHERN GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Gaither Vocal Band
GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tasha Cobbs Leonard
INSPIRATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE (directors) The Erwin Brothers, (producers) Kevin Downes and Cindy Bond
See the full list of winners here.
The 49th annual DOVE Awards will broadcast on TBN on Sunday, October 21st, 2018 at 9/8C.
