THE 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held April 21 at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House – just over a week before the theatre was closed due to damage from the massive Tennessee flood of early May.

Highlights from the awards ceremony included newcomer Francesca Battistelli, who walked away with two Doves. She was named Female Vocalist of the Year; and she won the Short Form Music Video category for ‘Free to be Me.’

For the second year in a row, Brandon Heath took home the Male Vocalist of the Year trophy. Jars of Clay won the Pop/Contemporary Album prize for The Long Fall Back to Earth, as well as for the album’s Recorded Music Packaging, designed in partnership with Tim Parker.

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Artist of the Year was the platinum-selling Casting Crowns. The Atlanta-based band continues to be one of the nation’s top-selling artists across all genres. Its latest album, Until the Whole World Hears, made its debut at no. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing the first-week sales of rapper 50 Cent.

In the Rock/Contemporary section, NeedToBreathe saw The Outsiders  honoured as Album of the Year, and ‘Lay ‘em Down’ hailed as Recorded Song of the Year.

The  New Artist of the Year honours went to Sidewalk Prophets.

– Kevin Pollard

June 2010