GOSPEL MUSIC WEEK

Third Day Big Winners at the Doves
by CA Staff for Christian Activities
4/27/2001

Nashville, TN - The biggest night in Christian Music is now over for 2001, so for many of us, life resumes its normal rhythms again. For some, life will never be quite the same as they went home with the bronze bird in hand and with the increased awareness of an entire industry.

Case in point: the members of Atlanta's internationally known rock band, Third Day, were the big winners of the evening, capturing wins in five categories to lead the list of winners for the prestigious award. A favorite with rock fans, Third Day's multiple wins will help catapult their career beyond the rock confines and into the mainstream.

Third Day's first-ever awards for Group of the Year and Artist of the Year at the 32nd Annual Dove Awards, which were held last night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, also marks the first time in 20 years that an artist won both categories in the same year.

With the success of its critically acclaimed, GRAMMY nominated, and first RIAA Certified Gold recording, Offerings - A Worship Album, Third Day also received its first Dove Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year. Third Day further received awards for Rock Recorded Song for "Sky Falls Down," from the album Time, and Special Event Album for its participation on City On A Hill: Songs of Worship And Praise. Each band member, Mac Powell, Mark Lee, Tai Anderson, Brad Avery and David Carr, won individual Dove awards for writing on Rock Recorded Song and for production credits on Praise & Worship Album. In all, Third Day went home with an amazing 15 Dove Award statuettes.

"It's remarkable and humbling to now receive so much attention for a project that we made to bring glory to God," said band member Mac Powell.

Tai Anderson added, "And the awards didn't feel like they were just for Offerings, but felt more like a vote for Third Day as a band. This means a lot to us."

"Being from Atlanta, we sometimes feel distanced from the Nashville music base," continued Third Day member Mark Lee. "To be received so well tonight by the industry is overwhelming."

After leading the nominees with nine, including nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year (Mac Powell) and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "God of Wonders," from City On A Hill, the Dove wins reflect what has already been a phenomenal year for Third Day. This week, the band received its first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold certification for Offerings - A Worship Album for sales in excess of 500,000 units. Even before being certified as a Gold recording, Offerings - A Worship Album had become a phenomenon for fans and retailers alike. The project holds the year 2000 title as the longest running No. 1 project from any artist or group as reported by SoundScan on the top Christian Albums chart and has held the No. 1 position on the Rock retail sales chart for the last seven consecutive weeks. Billboard also named Third Day as one of the top 10 contemporary Christian recording artists in its 2000 year-end issue.

Christian Activities congratulates all the Dove Award winners. Thank you for all you do to lift our spirits, challenge our thinking, turn our eyes to Christ, and take the gospel message far and wide.

For the complete list of winners, see Dove Winners List.

Related articles:
Photos of Mac Powell at Worship City Praise

Third Day Simultaneously Lands Four Recordings on Rock Sales Chart

Third Day Strikes Gold!

Third Day Hits No. 1 in Australia Following Tour

Third Day Packs Out Atlanta