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The Nominees for the 40th annual Gospel Music Dove Awards were announced on February 20, 2009 in Nashville. For those who are not into gospel music, this may not mean much, so I thought I would tell you a little about a few of the top contenders and where you may have heard of them before, featuring: Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bart Millard, TobyMac, Chris Sligh, Mandisa, Rubbin Studdard, Melinda Doolittle, Switchfoot, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Gaither Vocal Band, Kirk Franklin, and Take 6.

Michael W. Smith is no stranger to pop culture. In 1991 Michael W. Smith's label, Reunion Records, signed a distribution deal with Geffen Records, whose roster included such supergroups as Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith. Smith's projects Go West Young Man and Change Your World, quickly went gold. Michael W. Smith is nominated for Dove Awards for Praise & Worship Album and Inspirational Album of the Year for A New Hallelujah; Worship Song of the Year for "A New Hallelujah;" and Special Event Album of the Year for his part on the album Billy, The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Most people are familiar with Steven Curtis Chapman, the singer-songwriter whose young daughter was killed last year in a tragic accident at the Chapman family home. Steven Curtis Chapman is nominated for Dove Awards for Song of the Year for the song "Cinderella" and for the song "You Reign" with Bart Millard (Mercy Me); Artist of the Year; and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for "Cinderella."

Speaking of Bart Millard and Mercy Me, most people have heard their hit song "I Can Only Imagine" on the radio sometime during this past year. Bart Millard has been nominated for a Dove Award for Country Album for Hymned Again and for Song of the Year for "You Reign" with Steven Curtis Chapman.

For those who have heard of dc Talk, you will be interested to know that TobyMac has been nominated for a Dove Award for Artist of the Year as well as Long Form Video for "Alive and Transported."

For you American Idol fans, Chris Sligh is nominated for a Dove Award for Song of the Year for "Empty Me" as well as for New Artist of the Year, and Mandisa is up for the Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Award. Not to be undone, Ruben Studdard has a nomination for Urban Recorded Song and Melinda Doolittle was nominated in the Special Event Album category for her contribution to Billy: The Early Year Official Motion Picture Soundtrack.

If you are one of the millions who saw The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, then you may be interested to learn that gospel group Switchfoot is nominated for a Dove Award for "This Is Home" from Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

And veteran country group The Oak Ridge Boys is up for Dove Award honors for Country Recorded Song with "Did I Make A Difference?" as is the Gaither Vocal Band for "Jesus And John Wayne." The Gaither Vocal Band is also up for Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Album for Lovin' Life; Special Event Album with Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One and Christmas album for Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style.

If you like a little urban mix to your music, well-known gospel performer Kirk Franklin is nominated for a Dove Award for Urban Recorded Song for "Declaration (This Is It)" as well as Urban Album for The Fight of My Life. And popular a capella group Take 6 is up for Contemporary Gospel Song honors with "Shall We Gather At The River."

The Gospel Music Association Dove Awards will be broadcast nationwide live on the Gospel Music Channel from 8 - 10 p.m. (ET/PT) on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

SOURCES

40th Annual GMA Dove Award Nominations

Gospel Artists American Idol

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