MercyMe, Zach Williams Top Winners at 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards

MercyMe was the big winner at last night’s (Oct. 17) 48th annual Dove Awards, held at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville. The group was named Artist of the Year, and also earned Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Lifer. The group’s Bart Millard was also named Songwriter of the Year.

Zach Williams took home New Artist of the Year last night.

Other top winners included Casting Crowns (Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year), CeCe Winans (Gospel Artist of the Year), Bernie Herms (Producer of the Year), Chris Tomlin (Never Lose Sight-Worship Album of the Year), and NEEDTOBREATHE (HardLove-Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year).

The Gospel Music Association handed out trophies in 39 categories plus a few special industry recognitions as well during the evening, which was hosted by Kari Jobe and Tasha Cobb Leonard.

Reba’s album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope took home the Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year honor, while Casting Crowns received the Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year award. Gospel music legend Pat Boone was honored during the evening with the SoundExchange Fair Play Award. A full list of the winners can be found here.

Trinity Broadcasting Network will exclusively air the awards show on October 22 at 8 p.m. CST.

2017 GMA Dove Award Winners (Select categories):
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: MercyMe, Fair Trade Services
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Zach Williams, Provident Label Group
SONG OF THE YEAR: “What A Beautiful Name” (writers) Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood, (publisher) Hillsong Music Publishing
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Casting Crowns, Provident Label Group
GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: CeCe Winans, Pure Springs Gospel
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST): Bart Millard
BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope: Reba McEntire (producer) Reba McEntire, Jay DeMarcus, Doug Sisemore
RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Waiting Room: Trip Lee, (producers) Gabriel Azucena, James Foye III, John McNeil, Joel McNeil, Alex Median, Allen Swoope, Almondo Cresso, Chris Mackey, Joseph Prielozny, Tyshane Thompson
ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: HARDLOVE – NEEDTOBREATHE, (producers) NEEDTOBREATHE, Joe Levine, Dave Tozer, Ed Cash, Ido Zmishlany
POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Lifer – MercyMe (producers) Ben Glover, David Garcia
SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Resurrection – Joseph Habedank, (producer) Wayne Haun
CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL/URBAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Let Them Fall In Love – CeCe Winans, (producers) Alvin Love III, Tommy Sims
WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Never Lose Sight – Chris Tomlin, (producers) Ross Copperman, Jeremy Edwardson, Ed Cash
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Bernie Herms
INSPIRATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR: The Shack – (directors) Stuart Hazeldine (producers) Netter Productions, Summit Entertainment

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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