Matthew West and Maverick City Music are among the top nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards, racking up seven nods each. Songwriter and producer Jeff Pardo received nine nominations for this year’s awards.

The nominees were announced in an artist-hosted livestream event featuring Jimmie Allen, Erica Campbell, Evan Craft, Sonya Isaacs, Brandon Lake, Trip Lee, Chris Tomlin, and Tye Tribbett.

Other nominees with multiple nods include Anne Wilson, Ben Glover, For King & Country, Jeff Sojka, Jonathan Smith and Phil Wickham, who received six nominations each. Brandon Lake, CeCe Winans, Chandler Moore, Chris Brown, Jonathan Jay, and Steven Furtick earned five nods.

“Congratulations to this year’s impressive list of Dove Awards nominees,” says GMA President, Jackie Patillo. “For the past few years, we’ve chosen a theme for each show that represents our community and why we celebrate. Today we announced this year’s theme, Sound of Heaven. Although our musical styles may be different, our mission is the same. Together we lift one voice–the sound of heaven.”

Voting for the final winners will run Aug. 18-25. The GMA Dove Awards will take place live in Nashville on Oct. 18 with this year’s broadcast airing exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. CT.

Nominees for the 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards:
Song of the Year
“Be Alright” (Writers) Sean Cook, Evan Craft, Willy Gonzalez
“Believe For It” (Writers) Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, CeCe Winans, Mitch Wong
“Come What May” (Writers) Darren Mulligan, Jeff Pardo
“Good God Almighty” (Writers) David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka
“Hold On To Me” (Writers) Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan, Paul Mabury
“House Of The Lord” (Writers) Jonathan Smith, Phil Wickham
“Jireh” (Writers) Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine
“Look What You’ve Done” (Writers) Tasha Layton, AJ Pruis, Keith Everette Smith, Matthew West
“My Jesus” (Writers) Jeff Pardo, Matthew West, Anne Wilson
“Promises” (Writers) Keila Alvarado, Joe L. Barnes, Dante Bowe, Phillip Carrington Gaines, Lemuel Marin, Aaron Moses
“Rattle!” (Writers) Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake

Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans
FOR KING + COUNTRY
Maverick City Music
We The Kingdom
Zach Wiliams

New Artist of the Year – Sponsored by Cantinas Arts
Anne Wilson
Blessing Offor
DOE
Jordan St. Cyr
Ryan Ellis

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
No Church In A While – Lecrae, 1K Phew
The End. – Trip Lee
TWO UP TWO DOWN – Aaron Cole
Unstoppable (United We Can) – Angie Rose
UPPERHAND – indie tribe

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“House of the Lord” – Phil Wickham
“In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)” – Katy Nichole
“My Jesus” – Anne Wilson
“RELATE” – FOR KING + COUNTRY
“Scars In Heaven” – Casting Crowns

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Healer – Casting Crowns
Milk & Honey – Crowder
My Jesus – Anne Wilson
Rise Up – CAIN
What Are We Waiting For? – FOR KING + COUNTRY

Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
“All Is Well” – Carrie Underwood
“God Is Real” – The Sound
“Grace And Goodness” – Sunday Drive
“In The Sweet By And By” – Dolly Parton, ft. Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Bradley Walker
“Mamas” – Anne Wilson, ft. Hillary Scott

Southern Gospel Album of the Year
2:22 – Karen Peck & New River
Just Sing! – The Collingsworth Family
Keeping On – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
More To The Story – The Kingsmen
Something New – Legacy Five

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Adulting – Live” – Jonathan McReynolds, Mali Music
“Believe For It” – CeCe Winans, ft. Lauren Daigle
“Gotta Believe” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Sunday” – Koryn Hawthorne
“When I Pray” – DOE

Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
Clarity – DOE
Jonny X Mail: Live in LA (Stereo) – Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music
Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition – Maverick City Music
Oil + Water – Travis Greene
One Touch – Jabari Johnson

Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year
“Breathe” – Maverick City Music, ft. DOE, Jonathan McReynolds, Chandler Moore
“Goodness of God – Live” – CeCe Winans
“Jesus“ – Phil Thompson
“Lazarus” – Maranda Curtis
“Love Song” – Travis Greene, ft. Madison Binion

Worship Recorded Song of the Year – Presented by CCLI
“God, Turn It Around” – Jon Reddick
“Hymn of Heaven” – Phil Wickham
“I Speak Jesus” – Charity Gayle
“Jireh (Radio Version)” – Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine
“Know You Will” – Hillsong UNITED

Worship Album of the Year
Are We There Yet? – Hillsong UNITED
Homecoming (Live) – Bethel Music
Hymn of Heaven – Phil Wickham
LION – Elevation Worship
SEVEN (Live) – Brooke Ligertwood

Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year
“A Ceigas” – Indieomar, Musiko
“Color de Alegria” – Andy Alemany, TWICE, Samuel ASH
“Danzando” – Gateway Worship Español, ft. Daniel Calveti, Becky Collazos, Christine D’Clario, Travy Joe, Josh Morales
“Júbilo” – Maverick City Música, Miel San Marcos
“Mi Salvador” – Mosaic Msc

Inspirational Film/Series of the Year
American Underdog
Blue Miracle
Redeeming Love
The Chosen
The Jesus Music

Boutique artist development and digital marketing agency Quinton Digital has announced a handful of promotions and new hires to their company. Existing employees Ashley White and Maria Abdelnour’s roles will be expanding, while the firm welcomes Megan Clemens and Kelly Cunningham to the team.

Founded by Quinton in 2018, the company’s current roster includes Zac Brown Band, Tim McGraw, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline, Ben Rector, Brandy Clark, Drew Green, Monument Records, and more.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve built over the past four years at Quinton Digital, and could not be more excited for this next phase of growth,” says President and Founder Amanda Quinton. “From our team to our roster, I’m honored to be surrounded by such talent and can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

White has been elevated to Sr. Director, Marketing and Operations. In her new role, she oversees day-to-day operations for the company, and will continue to lead high-level marketing strategy and DSP relations. Abdelnour, previously Sr. Account Director, has shifted into the newly created role of Sr. Director, Management Services. She will serve as direct support for Mary Sparr‘s Hillpeople Management (Morgan Wade, Elizabeth Cook, Ian Noe) in a day-to-day capacity, and will also oversee the company’s tour marketing efforts.

Clemens joins the team as Director of Digital & Creative Strategy. She previously served as the Senior Marketing Manager at Marbaloo, the Head of Marketing at Gimme Radio and, most recently, worked for Tyler Hubbard‘s Big Blue Truck Publishing. Cunningham also joins the team as Digital & Creative Coordinator, having previously worked as a marketing coordinator at WHY&HOW Management.

Quinton Digital is currently hiring a Social Media Manager. To apply, send a resume to amanda@quintondigital.com.

Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill closed out a sold-out, four-night residency at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday night (Aug. 7). The run of shows featured plenty of great music each night and, true to Gill’s style, lots of jokes.

Gill, who was recently selected to be honored in CMT’s Giants series, played nearly four hours each night. He thrilled concert-goers with hits such as “One More Last Chance,” “Tryin’ to Get Over You,” “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away,” “I Still Believe in You” and many more. His voice as smooth and expressive as ever, Gill joked about being 65 and getting the senior discount, but his talent has refined even more with age.

On Thursday night (Aug. 4), Gill said he and his band hadn’t been on the road for his own shows in three years—though Gill has been on the road with the Eagles. The Grand Ole Opry member took the time to fit sections in the show that clearly thrilled him to perform. He played some bluegrass, some of his favorite songs that weren’t big hits, and a few covers—in addition to his many hits.

In a really special moment, Gill spotlighted iconic steel guitarist Paul Franklin when he played two songs from their project Bakersfield, a tribute to Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. The two country giants sounded wonderful on Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down” and Owens’ “Together Again.”

Gill also told many stories behind his songs—letting the crowd in to his often humorous perspective on the music business. One funny story he told was about writing his epic romantic song, “Look at Us,” with Music Row hitmaker Max D. Barnes. He said that he had approached Barnes, the writer of Vern Gosdin‘s weeper “Chiseled in Stone,” to write a sad song.

Gill brought the title “Look at Us,” but Barnes thought the characters in the song ought to stay together. When Gill pushed back, Barnes encouraged him to look around the room at Barnes’ Grammys and songwriting awards. “He was right!” Gill quipped before playing the 1990 classic.

Another awesome section of music came when Gill turned the spotlight over to the astoundingly talented Wendy Moten, who sang backup alongside Gill’s daughter Corrina throughout the night. Though Moten was billed as the opener, Gill wanted to make sure she was properly heard, so he placed her set just after intermission.

The Ryman crowd was not disappointed in the pause in Gill’s music as her Thursday set was fantastic. She sang a hair-raising version of Bobbie Gentry‘s “Ode to Billie Joe” and another great cover of Jeannie Seely‘s “Don’t Touch Me.”

“I watched Hee Haw and Soul Train growing up, and fell in love with both!” Moten said before closing her set with Aretha Franklin‘s “Ain’t No Way.” It’s no wonder Gill gave her such a precious time slot—Moten is a born entertainer.

Other talents on Gill’s stage were Billy Thomas (drums), Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), Jedd Hughes (guitar), Jack Schneider (guitar), and John Jarvis (keyboards).

On another night, Gill and daughter Corrina performed a special tribute to her mom Amy Grant, singing her dad’s 2021 Grammy award-winning Best Country Solo Performance of “When My Amy Prays,” changing the lyrics to “When My Momma Prays.” Grant has been recovering from a bicycle wreck, and Gill was thankful for the prayers—though he did make sure to make jokes about convincing his superstar wife that he produced the Beatles.

Gill will be back on the Ryman stage, with his dear wife Amy Grant, at their annual “Christmas at the Ryman” residency from Dec. 12-21. Tickets are available now.