The 29th Annual

GMA Dove Award A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...

s were held on April 25, 1997, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1996. The show was held at the

Nashville Arena Bridgestone Arena (originally Nashville Arena, and formerly Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center) is a multi-purpose venue in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Completed in 1996, it is the home of the Nashville Predators of ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

, and was hosted by Gary Chapman and

CeCe Winans Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, (born October 8, 1964) is an American gospel singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans; before launching an acclaimed solo career. Winans has been a ...

Award recipients

Artists

*Artist of the Year **

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

*Male Vocalist of the Year **Steven Curtis Chapman *Female Vocalist of the Year **

*Group of the Year ** Jars of Clay *New Artist of the Year **

Jaci Velasquez Jacquelyn "Jaci" Davette Velasquez (Spanish ''Jaci Velásquez'', born October 15, 1979) is an American actress and contemporary Christian and Latin pop singer and songwriter, performing in both English and Spanish. Velasquez has sold almost ...

*Songwriter of the Year **Steven Curtis Chapman *Producer of the Year **

Charlie Peacock Charles William Ashworth (born August 10, 1956), known professionally as Charlie Peacock, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, and author. His albums include ''Love Press Ex-Curio'', ''Arc of the Circle'' and ''No Man's L ...

Songs

*Song of the Year **" Butterfly Kisses";

Bob Carlisle Robert Mason "Bob" Carlisle (born September 29, 1956) is an American Contemporary Christian music, Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies (band), Allies and Billy Thermal, before launchin ...

, Randy Thomas *Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year **"Take Me Back"; ''Tribute - The Songs of Andraé Crouch''; CeCe Winans *Country Recorded Song of the Year **"Somebody Was Prayin' for Me"; ''Steel Witness'';

Charlie Daniels Charles Edward Daniels (October 28, 1936 – July 6, 2020) was an American singer, musician, and songwriter. His music fused rock, country, blues and jazz, pioneering Southern rock. He was best known for his number-one country hit "The Dev ...

*Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year **"Butterfly Kisses"; ''

Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) ''Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)'' is the third studio album by American Christian music artist Bob Carlisle Robert Mason "Bob" Carlisle (born September 29, 1956) is an American Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter. He performed wi ...

''; Bob Carlisle *Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year **"Epidermis Girl"; ''Space''; Bleach *Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year **" Between You and Me"; ''

Jesus Freak ''Jesus freak'' is a term arising from the late 1960s and early 1970s counterculture and is frequently used as a pejorative for those involved in the Jesus movement. As Tom Wolfe illustrates in ''The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test'', the term "fre ...

'';

dc Talk DC Talk (stylized as dc Talk) is a Christian hip hop, Christian rap and Christian rock, rock trio. The group was formed at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by tobyMac, Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max, Kevin Max Smith ...

*Rock Recorded Song of the Year **"Like It, Love It, Need It"; ''Jesus Freak''; dc Talk *Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year **"Only God Knows"; ''Wherever You Are'';

The Martins ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

*Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year **"Stop by the Church"; ''Heritage of Faith'';

Babbie Mason Babbie Yvett Robie Wade Mason (born February 1, 1955) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, writer, and adjunct professor of songwriting at Point University and Lee University, and also a television talk-show host. Born to Georgie and Geo ...

*Urban Recorded Song of the Year **"Under the Influence"; ''Under the Influence'';

Anointed Anointing is the ritual act of pouring aromatic oil over a person's head or entire body. By extension, the term is also applied to related acts of sprinkling, dousing, or smearing a person or object with any perfumed oil, milk, butter, or oth ...

Albums

*Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year **''

Whatcha Lookin' 4 ''Whatcha Lookin' 4'' is an American Gospel music album released on April 30, 1996 by Kirk Franklin & the Family on GospoCentric Records. Background ''Whatcha Lookin' 4'' is the third album released by Kirk Franklin and The Family. It also featur ...

'';

Kirk Franklin & the Family ''Kirk Franklin and the Family (Live)'' is the debut album released by Kirk Franklin. This is also the debut album by Franklin in collaboration with his seventeen-voice formed choir, the Family. It was released on June 29, 1993, and it was his fi ...

*Country Album of the Year **''Little Bit of Faith''; Jeff Silvey *Inspirational Album of the Year **'' My Utmost for His Highest: Quiet Prayers'';

Bryan Duncan Bryan Edward Duncan (born March 16, 1953) is an American contemporary Christian music artist. He is known for being lead singer of the group Sweet Comfort Band, solo career, and involvement with the Nehosoul Band. He is currently involved with ...

*Modern Rock Album of the Year **'' Free Flying Soul''; The Choir *Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year **'' Signs of Life''; Steven Curtis Chapman *Praise and Worship Album of the Year **''Welcome Home'';

Ron Kenoly Ron Kenoly (born December 6, 1944) is an American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter whose expressed mission is "to create an environment for the manifest presence of God". His musical style is one of jubilant praise and individu ...

*Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year **''Erace''; The Gotee Brothers *Rock Album of the Year **''Jesus Freak''; dc Talk *Southern Gospel Album of the Year **''Wherever You Are''; The Martins *Special Event Album of the Year **''Tribute - The Songs of Andraé Crouch''; CeCe Winans,

Michael W. Smith Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when " Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the '' ...

Twila Paris Twyla (also Twila) is a given name. Notable people with the name include: Twyla * Twyla Hansen (born 1949), American poet, a Nebraska State Poet * Twyla Herbert (1921–2009), American songwriter * Twyla King (1937-2022), American newspaper edito ...

, Bryan Duncan,

Wayne Watson Wayne may refer to: People with the given name and surname * Wayne (given name) * Wayne (surname) Geographical Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Antho ...

The Winans The Winans are an American gospel quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans. Members ''Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.'' About: Origins & Mus ...

Clay Crosse Clay Crosse (born Walter Clayton Crossnoe, February 11, 1967) is a contemporary Christian music artist. He has won four GMA Dove Awards, and is probably best known for the single "I Surrender All." Music career Clay Crosse grew up in Memphis, Te ...

Take 6 Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music, gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood University, Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received seve ...

, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir,

First Call "First Call" is a bugle call with three distinct meanings. U.S. military use At a U.S. military installation it is a pre-reveille "courtesy" signal, sounded around 05:50, originally to assemble the trumpeters to deliver the reveille that would b ...

Andraé Crouch Andraé Edward Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as "the father of modern gospel music" by contemporary Christian and gospel music profess ...

and the All-Star Choir *Traditional Gospel Album of the Year **''Just a Word'';

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer whose career has spanned seven decades. She has won 11 Grammys in addition to Dove Awards and Stellar Awards; Caesar is kno ...

's Outreach Convention Choir *Children's Album of the Year **'' A Very Veggie Christmas'';

VeggieTales ''VeggieTales'' is an American Christian media, computer generated musical children's animation, and book franchise created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki under Big Idea Entertainment. The series sees fruit and vegetable characters retelling ...

; Phil Vischer, Kurt Heinecke, Mike Nawrocki *Youth/Children's Musical of the Year **''Candy Cane Lane''; Celeste and

David T. Clydesdale David T. Clydesdale (born 1954) is an American musical artist, songwriter, arranger, and conductor. A recipient of a Grammy Award and Dove Award, he has received five gold record certifications, and one platinum record. Since 1974, he has collabo ...

*Choral Collection of the Year **''My Tribute - Celebrating the Songs of Andraé Crouch''; Dale Mathews, John DeVries *Instrumental Album of the Year **''The Players'';

Michael Omartian Michael Omartian (born November 26, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, and music producer. He produced number-one records in three consecutive decades. He has earned 11 Grammy Awards nominations and won three. He sp ...

Dann Huff Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the ''Musician of the Year'' award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Co ...

Tommy Sims Tommy Sims is an American bassist, songwriter, record producer and bandleader. Music career From 1987 to 1989 Sims was the bassist for the Christian rock band White Heart, which he left to become a studio musician and producer. During 1992 ...

, Tom Hemby,

Terry McMillan Terry McMillan (born October 18, 1951) is an American novelist. Her work centers around the experiences of Black women in the United States. Early life McMillan was born in Port Huron, Michigan. She received a B.A. in journalism in 1977 from ...

, Chris Rodriguez,

Shane Keister Shane Keister is an American musician. He is known for his work as a studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. He plays synthesizer, piano, Hammond B3, Synclavier, Fairlight CMI, Fender Rhodes, and others. History Keister was born in Hunti ...

, Mark Douthit, Eric Darken *Musical of the Year **''Make Us One''; Babbie Mason, Kenny Mann, David T. Clydesdale *Recorded Music Packaging of the Year **'' Take Me to Your Leader''; Toni Fitzpenn - art direction; George Barris, Michael Wilson, Norman Jean Roy - photographers; Joel Anderson - design;

Newsboys Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, the band has released 17 studio albums, 6 of which ...

Videos

*Short Form Music Video of the Year **"Jesus Freak"; dc Talk; Steve Strachen; Simon Maxwell *Long Form Music Video of the Year **''Roadwork'';

Geoff Moore Geoff Moore (born February 22, 1961) is an American contemporary Christian music singer. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a st ...

& The Distance; Darlene Brock, Gael Van Sant; Tom Bevins

References

{{Dove Award years GMA Dove Awards

GMA Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...