Battistelli, August Win Big at 42nd Dove Awards
Francesca Battistelli and Chris August were the top winners at the 42nd annual Dove Awards, held Wednesday at Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
Battistelli, 25, took home the coveted Artist of the Year award as well as two more awards – Best Female Vocalist and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for her song "Beautiful, Beautiful."
This is the second year in a row she nabbed the Best Female Vocalist title.
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"I'm on cloud nine right now. I'm standing here ... speechless. This is totally humbling," Battistelli said after the awards show, according to The Associated Press.
Her awards only add to this year's success after reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums in March for her second album, Hundred More Years. She also participated in Winter Jam, the best-selling concert so far this year.
"From the beginning, I wanted to write songs that encourage people. I don't like music that makes me sad or angry. So I've always just been drawn toward songs that will uplift people,” she said, as reported by AP.
Debut artist Christ August, 29, received his first Dove Award, nabbing the prestigious New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year awards. He also won Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for his debut album, No Far Away.
“As a Christian, I’m humbled,” he said, as reported by watchgmctv.com. “You don’t look for awards. You just want to make music and serve Jesus, but as a person who has been working at music for many years, to finally have someone say ‘hey, you did a great job on something and here’s an award for it...’ that’s a pretty cool feeling.”
August’s current single, "7x70," landed at the No. 3 spot on the Christian/AC indicator chart this week.
Other winners included the 10-time Dove Award winning artist Jason Crabb and the group Point of Grace, who nabbed three awards.
Crabb won Song of the Year for his single "Sometimes I Cry" as well Inspirational Recorded Song for "Joseph." His father, Gerald Crabb, also won a Dove award as songwriter of the year.
“I think he’s one of the greatest songwriters on the planet,” the younger Crabb said, according to watchgmctv.com. “He writes from a place everybody can relate to. I’m glad he’s my father. I learned a lot from him.”
The female trio Point of Grace received the awards for Country Song of the Year for "There is Nothing Greater Than Grace," Country Album of the Year for No Changin' Us and Christmas Album of the Year.
Also, for the first time ever, Gospel Music Channel presented the Uplift Someone Award. Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were honored this year with the new award for their work with their orphan care charity, Show Hope.
Some of the presenters during the show, along with its host Sherri Shepherd from ABC's "The View," included Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow; Super Bowl winner and Green Bay Packers wideout Greg Jennings; singer Ruben Studdard; and actress Kim Fields. Performances featured Chris Tomlin, Point of Grace, Kenny Rogers, Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, Third Day, Tenth Avenue North, Mary Mary, and Kirk Franklin, among others.
The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be broadcast on Sunday at 7 & 9 ET on GMC.
2011 Dove Awards Winners
Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris August
Female Vocalist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Group of the Year
NEEDTOBREATHE
New Artist of the Year
Chris August
Producer of the Year
Ian Eskelin
Song of the Year
(song title; artist; writer; publisher - award goes to the writer and publisher)
"Sometimes I Cry"; Jason Crabb; Gerald Crabb; Christian Taylor Music (BMI)
Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different from artist)
"Walking On The Stars" - Outta Space Love - Group 1 Crew - M. Reyes, P. Villatoro, A. Anderson
Rock Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Start Again" - Innocence & Instinct - RED - J. Rauch, R. Graves, J. McArthur
Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Something Beautiful" - The Outsiders - NeedToBreathe - Bear & Bo Rinehert
Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Beautiful, Beautiful" - My Paper Heart - Francesca Battistelli - I. Eskelin, A. Fromm
Inspirational Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Joseph" - Because It's Christmas - Jason Crabb - D. Poythress, T. Wood
Southern Gospel Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Better Day" - Greatly Blessed - Gaither Vocal Band - C. Harrington, S.D. Jones
Bluegrass Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different from artist)
"Mountaintop" - Straight From the Heart of Dixie - Lizzy Long & Little Roy Lewis - W. Haun, L. Rowell, L. Long
Country Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different from artist)
"There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace" - No Changin' Us - Point of Grace - M. Hall, S. Mizell, A. Neal
Urban Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different)
"Wait On The Lord" - The British Are Coming - Lola Godheld
Traditional Gospel Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different from artist)
"The Master Plan" - The Master Plan - Tamela Mann - T. Mann, M. Butler
Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year
(song, album, artist, writer if different from artist)
"The Best in Me" - Here I Am - Marvin Sapp - M. Sapp, A. Lindsey
Worship Song of the Year of the Year
(song, writer)
(TIE) - "How Great Is The Love" - Meredith Andrews, Jacob Sooter, Paul Baloche
(TIE) - "Our God" - Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
Outta Space Love - Group 1 Crew
Rock Album of the Year
Horseshoes & Handgrenades - Disciple
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
Tonight - tobyMac
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
No Far Away - Chris August
Inspirational Album of the Year
(TIE) Downtown Church - Patty Griffin
(TIE) The Edge of The Divine - Sandi Patty
Southern Gospel Album of the Year
Greatly Blessed - Gaither Vocal Band
Bluegrass Album of the Year
Singing from the Heart - Dailey & Vincent
Country Album of the Year
No Changin' Us - Point of Grace
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
The Master Plan - Tamela Mann
Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
Love God. Love People. - Israel Houghton
Praise & Worship Album of the Year
As Long As It Takes - Meredith Andrews
