Artists such as Reba McEntire, Lauren Daigle and Pat Boone gathered together in Lipscomb’s Allen Arena to celebrate another year of Christian and gospel music.
The GMA Dove Awards celebrated its fifth consecutive year on Lipscomb’s campus Tuesday night to honor outstanding artists, songs, albums, films and more.
Kari Jobe and Tasha Cobbs co-hosted the event, which centered on a “Sound the Remedy” theme.
“We believe the message of gospel and Christian music offers God’s remedy to the world,” GMA President Jackie Patillo said.
A unique aspect for this year’s Dove Awards, a 40-foot-tall replica of the Gutenberg Gates was displayed outside Allen Arena October 16-17. The display was part of a five-city tour by the Museum of the Bible set to open in Washington D.C. on November 17. Attendees had the opportunity to visit the replica prior to entering the concert venue.
Photos by Anna Rogers
Country music star Reba McEntire takes home first Dove Award
Legendary country music artist Reba McEntire took home one Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year. The album category was a brand new award this year.
From the stage, McEntire expressed humble gratitude in receiving the award, praising her fellow nominees as well.
“It’s not mine,” McEntire said. “It’s God’s. We’ll give him all the glory. I’ll put it up on the mantle and think of Him every time I look at it.
“It [music] is a way of expressing our thanks to God for giving us and allowing us this opportunity to use our God-given gifts to help other people.”
McEntire added that she finds music to be very healing, and gospel music has helped her get through rough times.
“I wake up every morning and just say, ‘Thank you Lord, thank you Lord. Now tell me what you want me to do,’” McEntire said. “And He guides me, and I’m just having a blast — I consider myself the water hose. If You just tell me what to do, I’ll just get out there and do it.”
The country icon also took time to discuss her charitable foundation and the value she places on giving back to others.
“I have got a foundation called Reba Foundation,” McEntire said. “We give to a lot of places that I’m very passionate about. Bob Hope told me years ago when I first started, ‘If you’re not giving back, you need to quit.”
McEntire performed the finale for the night with “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” before finishing with a group of artists to close the 48th annual show.
Photos by Becca Risley
MercyMe wins big with Artist of the Year.
MercyMe and Zach Williams were the big winners of the night. The veteran music group MercyMe received the Artist of the Year award, while newcomer Zach Williams received the New Artist of the Year honor. Williams was tied with Lauren Daigle for most nominations of the night with five.
“The fact that people still care about us making music is pretty mind-boggling,” the Artist-of-the-Year award winners said. “We’re loving it. We keep saying we’re on borrowed time, but we’re just enjoying every second of it.”
Other major award winners for the night included Grammy-Award winning artist CeCe Winans for Gospel Artist of the Year, and Casting Crowns for Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year. Veteran gospel group Gaither Vocal Band won Southern Gospel Artist of the Year.
Hillsong Worship took home both Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year, while Bart Millard received the Artist Songwriter of the Year award. Additionally, The Shack won Inspirational Film of the Year.
Photos by Becca Risley
Lipscomb alum Pat Boone accepts SoundExchange Fair Play award.
Pop and gospel 1950s singer Pat Boone received the Fair Play Award from SoundExchange, a performance-rights organization.
Boone attended Lipscomb in the 1950s, and, in 2015, returned to Lipscomb’s commencement ceremony to perform the updated Lipscomb alma mater.
Boone noted that he hasn’t given up creating another album, despite previously saying he thought his most recent one, Legacy, would be his last.
“Who knows,” Boone said, “I’m still singing, still performing, and I can still do it if the right songs come along, the right idea; I can do it.”
Boone expressed his feelings of gratitude to the audience, noting how pleased he was to receive an award from SoundExchange.
“All of us singers and all recording artists know who SoundExchange is because they’re a nonprofit organization, and they try to make sure that we get – we performers at least – fair play and fair pay for what we do,” Boone said.
“I’m in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, thank God, but this is another kind of recognition that I’m trying to use my position as an entertainer to get fair play for other entertainers. I’ve been blessed, and I want people to be blessed as well.”
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) will air the awards show on October 22 at 8 p.m. CST.
Package by Cavin Jacobson and Erin Franklin