2016 Southern Gospel Dove Award Nominees

The Dove Award nominees were announced yesterday. As always, it's good to see Southern Gospel artists and professionals recognized. The full list of Southern Gospel nominees are below, but first a few thoughts and observations -

• I would have liked to have seen Southern Gospel represented in a few of the overall categories this year. I hate that there's no representation in these categories, and not sure that there has been in the past couple of years.
• I really think that Cana's Voice should have been included in the "new artist" category. They have made quite a splash this year!
• For the second year in a row, Karen Peck Gooch has not only been honored as a vocalist but also for her songwriting.
• Also, good to see Joseph Habedank honored for his writing with a nomination for musical of the year.
• Good to see some teenage nominees in Southern Gospel with both Hope Bowling and Olivia Collingsworth as some of the youngest nominees this year.

Congratulations to all the Southern Gospel nominees!

Southern Gospel Artist of the Year

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, ​StowTown Records
• Gaither Vocal Band​, ​Gaither Music Group
• Greater Vision​, ​Daywind Records
• Karen Peck & New River​, ​Daywind Records
• The Perrys​, ​StowTown Records

Producer of the Year

• Wayne Haun

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year

• “​Heaven's Shore​”​ – David Phelps, (writer) David Phelps

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year

• “Jesus Changed Everything”​ – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (writers) Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey
• “Jesus Gave Me Water”​ – Gaither Vocal Band, (writer) Lucie E. Campbell
• “I am Blessed”​ – Karen Peck & New River, (writers) Karen Peck Gooch, Kenna West, Michael Farren
• “Keep On”​ – Perrys, (writers) Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey
• “Jesus, The One”​ – The Hoppers, (writer) Paula Stefanovich

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year

• “He’s In Control”​ – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, (writer) Steve Watts
• “In The Heat of the Fire”​ – Flatt Lonesome (writer) Kelsi Harrigill
• “Life’s Railway to Heaven (with the Oak Ridge Boys)”  - Jimmy Fortune, (writers) Eliza R. Snow, M.E. Abbey 
• “I’ll Fly Away”​ – Joey + Rory, (writers) Albert E. Brumley 
• “Leave It All on the Altar - The Isaacs, (writers) Gloria Gaither, William J. Gaither, Buddy Greene

Country Recorded Song of the Year

• “​Love Covered My Sin​”​ – Doug Anderson (writers) Wayne Haun, Randall Garland, Val Dacus
• “​Small Town Someone (Lunch)​”​ – Jeff & Sheri Easter (writers) Sheri Easter, Kenna Turner West, Jason Cox
• “​I Believe (with The Whites)​”​ – Jimmy Fortune (writer) Jimmy Fortune
• “He Touched Me”​ – Joey+Rory (writer) William J. Gaither'
• “​Seconds Count​”​ – Shenandoah ft. Karen Peck (writers) Mike McGuire, Marty Raybon

Southern Gospel Album of the Year

• Still – Booth Brothers, (producers) Jason Webb, Lari Goss, Ronnie Booth, Michael Booth, Jim Brady 
• That Day Is Coming – Collingsworth Family, (producer) Wayne Haun 
• Happy People ​– Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, (producers) Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, Todd Collins 
• How We Love ​– Mark Lowry, (producers) Mark Lowry, Kevin Williams 
• Moments Like These ​– The Bowling Family, (producer) Mike Bowling

Bluegrass/ Country Album of the Year

• Small Town, Celebrating 30 Years of Music & Marriage –​ Jeff & Sheri Easter, (producers) Madison Easter, Greg Cole, Jeff & Sheri Easter 
• Hits & Hymns ​– Jimmy Fortune, (producer) Ben Isaacs 
• Hymns That Are Important To Us -​ Joey+Rory, (producers) Rory Lee Feek, Joe West 
• Good News Travels Fast​ – Shenandoah (producers) Bud McGuire, Mike McGuire 
• Shoulders ​– Wilburn & Wilburn (producers) Ben Issacs, Jonathan Wilburn, Jordan Wilburn

Children's Music Album of the Year

• Sweet Dreams​ – Sandi Patty, (producer) Steve Wingfield

Special Event Album of the Year

• Blessed Assurance: The New Hymns of Fanny Crosby – ​ Various, (producers) Bobby Blazier, John Hartley 
• Let the Glory Come Down ​– Bill & Gloria Gaither and Friends, (producers) Geron Davis, Bradley Knight

Musical of the Year

• Bethlehem Morning​, ​(creators) Russel Mauldin, Sue C. Smith 
• Jesus, Only Jesus​, (creator) Craig Adams ​ 
• That’s Where The Story Begins​, ​(creators) Dave Clark, Gerald Crabb, Mike Harland 
• This Changes Everything​, (creators) Marty Funderbunrk, Joseph Habedank 
• Under a Starry Sky (A Dramatic Musical for Christmas)​, (creators) Joel Lindsey, Jeff Bumgardner

Choral Collection of the Year

• Burning Lights – Choral Collection​, (arranger) Cliff Duren  
• My Hope (Songs & Message of Billy Graham)​, (arranger) Travis Cottrell 
• Southern Gospel Songs (10 New, Emerging​ and Classic Hits for Southern Gospel Choir)​, ​(arranger & orchestrator) Marty Hamby 

See the full list of nominees here.