Dove Award performers and presenters announced; All 44 awards to be given during this year's show

The GMA Music Awards will showcase fresh faces, musical diversity and all 44 Dove Awards winners this year, according John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA).  Today, Styll announced that Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, Selah, J Moss, BarlowGirl, Bethany Dillon, Natalie Grant, Watermark, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Tonéx and Skillet have been confirmed to perform at the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13.

"This year's GMA Music Awards will be a reflection of the impact that many younger, newer artists are having in gospel music.  The diversity and freshness of this group of performers will make for a unique and exciting show," said Styll, who added that every performer is also a Dove Award nominee and will perform the music for which they were nominated.

Also announced today were presenters for the GMA Music Awards including MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, Joy Williams, Jeremy Camp, tobyMac, Matthew West, Building 429, Nicole C. Mullen, Day of Fire and Phillips, Craig & Dean.
Radio personalities Delilah and Rick & Bubba, "The World's Strongest Man" Shane Hamman and NASCAR Driver Bobby Labonte will also present at the GMA Music Awards.  Denver & The Mile High Orchestra will be the awards show house band.

Previously, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rebecca St. James, CeCe Winans, Smokie Norful, Israel Houghton and Darlene Zschech had been announced as hosts for the annual gathering of the gospel music industry.  And, in a change from
previous years, all 44 Dove Award categories will be presented during the awards show, offering deserved honor to every recipient and giving the audience a chance to see many of their favorite artists on stage in addition to the announced presenters and performers.

Tickets are still available for the Doves at www.gmamusicawards.com <http://www.gmamusicawards.com> or by telephoning 615-242-0303, ext. 238.

Casting Crowns is one of the leading nominees for the Dove Awards, with seven nods including Group and Artist of the Year.  Another leading nominee, southern gospel's genre-busting The Crabb Family is nominated six times including nods in four different genre song categories and for Group of the Year.  Selah also counts Group of the Year among its four nominations. Singer/songwriters Bethany Dillon's and Natalie Grant's multiple nominations include Female Artist of the Year while Dillon shares a New Artist of the Year nomination with the three sisters' rock group BarlowGirl.  Pop vocal
group Selah is also nominated for Group and Artist of the Year.  Tonéx is nominated in the Urban Album category while Skillet is nominated for Modern Rock Album of the Year.  Finally, Watermark, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band and Matt Redman, each with various nominations, represent the many different interpretations of today's modern worship music.

The 36th Annual GMA Music Awards will be televised in national syndication during the month of June.  Central City Productions of Chicago, Ill., will handle first run syndication through network affiliates and independent stations nationwide, with an expected audience reach of at least 75 percent of U.S. television households.  Central City Productions, which is most known for syndicating the Stellar Awards, is a full-service television production company that produces, syndicates and manages advertising sales for all of its programs.  Network affiliates and broadcast stations interested in the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards for syndication can contact CCP at 312-654-1100 or 303-771-3513.

Founded in 1964, the 4,500-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music.  The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children's gospel music.  The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.