Chris Rice News

(2/19/98) - The Gospel Music Association announced nominees for the 29th annual Dove Awards at a February 17th press conference in Nashville. Not surprisingly, perennial favorite Steven Curtis Chapman lead the pack with nine Dove nominations, including Male Vocalist, two Song Of The Year noms (for "Free" and "Let Us Pray,"), Songwriter, Artist Of The Year, Pop/ Contemporary Recorded Song (for "Let Us Pray"), and Long Form Video for The Walk.

Newcomer Chris Rice was honored with six nominations, including Songwriter Of The Year, Male Vocalist, New Artist, Inspirational Recorded Song (for "Welcome To Our World") and Pop/ Contemporary Album (for his debut, Deep Enough To Dream).

In a nod to one of the genre's most beloved members, the late Rich Mullins was nominated in four categories, including Song Of The Year for "Hope To Carry On," Pop/ Contemporary Recorded Song for "Elijah," Artist Of The Year and Male Vocalist Of The Year.

Several artists who experienced crossover success were also among the top Dove nominees this year. God's Property, a choral group from Dallas who teamed with producer/ artist Kirk Franklin on the smash "Stomp," led the way with Group Of The Year, New Artist and Urban Album nominations, while Franklin was named in the Producer Of The Year and Song Of The Year categories.

The Dove Awards will be presented April 23rd at the Nashville Arena. Naomi Judd and John Tesh will host the TNN broadcast.