NEWS SOURCE: Wortman Works
September 17, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 17, 2013) - The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announces superstars Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin as hosts for the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The awards show will take place on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee at 7:30pm CT. The show will be broadcast on Monday, October 21st at 8:00pm ET exclusively on the UP network, America's favorite channel for uplifting entertainment. Tickets are available now at the Allen Arena box office in Nashville or at www.ticketsnashville.com.

In addition to the awards show host, past Dove Award winners and nominees, Gaither Vocal Band, Michael W. Smith, Tamela Mann and TobyMac are the first announced performers with others to be announced soon.

The first round of presenters confirmed includes Dr. Bobby Jones, Isaac Carree, Jaci Velasquez, Lacrae and Pastor Rick Warren.

GMA Executive Director Jackie Patillo states, "There are not too many names more synonymous with Christian and Gospel music than our hosts Amy and Kirk. We are so grateful for their contributions to the Dove Awards throughout the years and we're excited to have them as the co-pilots of what is turning out to be one of the most compelling nights of music ever on the Dove stage."

Official Vehicle Partner and sponsor of the Dove Cares Red Carpet, Universal KIA Automotive Group owner Chris Bostick says, "The Universal Kia Automotive Group is very proud to be a sponsor of this year's Dove Awards. Being a Christian based, family owned business, it is a privilege and an honor to be associated with the Christian Music genre. We are looking forward to the award show and all the excitement that surrounds Christian Music's big night."

Awards will be given out in 42 categories voted on by the GMA membership. Nominations go to recordings released during the eligibility period of Nov. 1, 2011 through April 30, 2013. The complete list of nominees is available at www.doveawards.com.

About Amy Grant:
Amy Grant's career spans over 30 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums boasting one five-time Platinum album, one triple Platinum and one double Platinum album, as well as six platinum and four Gold albums. Amy has won six GRAMMY® Awards in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982 and 25 GMA Dove Awards. She also has six No. 1 hits - including "Baby, Baby" and "Every Heartbeat" - and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood. In 2003, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. While continuing to tour to enthusiastic audiences, Amy also released her first studio album of all new material in 10 years, the critically acclaimed How Mercy Looks from Here, in May 2013, which debuted at #1 on the Christian charts and #12 on the Billboard Pop Top 100. The debut at #1 at Christian retail extended Amy's record for the most #1 album debuts - 16 - for the genre.

About Kirk Franklin:
For nearly two decades now, Kirk Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling purveyor of majestic fusions of gospel and contemporary music, and a mirror of Christian humanity boldly reflecting what one faith walking man can accomplish when he focuses on God and taps deep into the gifts He gives. Franklin is a pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard's Gospel and Christian charts, as well as ascend triumphantly into the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. His unprecedented penetration into the mainstream has fortified him to also become a New York Times bestselling author for The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms (Gotham/Penguin). Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show "Sunday Best," the highest-rated gospel program in BET network history now heading into its sixth season. To date, the trendsetter has garnered nine GRAMMY® Awards, 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards, an American Music Award, a Soul Train Award and numerous others.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community includes agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.

About UP
UP, (www.UPtv.com) based in Atlanta, is America's favorite network for uplifting family entertainment. The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. The UP brand is reflected in "Uplift Someone," the network's successful pro-social initiative. UP can be seen in more than 65 million homes on major cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Charter Communications, as well as DIRECTV on channel 338, DISH Network on channel 188, and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Follow UP on Facebook & Twitter http://facebook.com/UPtv & @UPtv.

Dove Awards Social Media Platforms:
Website - www.doveawards.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/DoveAwards
Twitter - www.twitter.com/GMADoveAwards Hashtag - #DoveAwards
YouTube - www.youtube.com/GMADoveAwards