This year’s prestigious Dove awards for honoring outstanding artists in divers Christian music genres will be airing live instead of the
- Event: The 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards | Honoring Outstanding
- Date: October 30, 2020, 9:00 p.m. ADT
- Venue: TBN networks (live)
The following categories are recognized and awarded: General, Inspirational, Pop, Southern Gospel, Gospel (soul/black), Musicals, Praise & Worship, Country & Bluegrass,Rock, Rap/Hip Hop & Urban and Miscellaneous.
What is the Dove Awards?
The Dove Awards were originally conceptualized by Gospel singer and songwriter Bill Gaither, at a Gospel Music Association board meeting in 1968. Its awards have mostly recognized American Christian music to date. The idea of the award being represented by a dove is credited to Gaither and design for the award itself is credited to gospel singer Les Beasley. The first GMA Dove Awards were held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee in October 1969. In 1971, the awards moved to Nashville.
The 3rd GMA Dove Awards of 1971 were deemed invalid due to apparent ballot stuffing by the southern gospel group the Blackwood Brothers, and that year is still not considered an official awards year by the Gospel Music Association. There were no awards held in 1979, due to a decision by the Gospel Music Association to move the awards from autumn to spring. Every ceremony since has been held in the spring. The first televised ceremony was the 15th GMA Dove Awards of 1984, which aired on the Christian Broadcasting Network.
The awards were held in Nashville until 2011 before being presented at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012. They returned to Nashville in 2013 and have been held at the Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University since.
Reference
[1] Doveawards.com
